20/52 - The 52 Project

Hello there,

Every time we play outside, I am more and more amazed by how much my little son has changed. I'm amazed by the things his brain remembers from last summer, and oddly enough, how much less I have to worry about him. He listens so well, and he has a much greater respect for things like gravity, and tends to discern what the function of things like trails and sidewalks are, and is much more willing to use them properly. As opposed to the Teague of last summer who would plop down on the side of a trail and attempt to sample the vegetation or rocks, and scream at the slightest suggestion that we follow the trail to see where it goes. 

This week's photo was taken at our church cookout, where even though there were dozens of other children tearing around the adjacent forest and screeching with the joy of summer and trees and freedom, my little boy wandered off to a quiet spot at the edge of the ravine, and spent a long, peaceful while just staring down the hill and throwing rocks to watch them roll and bounce down to the bottom. My son will play happily for hours with large groups of children, and tends to get along just fine with any of them, so I don't worry about his social development. But today, it was oddly fulfilling to see those introverted tendencies both I and my husband have showing up in our tiny boy's personality. We are grateful for his outgoing, friendly nature, but strangely proud of signs that our son will value solitude, and getting away from the noise to regroup in nature. 

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

Teague Jackson, I love you. I say it pretty much every week, but I am just having the time of my life watching you grow up.