All over the place

Miss Grace decided to just up and start walking 2 weeks ago. I posted this cute little video on Instagram and wanted to share it here as well......check out the link below

SnapWidget | A whole lot of this going on around here #milestones

Then we had a party

When babies turn 1 you have a party .... it's an unspoken rule that I tried to ignore. A couple weeks before Grace's birthday I had nothing planned, except a little family bbq, and was happy with that decision. All was good, until we went to our neighbors 1st b-day bash, and I realized I wasn't planning a party because it was a difficult task....but because I was being lazy. Our friends are easy, laid back and don't require a big production, so I put on my big girl panties and we threw our girl a party. Guess what? It was so much fun! 

Isn't that just how life goes sometimes? We drag our feet or "don't feel" like doing things {heaven forbid we actually have to interact with others} but once we are there, in the moment, we are so glad we got off our butts and made ourselves available. I'm the worst! I digress, it sometimes just feels like such work to get out of my yoga pants :)

Back to the FUN party - 

We had a pool party {without water}and the kids didn't mind one bit. There were lots of little ones and a few wild toddlers. We mixed in neighbors, play group friends, lots of community group folks and everyone mingled and kid wrangled together.....it was a beautiful thing. I grossly underestimated the number of deviled eggs my friends would consume {noted for next year} but I made up for it in the beer & cupcake department. 

And now.....overkill in the "pictures of sister eating a cupcake" department

hmm....I have an idea

genius!

Dear Birthday Girl

 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25

It's amazing how the heart works. How it can feel so full when you get married.....and then you have a baby and it doubles in size. I trusted God would make room, again, in my heart for baby #2, but I just had no idea......no idea how this little lady would change me. I love her so differently.....like I have a million secrets to share with her and a million pains I want to shield her from. As a woman, I know what she's up against....this equally thrills me and terrifies me. Though the world will tell her that it's only the outside beauty that matters, I want her to know that her true worth & identity will be found in the outpouring of what's on the inside. That God created her soul to yearn for relationship.....and the only relationship that will fill that need is intimacy with her creator. I want her to know she is smart...that her thoughts & ideas have value. Above all, I want her to know that she will always be loved, wanted and cared for. 

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Baby Girl .... you have my heart 

We celebrated her big day at the zoo and then enjoyed pink cupcakes.....she approved

Watch Me Grow - Grace Edition

Wowzers! way behind in the monthly Grace updates. 

Enjoy this little photo update.....she's a peach!

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy

I love this time of year in the Pacific Northwest because we start to get windows of beautiful weather, and I know that the rainy season will soon be behind us. There's still a chill in the air but not enough to stop us from soaking in some vitamin D. It's amazing what a little sun & fresh air can do to your overall demeanor.

Harrison thrives in the freedom of our backyard and I think it just does him good to not be constricted to the four walls of our house. He loves to take his lunch on the back steps where he can take a bite, run a lap, dig a hole and come back for a handful of goldfish. Yes......his sandbox is actually my planter bed but for now it's his construction site and a place to get his hands dirty. 

Harrison's days revolve around trucks of all kinds and we often sound like Forest Gump & Bubba rambling off all the ones we know......dump truck, backhoe, bulldozer, firetruck, flat bed truck, on and on. By far his favorite is the monster truck and, thankfully, we live close enough to the country that his eyes get their fill. 

Harrison is a good subject for life style photography because he's not big on the whole "look at the camera" but he's happy to cooperate if you want to take pictures of his trucks. Rocks and dirt are totally his jam.

I love life style photography because you catch moments that are spontaneous or little things that your kids do that melt you.....and you know they will soon be a distant memory. When Harrison really wants me to do something he puts his hands together and says "puweeezzzz"......he wanted me to quit taking photos and play soccer {because I'm awesome}.

If you're wondering what sister is up to during all this glorious outside fun.....well she's stuck watching through the sliding glass door. Girl needs to be contained until the grass dries a bit, but by summer she will be up, walking and joining brother in all his glorious dirtiness. 

Here's to sunny days ahead, lunches in the yard and trucks.....lots of trucks!!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5