It was UAE Flag weekend, I got a call from Fatima late on November 1 telling me that she has gone into labor. I remember tossing and turning all night thinking of Fatima and praying for things to go well, anxiously waiting for her to let me know active labor has begun. Finally, at 6am, Fatima started showing signs of active labor and I rushed to City Hospital to meet her. 

I don't know what it is about birth, but I find birthing mothers to be incredibly beautiful. Is it the hormones? is it the strength? is it the vulnerability? I'm not quite sure. But I've never seen a laboring mom that did not look beautiful. Maybe it's just me that feels this way, so don't worry if you don't agree :)

Fatima labored beautifully, and she welcomed a little princess, Noor, in all her glory, and true bearer of the meaning of her name (Light.) Noor brought happiness and sunshine into the room the minute we all heard her first cries.

Congratulations Fatima and Abdelaziz <3

I think one of the biggest disadvantages of being a mother who is also a photographer is that you forget to get yourself in the frame. I made a promise to myself last year that 2017 will be the year I change that, and I'm happy to say I've fulfilled that promise for my child. 2018 will be the year I take this forward one more notch, in what way, I still don't know, but I know it will be fun!

This is Fatima and Talah's second Mommy and Me session with me, and it was just as fun as the first time. It was lovely seeing how much Talah has grown, and how much her love for her mom has grown exponentially. Two years old is always a tricky age to photograph because the kids are really curious, some of them have just mastered walking, so they are taking full advantage of that fact, and hence, rarely want to do what you want them to do. The secret is to let the children take the lead, and follow wherever they go, and the result, is magical memories of their exact moment in time, captured to forever enjoy.