Birthday Bear

My sweet little bear Owen has turned one.
As I sit here and reflect on this past year, it's hard to think of another
of my 26 years that matches how every day this past year has been marked so fully and completely by joy-
and I feel as if I have lived an incredibly blessed and joyful life already.

It's amazing to me how multi-faceted love is. There is the love I have
for my Savior, a love that is marked by intimate friendship and a deep sense of gratitude for how he has saved me. There is
the love I have for my husband - sometimes mushy, sometimes steady, and
always filled with wonder at how lucky I am to love and be loved by him.
Then there is this new love I encountered this year when Owen came into my world.
I now better understand how profound Jesus' unconditional love is for me thanks to the
intense and unconditional love I have for my son. There have been tough
days filled with whining and lack of sleep, but more often than not, I fight the urge
to pick him up as I got to bed, to feel his warm snuggly body in my arms one
last time and go to sleep excited to explore the world once again with him.

We spent Mother's Day which was also Owen's 1 year birthday with our families gathered at our house for a birthday/Mother's day brunch. It was a double celebration and we enjoyed being able to share our delight with our wonderful family. What a lucky little boy
Owen is to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

On Becoming Martha

After years of country hopping and apartment shopping I can say with confidence
that we will be living in one spot for more than a year! (If we're anything like our neighbors, we'll wake up one day and find we've been in the same spot for 30 years!)

With this new found permanency comes the ability and inspiration to decorate! Something that apartments, dorm rooms, and returning to old bedrooms in our parents houses have failed
to do for me. Some how the idea of putting effort in to something so short lived is a waste of energy in my mind.

Today, you will find on my fridge a running list of things I want to do in this fabulous house. Some that are obtainable, some that are way over my head, some that
will actually come to fruition and some that will probably remain a
good idea but will make it no further than that
piece of paper.

Here are two of my first completed projects...I think Martha would be proud (not that I really care what Martha thinks.)

Ruffle Wreath

Painted Wall Paper

We have this odd little room in our house on the main floor.
It has a cut out wall that over looks the stair-well and in to our living room.
We have loved it from the first time we toured our house.
Our vision: An office and reading room. Both of us immediately
envisioned curling up in a cozy chair with a good book when we first laid eyes
on this tiny room.

I knew I wanted to do painted wall paper somewhere in the house and this
room seemed like the perfect spot. To be honest this was a project Josh was not
totally sold on. However, one evening, two afternoon nap-times later, and he is a fan.
Added bonus: It didn't cost me a darn cent!

I am in love with how it turned out and frankly a little sad my project has
come to an end. I ended up keeping one wall void of the pattern
since I'm planning to decorate with maps and vintage feel objects
and thought it would end up feeling too busy if the pattern carried on behind.
All that's missing is that cozy chair and a bookshelf.

Tulip Fields

April 23rd was the most glorious day of this year yet and we just so happened to have
had a tulip field trip planned. Knowing how crazy it can get up in Mount Vernon,
we decided to leave early to avoid the grid-lock traffic that was bound to occur on
this rare sunny day. Since Owen gets up at 6:30 leaving the house by 8:00 really isn't that hard to do.

With our picnic lunch packed, camera in hand, and shorts stowed in the diaper bag in case it actually got warm enough to use them, we embarked on our weekend adventure.
The tulips were literally glowing, flaming with color as the rays of sun licked their delicate petals.
It was hard to know how to soak up such beauty.

After we had our fill of color and beauty we decided to detour back to the freeway through La Conner. I have never been there before so it was the perfect opportunity to wander the quaint streets and eat our lunch near the waterfront.
It even got warm enough to put shorts on! Last summer Owen was too little to get the
full effect of how cute he looks with just a t-shirt and shorts on. I wish I had my camera to capture his chubby little tummy poking out from beneath his t-shirt...one more reason we are excited for our trip to Hawaii in three weeks!

WEEEE!

November was the first time Owen's tiny tush sat in a swing.
We could barely push him since he had no clue how to hang on.

Almost six months and a sunny day later, Owen was re-introduced to
swinging. Once his tiny fingers touch those metal chains
his vice-like grip takes over, his legs start kicking, and his
grin gets oh so wide as the swing begins it's gentle flight.

Songs for another season

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and the mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you
You make all things new

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Lead me, lead me to the cross

because...

We sing to the One who overcomes
To the One who saves us from our sin
And heals what's broken
Sing to the One who rescues all
We will trust a love so perfectly
complete in Him

We live within a world that fails
With pain we can't control
You sustain us with a love that knows
And we're overwhelmed

So...

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

Shadowfeet - Brooke Fraser, The One who Overcomes - Phil Wickham, Give me Jesus - Fernando Ortega

Bed-head

Last weekend Owen had a case of some pretty intense bed-head.

So rather than hoping back in the bath, we changed crazy in to stylish thanks to
some of Daddy's Fiber. Naturally, this prompted a photo shoot from me...I don't know if he can get any cuter.

Owen is now 11 months old. 10 months was the roughest month we've had.
Whining was Owen's primary mode of communication due to his mind being ready to walk
and crawl but his body and coordination not cooperating. 1 week in to 11 months and it looks like the long awaited crawling has come, and hopefully the end of the constant whine.

Despite this past month, Owen continues to be a tender-hearted little boy.
He bursts in to tears when the word "no" is used (apparently I used to do the same thing) so here's to hoping that discipline is as easy as a stern look.

Exploring the Yard

Last weekend brought a few glorious days of sun. Since the weeks prior to this have been a constant deluge of rain most of our house projects have been devoted to the inside of the house. So we decided to take advantage of the golden rays and move the "lovely" lava rock the previous owners covered up my future flower beds with.

Last summer Owen was too tiny to enjoy a yard, not to mention we lived in an apartment so grass wasn't even an option. When we finally moved in with my parents gone were the days of sitting on the grass thanks to the weather. So, in reality, this was Owens first real introduction to the wonders of the front/back yard.

I can already tell it's going to be paradise this summer having so much space for him to run around in. I really can't believe that my days of Owen not moving are truly ending. Tonight, he pushed himself up on all fours and started rocking (a skill we were almost certain he might skip altogether)...crawling here we come. He is already a pro at standing and will let go of things for 10 seconds to stand on his own. Something tells me walking is not too far off in the future either!