Years ago, my husband and I took care of a little boy who was the son of a woman who worked for my husband. Troy came to be with us almost every week day from the age of 7 weeks from early in the morning until late in the evening. This went on for nearly ten years. I got to hold baby Troy in the hospital when he was just one day old.
During the summer our family would vacation at Suttons Bay in Northern Michigan. It is a very beautiful area of gorgeous lakes, sand dunes, and quaint little villages. After our first summer in Suttons Bay, I longed for Troy to come and enjoy it too. The second summer his mother brought Troy and his older brother to Suttons Bay to spend some vacation time with us. After that Troy spent many summer vacations there with us, enjoying the water and especially learning to swim with his Uncle John in the Suttons Bay Yacht Club pool. I took many delightful pictures of him thus documenting his life for him to see after he grew up.
A Babys Hand - Troy's Hand In Sleep
When Troy would nap in his crib at our home, I would always check on him after he fell asleep to see if he needed some covers. Sometimes I would be struck by the innocence of the sight of his little folded hand, or delighted by some little legs and feet sticking through the crib rails.
Baby' Feet - Troy Did This Just Before Falling Asleep
I would immediately have to get my Canon camera and take those beautiful and meaningful photographs of those little hands and feet!
When Troy was about two years old, my husband and I vacationed for three weeks in Europe. I missed Troy deeply those three weeks, and obviously he missed me too, because while I was gone, he had pulled out most of the hair in the back of his head by twirling it around his fingers very tightly. When I returned, I could never again just put him in his crib for a nap and tell him “Baby go night, night” and leave him to fall asleep by himself. I thought that he must think that I would leave him again if he fell asleep by himself, and so he would only now fall asleep in my arms. This lasted for as long as Troy needed naps.
When we went to Disney World, in Orlando, Florida, Troy, his Mother and his brother went with us too. Later, when we vacationed in Mexico, Troy also went with us many times. I think that he was only five years old the first time he came to Mexico. One time while we were in the Baja he came down with a fever of 104 degrees, and needed medical help which we found for him. The medicine helped, and Troy returned to normal health, and was his very lively, playful self once again.
Troy and "Nana" in Sutton's Bay
Today, Troy is 17 years old, soon to be 18 years. His Uncle John and I miss the little guy who used to shoot basketball hoops in our yard, play with his golden retriever “Shadow,” and spend many nights in our home. This last week, I have been going through all of the many pictures that we have of Troy. I have been dividing them in half to give to him to treasure, and to know something of how much he is loved. Our hope is that someday, he will choose to get to know us once again!
Betty Muscott, Child Photographer
About Betty Muscott
Betty A. Muscott is an experienced child photographer and online entrepreneur for tools to capture great photographs of children by parents and grandparents. Connect with Betty on Google+
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Simply beautiful… Thank you.