Rowan had a low-key first birthday… all except for the sugar rush he managed to acquire after the consumption of his first-ever cupcake. Watching him eat this thing was an absolute highlight for me and it’s a memory I won’t soon forget. I hope some of these pictures, which are only a small fraction of what we took, are able capture the joy, magic and fun that he had that night.
Posted in Blog, Photography
On Monday, we turned the page on another year for our small boy. It’s hard to believe that the first one has come and gone and yet we sit here in the aftermath of cupcakes and gifts.
When I was walking near downtown on Monday, en route to pick up the famed cupcake with bright-colored frosting and chocolate chips, I passed a street I had never noticed before. Stacked high with Victorian row houses, the street was painted in red and gold. It was the perfect autumn street and I stopped to marvel in the crowded beauty of the homes. It was beautiful, really. I’ve lived here in this city for more than four years and have made this walk countless times, but I’ve always been so buried in my mind that I never looked up to notice.
I thanked Him for the beauty and the pause. And I decided that I needed to start paying attention.
It’s been quiet here this week, here in this little space. I needed quiet. Sometimes, I find myself living too deep inside my own thoughts, rather than touching skin to the earth and feet to the pavement. I need to live life this week. I needed my thoughts to find rest and my heart to find peace. I also needed my body to recover from another bout with sickness and I needed to snuggle the small one-year-old who also sniffled and coughed hard into the late night hours.
I needed to be ALL wife this week. I needed to be ALL mommy, too. I needed to care for my home and play with my dogs and swallow hard the tears as I watched Rowan take his first step on his birthday. I needed to cook dinner and share wine and watch movies and cuddle on the couch. I needed to take my boy for a walk outside, only to get caught in a downpour, laughing and calling my husband to rescue us in the car. I needed to bake his favorite bread and do the grocery shopping and I needed to spend deep, soul-quenching time in His Word.
I needed to LIVE. I didn’t need to write.
But now, I’m sitting here at our kitchen counter with a cup of hot tea while the water boils for our comfort food meal tonight… beautiful music of worship and voice being poured through the speakers while the small boy takes his afternoon nap in the darkness of his room.
I’ve learned that it’s okay to take a break. It’s okay to ask for rest. It’s okay to find quiet.
The writing will come. But I need a breathing, beautiful, full experience in order to do so.
It’s okay to stop everything else and just… live, if you need to.
Posted in Blog, Everyday Life, Photography
It was a beautiful fall afternoon here the other day. We couldn’t resist a trip to the park, where Erik played the front nine of the disc golf course, and Rowan and I tagged along. We just wanted to spend an hour getting out of the house.
The leaves are finally starting to change and scatter on the ground.
We stopped and let the munchkin climb around on a picnic table. He was pretty enthralled with it. He tried hard to climb on top of it, but his little body was just too short to make it. So he took to the space between the seat and the tabletop.
He was pretty excited about the little bolts that kept the table together.
Correction: He was STOKED about the little bolts.
But little silver things that don’t do anything when you push them can only entertain a child for so long. So we decided to practice walking.
He did so well, we decided to celebrate his accomplishments with a few airborne giggles.
An hour well-spent.
Posted in Blog, Photography
During our oddly-timed Tuesday/Wednesday weekend last week, we packed up the small boy child, stuffed him into our new Kelty Kids backpack that we scored on Craig’s List, and headed down to the Rogue for a hike along the south trail to Rainie Falls, a pretty huge rapid at the beginning of the wild & scenic section.
Rowan was pretty excited to be in the backpack!
We hiked four miles along the bank of the Rogue River… canopied in green.
We stopped and took a break. Rowan wanted to hang out in the backpack for a while longer!
We managed to convince him out of the backpack with a little treat.
He thought the prickly things at the end of the grass were really interesting!
It was time to get back on the trail. It was also time for a fresh diaper. Sometimes, you just gotta use a big flat rock as a changing table. No big deal.
Rowan was so happy to be outside. He looked like this the entire way!
Well, until he fell asleep on the way back to the car. Then he looked like this:
It was the perfect way to spend a warm, fall afternoon. Four miles round-trip in the midst of beautiful Oregon scenery.
Life is good.
Posted in Blog, Photography
Because I believe that absolutely nothing is more adorable than my 10 month old boy child wearing a pair of OshKosh jeans, photos are a must today.
Go ahead. Swoon.
Posted in Blog, Parenting, Photography
Yesterday, Rowan and I were hanging out at home. We played with his puzzle, his books, his stuffed animals. We stacked cups and knocked them down. I chased him around the living room and caught him while giving him an unrelenting tickle fight. After all the excitement, Rowan was looking for something different.
Apparently, his toys are not NEARLY as exciting as the dog toys.
Ew, Rowan. Gross. How about you help me pick out a movie, instead?
