Good-bye April

Project 365: 196 Lunchtime picnic. Soaking up the days where it's just the two of us.

April is gone in a blink. Travels to see family, the blossoms of beautiful flowers, a covering of pollen everywhere, and little green worms by the thousands. Sunny days, and spring showers almost equally. 

Project 365:199 Pink Blossoms. Shadows.

I spent the larger part of this month battling allergies, and then a nasty sinus infection. It lingers still. But, friends and neighbors blessed us over and over. We are thankful.

Project 365: 184 We love us some baby boys.

This little Ralphie is growing before our eyes. 8 steps in a row is his record. Overly-excited attempts result in scraped knees, but he doesn't mind. He can't shake the ridiculous grin off of his face. We're pretty sure he's just as pleased with himself as we are with him.

Project 365: 193 Hoarding all his favorite blankets.

We took a Monday to buy some seeds and young plants to put in the $1 crates I bought on craigslist. Spinach, kale and mixed greens, parsley, cilantro, melons, tomatoes and cucumbers. Grow little plants, grow!

Project 365: 195 Monday project

May is sure to be full. Zoo going, friend seeing, outside playing, swimming, walking, and toughening up our fare skin for Florida sunshine at the end of the month. [To say I'm excited for this little mini vacation would be an understatement.] Summer is right around the corner!

Happy May, y'all!

Life: Hard. But beautiful.

Oh, it has been one of those mornings.

Project 365: One Hundred Thirty-six. Valentine's Day Gift.

9AM hits, and my teeth aren't brushed, my day 3 hair is a shiny mess, framing raccoon eyes and chapped lips. Hopes of making it to the gym are long gone, and the near-16 week baby bump is dubbed a "food baby" for the day. As if I didn't already use the bathroom enough, I'm chugging pint after pint of water to clear the head cold I've felt coming for the last 48 hours. I'm pretty sure my skin is going to smell like garlic soon, I've ingested so much of the potent stuff; and I wouldn't be surprised if I suddenly had a blue-ish glow from all the colloidal silver I've been downing.

Project 365: One Hundred Thirty-three. Laundry

The dishwasher was loaded, at some point this morning. But I've had to load it three more times, because the one-year-old finds such delight in pulling out every dirty spoon, and every sticky cup whilst my back is turned. 

The laundry is going, praise the Lord, but there was no time for sorting this morning. Blacks, whites, reds and blues. They're all in there together today. I never do that. And then I find a stray sock tucked behind the hamper. Oh, well. Too late now.

Project 365: One Hundred Thirty-five. Bath time with the duckies.

The baby's crying, whining really, at my feet, begging for food. I know it because as soon as I lift him he reaches, lips smacking, for the fruit basket, the pantry, the bowl of brown grapes on the counter. How can this child still be hungry?! A quick snack, some drops of silver in his eyes, a teaspoon down his throat, a snuggle, some kisses. 

Project 365: One Hundred Forty-eight. Latest Favorite: Cantaloupe.

10AM. Naptime!

The poor boy has been sick three times in one month. As if I didn't already feel like enough of a mess, I push back feelings of guilt and insecurity as I turn the shower on. Hot, steamy water runs down my achy body. Maybe we could just sleep all day today? But, that's not the rest I need, and I know it.

Project 365: One Hundred Forty-five. Photo shoot by some cherry blossoms.

I fight with myself as I shave my legs. Why is my baby sick again? I must be doing something wrong!...

It's all Satan, and I know it. All the things on my to-do-list pop into my head, but I know I need Jesus first. 

Project 365: One Hundred Forty-four. Saturday crock pot meal freezing.

Wet hair, bare face, jeans and the shirt from yesterday. I fall onto our bed, Bible and journal open. Time for just God and me.

Grace. Joy. Peace. Forgiveness. It all sweeps over me. The exhaustion I felt is covered with a blanket of peace. The guilt is gone, the insecurities vanish. He is all in all.

Project 365: One Hundred Twenty-nine. My love bug and his new grin.

And here we are, the first week of March. Snow flurries this past Saturday, but spring promised by the scent in the air, and the buds on the trees. This weekend marked a whole year in Rock Hill. Wow. 

Project 365: One Hundred Thirty-seven. First flowers in the yard!

We're looking forward to garden planting, story-time going, ultrasound-seeing, Baby gender-revealing, and summer get-a-way planning. Maybe this is the month little man will decide to walk?

Project 365: One Hundred Forty-two. Peek-a-boo!

I am thankful. Every day I finger the two little pearls on my Mama Bird's Nest necklace and thank God for these two gifts he has given us. My mind wanders to days yet to come when they will play, and roam and explore together. Best friends, I hope. And when I snuggle next to my husband every night,  sharing the activities of our day, and laughing over an old episode of Everyone Loves Raymond I am thankful, again, that I get to be married to my very best friend.

Project 365: One Hundred Thirty-nine. I get to be married to him. <3

Life: Hard. But beautiful. 

Love,

          Ashlee

Happy February!

Heelllooo February! We are glad to see you. You give us a little more confidence with the new year, bring us one month closer to spring, and a holiday all about love. You are more than welcome.

One Hundred Ten. Blossoms.

One Hundred Eleven. Daily Dose of Coconut Oil.

                                             
                One Hundred Thirteen. Oatmeal Bake.

One Hundred Fourteen. New Trick.

 One Hundred Fifteen. Play date with Baby Anastase!

One Hundred Sixteen. An afternoon at the Children's Museum.

One Hundred Seventeen. New Robe and Slippers.

One Hundred Seventeen. Saturday morning playtime. Jammies, bedhead and all.

One Hundred Nineteen. Late Night Snack.

One Hundred Twenty-two. Sometimes, when his new teeth are ferociously making their way through, I still rock him to sleep. 

Today was one of those days. I soaked up every minute.

Good-bye, January. You've been sweet. A great start to 2013. We're on to 1st Birthdays, learning to walk, celebrating love, and all sorts of other adventures!

A Little of Life

Here we are, already half-way through January, and if it weren't for Project 365 I'd have no pictures to share. The holiday bustle ended, and it seemed for three days we breathed. Then, life just keeps moving. Daniel is busier than ever with this thing we call church planting. He loves every minute of it. 

We both do.

And Ralphie and me? Well, we just keep busy living. Exploring, learning, creating, enjoying. So thankful to be home with this blessing.

I'm consoling myself with his approaching birthday by putting all my emotions into creating the best birthday party ever. [i wish.] Seriously, this mama has to fight back tears daily as the reality is only too evident that her little guy is growing fast.

We've watched the rain come down for the last two days. It threatened snow, but never hit us. Today the sun is shining, and I'm envisioning a walk in the nippy air down in the Gardens after lunch.

Project 365

What I love about Project 365 is that it is a snapshot of life every single day. At the end of this year of pictures, it will be so fun to see not only how my photography has grown, but how our life has grown and changed.

Here are a few favorites from the past 3 weeks.

One: It rained.

Three: Morning Light.

Four: Naptime.

Six: Pomegranate.

Eight: Hot Tea. Fall Colors.

Ten: Final mow of the year?

Eleven: Drop of golden sun.

Thirteen: Pumpkins!

Fourteen: Nursery duty. :)

Fifteen: Laundry day.

Sixteen: Pages to fill.

Twenty: Soaking up the sunlight.

Twenty-One: Bedtime.

Twenty-two: Bokeh.

Taking a picture every day has forced me to look for the lovliness in everything. To find the beauty and light at 7am or 11pm. To observe, admire, capture, and create. It's been fun.