This past weekend I was in Calgary, Alberta doing a charity Mother’s Day shoot for the Twin, Triplet & More Association of Calgary.  It is no secret that I have have had a multiple pregnancy – I carried my beautiful triplets to 35+3 weeks and during that time got to know many wonderful women in this organization (past and present).  The idea of this shoot was to help create an opportunity for some of the MoM’s (Mothers of Multiples) to have a small reserve session with their children.  Each MoM would have an image of herself and each of her children as well as a group shot because regardless of whether or not you have multiples or not, you know darn well that you are NEVER in any images with your children.  This session was built around making the pictures accessible to the families that access this important organization and the images that I took so far have been simply amazing.  I will be making a few separate blog posts as I go through and pick my personal favorite from each session to share from this shoot and I hope that they are enjoyed as much as I enjoyed taking them and getting to know my friends that much better.

Ursula.

This first image is of my dear friend Ursula and her four daughters (sans one darling and very handsome son).  Ursula has been part of my life for about two years now and when I first met her I had no idea that anyone that had triplets could actual make it past the first year.  I was so tired and so exhausted…and then someone at the very first retreat I went on with this fantastic club introduced us and I fell in love like all people do when they first meet someone that they know will be a great addition to their life.  Ursula was such a strong fierce women who clearly had it together – I don’t know if she would agree with me on that point but I hope she does.  At a time that I was scared to death she brought me up, made me smile and gave me hope – not to make it sound too cliche.

As we got to know each other, mostly through Facebook over the past two years I have watched little snippets of my dear friends life…watching her children wrestle and go nuts, enjoying her love for beekeeping and burlesque and enjoying her posts that are so grounded and enjoyable.  Ursula is starred as a “friend” on Facebook and with that I get every post from her and I make sure to never miss one.  This lady has a lot to say and so much wisdom behind her words…and let’s face it…she is a role model for many beautiful women in her life and her girls are at the top of that list.  I can’t imagine a better mom for those beautiful girls…they will grow with a strong heart, a smart mind and an undying love for life.

Thank you Ursula for coming to this session.  I have wanted to meet your girls forever and was so excited to meet your two older babies – it was a very exciting session and I loved every second of it.  I just regret not being able to visit longer.  Happy Mother’s Day to you friend – you deserve it and I hope your day is the most special ever.

 

Hilary.

Hilary is an inspiration.  Hilary is drop dead gorgeous.  Hilary is as kind and beautiful as she looks.

This is no joke.  Hilary and I first met likely online before Christmas two years ago and then in person at the 2013 TTMAC Christmas Party.  I was doing the Santa Pictures for the day and noticed a tired but sparkling lady near the back of the room with two little people and a beautiful young daughter.  We saw each other and started chatting where I found out that Hilary was a fellow triplet mommy like myself who had lost one of her dear babies while they were still in utero.

Hilary is very forthcoming with her story and while I do not feel the need to elaborate (I am much too private for that) I would be the first to say that Hilary has a strength inside her that shines so bright on the outside.  In my entire life I have never met a women who is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside and for someone as beautiful as Hilary is it goes a long way to sharing her character with everyone.   I have never heard Hilary (or her wonderful and handsome hubby) ever raise their voices or even suggest that they would have to for any reason.  Hilary and her hubby are amazing musicians and are so genuine.

I will meet many women in my life, but Hilary will always top my list of wonderful people that deserve all the happiness in the world.  She loves all four of her children with her whole heart and always makes me happy whenever I speak to her.  Her grace and class is humbling and I hope dearly that she has the very best Mother’s Day.  She deserves it and I know everyone around her will let her know how much she is loved and appreciated.  Happy Mother’s Day Hilary.

 

Ann.

Ann is a new lady in my life.  We met a few months back through the TTMAC website where I found out she had triplets just like me…and on top of that they were born one week before mine and she carried them just a little past 36 weeks if my memory is correct (which is a guess at the best of times…but I think I am right).  We have chatted a few times online and her and I are on the same page for so many aspects of our lives.  Her children are so beautiful…and she has two beautiful little girls like I do and a son.  I can tell you that her babies all have varying degrees of personality as well and they reminded me so much of my babies…it made me laugh.  With triplets there always seems to be a Type A, a Baby-Baby and a Joker.  Her babies were no different and they were so well behaved – they were a pure joy to capture.

What I like the most about Ann is that she knows how lucky she is and she knows how blessed she is to have her babies in her life.  Her love for them overflows and was so evident during our session.  Each picture is a testament to the time, commitment and love triplets take up in your life.  It is an absurd amount of work and I can’t even begin to tally up our dairy bill between Milk, Cheese and Yogurt each week but to have three amazing, beautiful and charming children at once is something that none of the triplet mommies in this post would turn down for anything.  Ursula’s babies are getting bigger and getting very grown up, Hilary’s babies are so beautiful and active, always carrying their sibling with them everywhere they go in their hearts and Ann is just starting her journey like myself and so many others into toddler and then childhood.

 

All of the Mother’s that I photographed this weekend are beautiful, amazing and deserve so much credit for the hours that they put in every day, every week, every month…you get the hint.  You just never get a break when you have multiples and you are always “on.”  I hope that these sessions have given back to you all the fact that despite the tears, thrown food, temper tantrums, illness, exhaustion, feeling poor all the time (or maybe that is just me because of my dress addiction for my girls) that you are the most important, beautiful and best mother your children could have.

I hope to have my second post up in a day or two with my next few mama’s who participated in the sessions in completely random order.

I wish you goodnight and hope you all have a sunny day tomorrow.

Suzie