26/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: This week our little boy turned 3. This little face makes my heart so happy. I could stare into it all day. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

25/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: It is 6:30am and he is ready for his bike ride. Out the door with daddy. I could hardly snap this picture before he was off to adventuring. They always come back with candy, bug juice drink and a big clump of flowers and greenery picked off the side of the road. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

24/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: Giggles, Christmas jammies and a collection of Curious George books is what I found when sneaking in to see what these two were doing together. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

23/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: He has always had a deep love for bananas. He would eat three a day if we would let him. If he ever gets hurt he cries for a "nana!" and its the first thing he ask for when he wakes up. 

Baby: We had an ultrasound on Saturday and got to watch you. You were all snuggled in close and played with your hands up by your face the entire time. I loved it. This week big brother was crying and I told him you were going to wonder what was going on out here. He stopped crying, put his hand on my tummy and said, "mommy you sing to the baby". 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

22/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: When he slows down he loves to look at books and have us read them to him. During our bedtime routine we usually tell stories and read several books or Bible stories. I think he would have us read all night long if he had his way.

Baby: I painted this for you. Because I already love you to the moon and back (and more then all the stars). 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

15 weeks

15 weeks

Owen and the baby will be about 3 and a half years a part. I am excited to see their friendship as they grow together. I am grateful that he will have someone to play with, to be an example to and to make memories with. When we first told him he would be a big brother he told us he didn't want to be. I knew he didn't know what a brother was so he was probably just being a 2 year old. Now he likes to lean in close and say good night to the baby and give my tummy a pat. When I told him he would be able to feel the baby kick he thought that meant he should probably start kicking my tummy also, maybe to initiate communication. When we ask him what we should call the baby he mostly says one of his best friends names. I love their relationship already. 

21/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: He is a collector. One of his favorite things to do, whether at home or outside, is finding things to collect and putting them in a big pile or "tower". Sometimes it is all of the same item, like sticks or rocks, and other times it is just anything and everything that is on the floor in our entire house. I will be sitting in my chair and he will make a giant pile of half trash and half things from around the house. It is very upsetting to him if anyone ever disrupts his towers (even if you are just trying to throw out the trash mixed in there or get the shampoo out of the tower in the shower).

Baby: I loved going through a box of Owen's things from when he was little and picking out things the baby can wear whether its a boy or girl. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

14 weeks

14 weeks 

What a joy it is each time I remember I have been blessed with a sweet life growing inside of me. After praying for another baby for almost 2 years it was such a joy to see those two lines on a pregnancy test. I love thinking back to that moment when I first knew I was pregnant. We had a lot of friends and family praying for us. That month I had been wondering if maybe it would be the month. I took a test in the afternoon, although not clearly visible to the naked eye, I knew. I immediately started sobbing, I was so overwhelmed with joy and surprise. I walked out to the living room and got down on my hands and knees and thanked God for answering all the prayers and I prayed for our growing baby. I took 5 more tests that day, the second line was very faint on all of them. That night when Paul and I were alone I told him there was something on my tummy, he came to look and saw a little heart with the word "baby" inside of it. He looked at it and said, "what is that?", I am obviously not the artist in the family. After a long laugh I told him what it said, he was so excited but also hesitant. When I showed him the test he didn't know if he could see a second line, I admit I had a bad habit of thinking I saw a second line when there wasn't one. The next morning he went out to buy a "fancy" pregnancy test and after taking it there were those two lines. We are so excited and grateful! A story of answered prayer. Thank you Lord for this little one.   

20/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: Celebrating his cousins 1st birthday with a train party. Wearing his train hat and enjoying his rootbeer. He sure loves his cousin. 

Baby: A little book to record your sweet life, big brothers comb and the second time we got to see you and hear your precious heartbeat. Its hard to believe that was a month ago. When I asked your big brother if you were a boy or a girl he said, "maybe a goose!" We love you so much, our little goose. 

Counting the Days

A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside,

when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time,

and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone. 

                                                                Unknown

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

18/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: He is a big brother!! It was so sweet to watch him pick out a bunny for the baby. He knew right away that the baby should have the "black" bunny. 

Baby: I am due November 15th with our second little sweet pea. We couldn't be more excited that God has blessed us with another baby! 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

15/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: He let us know a couple of weeks ago that he wanted tiny hair. He was like a little old man sitting there happily getting his hair cut. What a big boy he is. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

These two

I'm so grateful for these two. I found these images from our time together last April in Fort Bragg. They have such a very special relationship with each other and mean so much to me. 

Easter goodies

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I love to look at Easter goodies for Owen. I love to have a little basket and a few things for him to hunt for. Each year he is at a different stage. I cherish my memories from the past years and look forward to seeing how he is more grown up this Easter from the last. I love remembering his first Easter, Paul and I were so excited about hiding eggs for the first time and he didn't really know what was going on. Last year he was so excited to find eggs we just kept hiding them again and again like the never ending egg hunt. I was putsing around online for non-candy Easter treats and thought I would share a few. So far we have what we need for coloring eggs and a harmonica and natural play dough for his basket. I better collect my last things soon. Its just around the corner. What are you getting for your kids Easter baskets this year?

14/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: My blue eyed sweet pea. He makes everything a little sweeter. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

13/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: An explorer just like his daddy. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

10/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: Every morning he wakes up and exclaims that, "The sun is down! Get up! Get up! The sun is down!!!"

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

9/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: He was so excited to get Grandma and Grandpa Woos bedroom all ready for their visit. He practiced how to show them turning the light on and off and was especially excited about a snack basket for them. He is happy to have them here from Canada. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity

8/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Owen: I love to watch him think. He is constantly thinking and processing the world around him. 

Part of the 52 Project Series |  Started by: Practising Simplicity