Asleep...

I am quite accustomed to photographing sleeping babies (since I do it frequently in my photography business)...although, usually, the babes are newborns. Sawyer is no longer a newborn - he's now 17 months old, in fact - but today I couldn't help but capture a few images to remember of my sleeping "baby"...

You see, the past couple of days, he has been sick. This morning, he was so miserable, I said "you either need a snack or a nap" and to my surprise, he said "nap, nap". But he didn't want his usual nap, he just wanted to be held, and rocked, and sung to. So I held him, snuggled him all up close to me in the rocking chair, cuddled him, kissed his sweet forehead, and sang to him. When I quit singing, he looked up and me and made the sign for "more". When I started to hum the words instead of sing them, he signed "more" because no doubt he loves the words to "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" just as much as the tune. As I sat rocking and singing to my little boy, my heart softened and began to melt. So often at church, I feel I do not "get" what I "want" out of the meetings because I am too busy chasing my active son down the hallways, etc. etc. etc. But today as I sat and sang to him, all of a sudden I felt something I haven't for quite some time: the words were just as much for him as they were for me: I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me, and has blessed me with the greatest desires of my heart - I have always wanted to be a wife and a mother, and my wish was granted. I am grateful for all I have been given and hope I can more fully show gratitude for my blessings in word and in deed as the days go by.

PS- Thankfully, when Sawyer woke up (I actually ended up napping with him - how often does that happen? or, how much longer will I be able to do that?), there were smiles and good times. He's still not 100%, but I think this boy is on the mend!

Of Helmets, Geese, & Black Standard Poodles

Sawyer recently got a new bike helmet. He's super proud of it (he says "helmet!" -- he used to call it a "hat"...) We are trying to get in the habit of him wearing a helmet while he thinks it's cool - instead of having to force him to wear one later.

[side note: you wouldn't think he'd have much of a chance of getting hurt on a bike with no pedals...but you'd be amazed how on rough pavement or gravel he can tip the thing over headfirst with his body weight - we learned that by accident one day and he had a big green bruise to show for it]

The other day, we were at one of our favorite parks taking advantage of the morning sunshine, and doing some riding...

...when we spotted these geese. They let us get really close to them (they probably thought we had food - much to their dismay we do not feed birds at public parks).

Anyway, we were surprised when, suddenly, they all started to run away from us...

...this is why...

It made for some excitement...but then...back to the bike. At dinner that night (and the 2 nights since), Sawyer will suddenly shout out "Helmet! Geese! Dog!" Yep...Sawyer now reports about his day at the dinner table...which makes for some fun conversation!

Mama & Her Boy

So...I admit it...I am a camera hog. The benefit of being a camera hog came today when Jacob said "you know, we should really get another camera..." which led to a conversation in which we have made a goal to save up to get me my dream camera, hopefully sometime this year! It also led to this picture. I had been hogging the camera all morning and I said to Jacob "take it - it's your turn." So this is the result: a picture of me and my boy. Thanks, babe. I love it! He's growing so fast! Check out his crazy hair! I am not very good with the clippers and the only thing I really know how to do is buzz it off. Since the weather is getting a little more chilly, I decided to let it get a little longer...but all I can think of is to make it messy so no one will notice my awful hair-cutting ability! If anyone has tips on doing little boy hair, please share! Otherwise, Sawyer will either end up with long surfer-dude hair or super short buzz cuts all the time.

We had a wonderful day today. We went to the Ballard Locks this morning to look at the boats and fish swim by. We even saw a seal! I spent some time hogging the camera and forcing Jacob and Sawyer yet again to be my subjects as we did a mini photo session of Sawyer in his Halloween costume...I'm excited about his costume this year because I broke out the sewing machine and put some of my own sweat into it! And tonight, we headed to the Zoo's Pumpkin Prowl with some awesome new friends who are new in town. We spent a lot of time waiting in lines...but the kiddos had fun, and we got to chat and be out having a good time with great people which always makes for a fun evening. Oh, how I wish there were a couple more Saturdays in the weekend! I just love being able to spend time together! I hope everyone else had an enjoyable weekend as well!

(After) The Pumpkin Patch...

On Saturday, we decided to brave the wind and rain and go to Carleton Farms to pick out some pumpkins. Much to my disappointment (we're talking break-into-tears disappointment...darn hormones!) I forgot the camera at home. I was about to go back and get it but it would've taken an hour...so I decided to just enjoy being there without documenting the event. However, that didn't stop me from taking a few right when we got home ;) We picked out four pumpkins, representing our little (growing!) family.

As we were washing off our pumpkins and muddy boots, Sawyer discovered the little river of water that ran away toward the drain...and he became enthralled.

I told him, "splish, splash!" and it didn't take him long to start stompin'.

Then, Daddy showed him how to jump up and make some big big splasheds He thought that was pretty cool.

Yep, it's the simple things that make life grand. Puddle jumping just can't be beat!

I know we're biased, but isn't Sawyer one of the cutest boys you've ever seen? He makes life so much fun to live!

While we had the camera out - here's the belly at almost 24 weeks. Little Aspen is certainly doing some growing in there! A friend told me this week that I had been hiding it well but now there is no hiding it!

This was so funny - I said "I have two little pumpkins - one right here (pointing to Sawyer) and a little tiny one hiding in here (pointing to my belly)". Sawyer decided to hide a little pumpkin in his belly, too...maybe you had to be there...but we sure thought it was funny! He still just has no clue what's going to happen in about 16 weeks!