I hope this is a short series...

The Saturday before day one. My view coming home from a photo session. I'm including it here because, apart from Tyler going to work and a couple of photo sessions for me, we had been self-quarantining for a few days at this point. And to me, this image represents so much of what we are experiencing right now. 

Day 2 of our "official" quarantine. (I didn't even realize it was St. Patrick's Day.) It doesn't look very different from a normal day, except Tyler is working from home. It's a challenge to keep Tucker away from Dada's "work house," but for the most part, he and I have been spending the day in his play room and enjoying the spring weather.

See that little string of pony beads on his easel? Tucker made "Christmas lights" for one of his favorite stuffed animals, a bird puppet. 

Day 4. I pulled out the chalkboard Easter eggs I was saving, so Tucker could use them for his bird. We learned about how baby birds hatch and get fed. I cleaned out a honey bottle; Tucker and I filled it with brown and yellow paper. He's feeding honey to his goat in the third photo. That evening, Tyler and Tucker had their first quarantine haircuts. 

Breakfast popsicles (I think. Probably.) I love the kitchen window image, because it represents what a peaceful moment looks like for me these days: spring-scented candle lit, window open, and Tucker happily playing outside while I get some things done inside.

Tucker skipped his nap that afternoon, so he spent some downtime watercoloring. He made one picture for Grandma, two for his cousin, and six for the trees and bushes in our yard.

We started having "tea time" with Tyler in the afternoons. Tucker likes to make the tea, but doesn't usually drink it. We got out some of Tyler's old photos; Tucker would hold them up and say, "Me!" Later, he made Tyler some cards out of construction paper and stickers (a lot of stickers). 

One of my first memories of Marlee was during freshmen year at James Madison University.

I'd been wearing a new pair of flats all day (freshmen walk a lot), and by evening, one of my heels was covered in blood. Without a second thought, Marlee took me to her dorm room and pulled out a first aid kit. I kept telling her she didn't have to wipe the blood, but she didn't mind. She patched me right up, good as new.

Not only does this memory show what a caring friend and nurse (make that doctor now!) she is, but that she'll also be an incredible, loving mom to her sweet baby girl. Did I mention Marlee is also an amazing baker? I still dream about her secret-ingredient Rice Krispie Treats!

Memories of Marlee's kindness and thoughtfulness fill my four years at JMU (especially that year as her housemate).

I can't tell you how excited I was when I found out she and Michael were having a baby — and even more excited when I found out she wanted ME to capture this chapter of their lives.

Marlee and Michael, I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful maternity session with you two! I hope your family enjoys these for decades to come. 

One of the ways Marlee and Michael chose to preserve their maternity photos was in a keepsake folio, which features the perfect shade of green fabric and their engraved name.