My oldest daughter, Amber, with her three-month-old daughter, Isabelle, at an extended family Fourth of July gathering. I love watching my daughter and son-in-law as parents.
THERE ARE MOMENTS of love that can’t be measured. A look. A touch. A voice.
I captured the moment Isabelle looked up with such sweetness at her 83-year-old great grandmother, my mom Arlene.
Those moments happen in a fleeting and you wonder if you’ve really seen or felt or heard what your senses have experienced.
At the exact moment Marc and Amber kissed their daughter, Isabelle closed her eyes in contentment. I managed to capture this spontaneous reaction at a family Fourth of July celebration on Saturday in southwestern Minnesota.
But your mind tells you that, yes, you saw that sweet baby girl close her eyes in contentment when her parents kissed her.
The hand of an 83-year-old and a three-month old.
Yes, you felt love in the grip of tiny fingers wrapping yours.
My sweet husband, Randy, cuddles Izzy who is adorably outfitted in a patriotic dress from her Opa and Oma in California.
Yes, you heard love in the coo of your granddaughter’s soft voice.
Four generations: Great Grandma Arlene, Grandma Audrey, Mother Amber and baby Isabelle, all together for the first time on July 2. Photo by Randy Helbling.
I love being a grandma to sweet baby Isabelle, now three months old.
I love this sweet baby girl, my first grandchild, Isabelle. At three months old, she’s now smiling and cooing.
Today, no matter where or how you celebrate the Fourth, I hope you can spend part of the holiday with those you love most.
© Copyright 2016 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Happy Family Fourth of July to you. I loved the four-generation photo and many other fleeting sweet moments you captured. Thanks for taking time to post today.
You are welcome, Bernadette. These moments captured were too sweet to keep to myself and my family. I hope these images inspire others to treasure and hold dear those they love.
What a beautiful baby and a beautiful family as well. Isabelle has a fantastic demeanor it would seem.
Thank you. Isabelle is all sweetness and love.
So good to be together!
Yes. I can’t seem to see my granddaughter enough. If only I could have seen Miranda and Caleb, too.
Oh Audrey.. I love the picture of the four generations. You will always treasure that moment. I have pictures of my mother with some of her greats. I try to have pictures with my great grandchildren also. I miss the pictures that are taken and can share.. I haven’t arrived in the 21st century yet. I am not really fond of the cell phone photos yet. Guess that’s a sign of my age isn’t it.
Oh, I’ll be getting prints of some of these photos…
I don’t have a smart phone, so no cell phone pix for me.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and thoughts with us. Family truly is everything.
Happy 4th of July to all!
You are welcome. And a Happy Fourth to you also, Carol!
Wonderful generations photo(Tell Randy, not bad) and so glad you were all together! Grandmahood is grand.
I will agree on your assessment of being a grandma.
Yes i will agree with others the 4 generations photo is quite precious and love how you were able to capture such contentment of one of one sweet Isabelle.
Thank you, Sue. Isabelle is getting used to Grandma’s camera.
Family is everything and you captured some of the most precious moments of life –each one even better than the one before. Thanks fro sharing!
Thank you and you are welcome, dear friend.
Ahhhh – Beautiful 🙂 Happy Week – Enjoy!
Thank you. Be sure to check out my July Fourth “report” from North Morristown, posted just a short while ago because I’m behind due to the holiday. I know you will appreciate it as a native rural Minnesotan.
Isabelle loves Grandma! ❤
Ah…, thank you, dear daughter. And I love Isabelle!
P R I C E L E S S.
What an angel.
Family is EVERYTHING))! xxx
As you well know…
Beautiful photos, I’m sure Izzy will love to look at them in years to come.
Thank you. I hope so.
Oh I’ve been waiting for a post like this one featuring baby Isabelle, Your photo’s and words truly describe the love you have for her. She is beautiful Audrey, and I bet she just melts your heart! I especially love the 4 generation photo, how wonderful to have this photo…and memory!
I can’t get enough of sweet baby Isabelle. I am so happy to be a grandma, just like you.
You have a beautiful family
Thank you.