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As Danielle can tell you, being a mom is sometimes more like being a marathoner. She would also tell you that there’s nothing in the world she would rather be than the mom of these two very special boys.
As part of a blended family, Danielle has never had photos taken of just her, William, and Noah. They all love when everyone gets together for the big family photo sessions, but Danielle also wanted something her boys could look back on later in life, to remember her when she’s gone.
I knew when they arrived for their Mother and Sons photography shoot at Fort Fremont that this was going to be a great session, and I was totally right. Boys being boys, ten minutes in Noah decided he was more interested in playing than having his picture taken. Mom and Big Brother attempted to rein him in, but that little bundle of energy just wasn’t having it! That’s fine by me, because photos of the little one being tickled are just as awesome as ones where he’s smiling for the camera.
Also, I just have to mention that one of the things I had Noah do was sit on his mom’s lap and sing her a song. I expected to hear a song from a cartoon, like with most kids, but I burst out laughing when he started singing, “we will, we will rock you!” The kid’s got good taste!
Will is a typical 13-year-old boy who’s really into sports. He plays football and baseball, and was even just invited to play baseball for a 14u travel team. Danielle said sometimes it seems as though she lives at all those sporting events! She is incredibly proud of how talented he is, and never misses a chance to be his personal cheerleader, even bringing Noah to the games to help cheer.
Not only is Danielle a very dedicated sports mom, she’s also a full-time student with a double-major in English and History. As William puts it:
My mom is special in a lot of ways. One that sticks out in my mind is that she has Crohn’s disease which makes her sick a lot and somehow she is still such a great mom. Even when she feels bad, she keeps going. She goes to school full time, takes care of our home and my little brother, and still always shows up for my sporting events. She supports me in everything I do and always encourages me to try new things and work harder to be better.
Not to be outdone, Noah wanted us to know that his mom makes him happy all day long because he loves her to the moon. She’s also the best snuggler, ever. And she lets him watch “Frozen” a lot, which is very important.
When I asked Danielle what it means to her to be a mother, she had some very poignant words to share.
Being a mom means always putting someone else’s needs and wants above your own. It means having your heart walking around outside of [your] body. [It means] constant worry about whether you’re making the right choices for them or doing the right thing but it also means constant joy. Joy in watching that child that you created grow and thrive, becoming their own person. It means loving another person so much that you feel like your heart could burst from it.
From the moment she gave birth to Will, she realized what it meant to be a mother, and what unconditional love really is. She’s watched both of her boys growing into the men they will someday become, and she couldn’t be prouder. She’s watched William become a determined thinker, and loves that when he puts his mind to something, he will succeed, no matter how difficult it is. He especially likes to prove people wrong when they tell him there’s something he can’t do. Noah is a people-person, kind to everyone he meets, telling stories to anyone who will listen. His imagination is boundless, and he can entertain himself for hours with just a couple sticks or a piece of paper.
And what does she want her boys to always remember?
Be strong and true to yourself! Be kind to others and always give 100% to everything you do.
Sounds like advice we could all live by.
Destination sessions are available, as well as sessions in my new location of Beaufort, South Carolina. To schedule your own Mother and Sons photography session, feel free to contact me at info@nadiahurttphotography.com.
