What a photograph does

Stumbling upon photos taken a few months ago makes me pause and give thought to the feeling of that moment in time. 

It was a warm summer day, Eli had turned one only shortly before...the sunshine that day was to be remembered. After a day of playing outside on our grassy front lawn... I gave him a bath, then rubbed him with lotion that made him smell something of baby powder, chamomile and lavender. 

I was snuggling him close, smelling his smells and relishing his glowy, perfect skin, contemplating the day that had made such an impression on us all. 

It's this that I love most about photography; capturing moments that would otherwise be lost to all but my memory. I would have a harder time remembering the feelings that this photo evokes.