5 more months

yesterday, i was lucky enough to be present at the birth of this perfect baby boy.

it was my first birth photography session, and i couldn't have asked for a better experience.

 there is nothing more spiritual than being there when a baby is born.

you walk away amazed by God's creation of perfect bodies.

you forget how small they are, how soft their skin is, and how incredible it is when you see them look around with these bright innocent eyes.

i walked away last night full of excitement for baby dos to get here... 

in 5 more months.

ha, ps.. any photographers out there want to document my birth?

if only i could do 2 things at once...

cabin time

 o how we love the cabin!

josh took friday off of work, and after a round of golf for josh, we headed up to oakley.

our trip consisted of:

jumping in fall leaves

 making caramel apples (divine!)

cal waking up at 6 am, so we sat on the porch and watched a gorgeous sunrise.. 

and listened to the sounds of distant shotguns - poor bambi.

 grandpa was the next one up, and he came out and joined us.

cal sat on his lap for an hour and a half while we chatted.

it reminded me of living at home and eating breakfast on the back porch with my dad - enjoying the beautiful mountains, and each other's company.

 the whole trip calvin was obsessed with the dogs.. 

this was the first time we have really let him play with the 'puppies'.

they can be a little rambunctious, and we didn't want c getting hurt.

well, they were little gems with cal, and it was fun to see them interact.

calvin took getting kissed very seriously:

but, also let us know that he enjoyed it.

what's not pictured:

- the yummy dinner mom made

- relaxing and watching movies (p.s i loved snow white and the huntsman)

- card games

ramblings of a nature-ist...

i love fall.

last week, i went back to high school territory for a photography session.

good old little cottonwood canyon.

it's seconds from my parents house.. and really one of the most beautiful places on earth.

i used to drive up there to get away..

sometimes we'd sneak on top of the water tower, 

and other times we'd sneak into snowbirds' heated swimming pools.

my friend megan and i got up early one morning and drove way past the resorts to go 'moose hunting' - being from california, i had never seen a real life moose before.

well we saw one.. in the most beautiful canyon you can imagine.
it was so refreshing to go back. and it reminded me of how much i love nature.

you may have heard about how much i enjoy emerson's essay nature -
well, whenever i read it, i think about this beautiful place.

'to the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which shall never be seen again.'

that is unless you capture it with a photograph.

i love photography, always have.

but i miss taking pictures of places instead of people... 

some of my most favorite captured places: 

 

  okay, so i got distracted flipping through my romania pictures.. 

so most of those are from when i lived there.. 

and that last one is of a person - a classic eastern euro mullet kid. 

but still.

i need to get out and explore orem city, usa more

find beautiful places.

and capture it so i can remember the beauty forever,

and appreciate the world around me and the One who created it.

and so begins project orem city.

el dorado hills

a few weeks ago, cal and i went to california to visit whitney and baby brooklyn.

i was super nervous about the flights and of course i forgot my ipad that i had stocked full of fun things for cal to play with.
but luck was on our side, and on 3 of the 4 flights we had a whole row to ourselves..
and on the 4th, cal just slept on my lap the whole time.

big guy all ready for take off.

 

we had a fun week spending time together, watching chick flicks, shopping, playing at splash pads, yummy food, crafts, and girl talk.

 cal got a cold while we were there.. and was super attached to his binkie and blankie.
we both missed josh. i thought c would like to hear him on the phone, but it made cal cry.
he was sure happy to be back with his dad when we got home.

 such a fun, well needed trip!
thanks again whit!

14 months

quick update on baby c. 

he is now 14 months. 

weighs 22 lbs.

still sleeping 8:30-7ish, with 2 daytime naps.

has lots of teeth: 4 front top, 4 front bottom, and 2 almost 4 molars.

he is a running man.

loves to explore,

loves to dance,
and is constantly talking gibber-this and gibber-that.

busy babe from Whitney Asay on Vimeo.

he is such a happy guy especially if he is outside.

we go on multiple walks a day, and he loves to play in the dirt.

he is also very into keys and unlocking things - the mailboxes, our filing cabinet, and basically anything that has a hole.

 

he loves to go to the driving range and play golf.

he even has his own little plastic set that he mostly runs around and whacks stuff with.

shakes his head yes or no.

still loves his cousin twin jackson, and spends lots of time with him.

 his tricks:

-so big!

- shout horray!

-if you're happy and you know it clap your hands.

he's getting really good at following directions:

- sit on your bottom

- give me your binkie

- let's go outside (or upstairs/downstairs, or take a bath)

 he can find his:

- nose

- mouth

- ears

- toes

- head

and belly button

 

he loves getting wet - 

playing in the reflection pool

or running around in the rain.

says: momma, dadda, doggie lots and lots.

 he has been babysat quite a few times recently, and did great!

this boy used to be impossible to leave with his strong will and attachment to momma.

but i think we have a changed babe on our hands.

again, life is good, and we are so blessed!

c's nursery

so i have finally taken pictures of cal's nursery.

here it is:

i love his crib! we got it from jcpenny for a really great deal. 

i love the classic look. the solid ends keep things quiet and dark.

i am a sucker for white furniture, and overall, i have just been impressed.

 

yes, the la-z-boy chair takes up a lot of room, but it has been a must.

1. given to me by my mom / 2. / 3. heart sewn by c's cousin ashlee / 4. shadow box of hospital stuff / 5. / 6. me / 7. his grandpa cal as a boy / 8. / 9. 20 week ultra sound

 

i made the book sling before c was born, and had the hardest time figuring out how to store his smaller board books.. well thanks to pinterest, we now have a basket of board books.  

c seems to like the easy access to his favorite books.

sometimes, he like to relax and read...

 

 but most of the time, he prefers to make a mess

and have a snack.

 p.s i love all the natural light we get in his room...

it really is lovely.