Okay, mama! What do you wanna watch? I heard Kill Bill is pretty good.
No, Rowan. That’s not really good for you to watch. Yet, anyway. Someday, you’ll be introduced to the glorious brilliance of Tarantino. But today is not that day, buddy.
Okay, mama. Hmm. OH! I know! I have the perfect choice! You’re going to love it! What about this one?
Jack Black? Slapstick humor? Director of Napoleon Dynamite? You know me too well, son. Nacho Libre is a GREAT choice.
Posted in Blog, Photography
A few weeks ago, in the midst of all of summer’s company, we were fortunate enough to have Erik’s younger brother, Matt and his girlfriend, Karen come visit us here in southern Oregon. They drove from Colorado to spend a week out here on the west coast, and it was so good to have another visit from family. Matt means so much to Erik and I… so much, that we named Rowan after him (Rowan’s middle name is Matthew). While they were here, we spent time out on Taylor Creek, an awesome place to go swimming, jump off rocks and sit in the sunshine. The water is pretty cold, but when it’s inching towards 105 degrees outside, it feels amazing. Here are a few pictures from our time on the creek. Rowan is in every picture… because, well… he’s adorable and easy to look at.
Hanging with mama:
It’s a miracle that this child hasn’t bit his tongue off yet. It’s ALWAYS out of his mouth:
I wish I could claim ownership of the awesome pink sunglasses. But, alas… they are Matt’s. And again with the tongue:
The two most handsome guys on the planet. My husband and my son:
I’m convinced that when Rowan loses the baby fat in his cheeks, Erik’s dimples are going to shine bright on Rowan’s face:
Oh his eyes. HIS EYES. They kill me. The most perfect shade of grey:
Rowan thought Uncle Matt was hilarious!
Hopefully, we’ll live closer to Matt and Karen in the future. They are too much fun.
Posted in Adventure, Blog, Photography
Tuesday rolled around. Our weekend finally arrived.
Feeling trapped by the textured walls and a ceiling that blocks the sky, we needed to get out.
Outside. Outdoors. Into creation.
We drove deep into the stacks of Douglas Firs and hiked with packs and a baby strapped to our bodies and shoulders. Taking a deep breath to inhale the smell of pine and dirt, we inhaled life and adventure.
Our feet didn’t make it far before the littlest one in our party became weepy with sleep and sensing one too many things in a short period of time. We stopped. We rested, breathed in, and explored textures of the earth.
We adored. We drank in views and peaks and hills and the endless green.
With deeper rest desired by the little one, we heeded our instincts and turned around, making our way into town. We stopped at a park, flooded with troubadours and the laughter of small children. Lithia Creek runs through this park.
Tiny toes wanted to dip into the icy cold, so we obliged.
A deep sleep and full-night’s rest restored our three weary bodies and we decided that one day of adventure simply didn’t fill us up. We wanted more. Craved more. We strapped on seatbelts and drove ten minutes down the road. Ten short minutes and we’re buried in forest. Away from people and cars and speed and things.
We walk.
We dip our feet in the cold waters of creeks and we discover rocks and sticks and play with what He has created. The fresh water rejuvenates our spirits and we watch as little hands learn what was made by the One Creator. We are drawn in. We are home.
With weary feet and bodies, we are replenished by Him. With Him.
This little family was never made for an air-conditioned life. We crave adventure far beyond the confines of screens and cables. We rest when we are discovering and we love deeper still when we sense His love for us. His beauty and artistic brilliance.
Our home is found in what He has created.
Today I am thankful that His artistry and beauty is found in our backyard. That we live in a place where adventure and fresh air is found when we open the front door.
What are YOU thankful for this Thursday?
171. The cold water of creeks rushing over my feet and rocks getting stuck in my toes. 172. Washing the dirt off his little face after a long day of playing outside with us. 173. A rare night out with my love, eating sushi and watching an incredible movie. 174. Making the bed every morning. 175. When he spontaneously pulls over the car on the way home, takes off his shirt and jumps from a high rock into the waters below.
If you participate in Thankful on a Thursday, this banner is for you. Just copy the image and add a link to this page in your post.
I’d love to hear what you’re thankful for every week. Will you share with me?
Posted in Adventure, Blog, Faith, Photography
Last week, we took Rowan swimming for the first time.
“Um, Dad? This bath is WAY bigger.”
“Dad, this water is a lot colder, too.”
“I dunno. I’m kinda weirded out. I don’t know if I wanna do this.”
“What do you think, Dad? You think it’s okay? Are you sure?”
“Oh you’re RIGHT! This IS fun!”
“Mama, look! I can splash this water, too! Just like the bathtub!”
“Okay, I’m tired now.”
Posted in Blog, Everyday Life, Parenting, Photography
