tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82478780960128435712023-12-12T12:43:21.130-05:00lil mama sewsRuthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-15904254370128526352014-10-21T19:17:00.003-04:002014-10-21T19:18:18.218-04:0042/52 - The 52 ProjectWell, I absolutely cannot believe there are only ten more weeks of this project!! I am about 99.9% sure I am going to recommit to this same project for 2015, as, even though I am not pleased by how many cell phone photos have cropped up this year, or by the fact that I missed two weeks in there (the OCD part of me is incensed!), I am more than grateful for the photos and the memories I've compiled...now to figure out if I want to do some sort of physical album with all the photos and what I wrote about each one...hmmm.<br />
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Anyway. Once again, only one baby got a "real" portrait this week. One guess which baby ;). But I am IN LOVE with this face!! The fuzzy hair, the huge eyes, the impressive 90 degree head-holding-up position, the chubby arms and dimpled hands--I love it all!!<br />
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<i>Vincent Arthur - You kill me.</i></div>
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<i>Teague Jackson - I'm so sorry I haven't gotten a "real" portrait of you in quite a few weeks! But you move too fast, my love! You're always in motion, and between you and your tiny brother, I barely think to feed myself, much less think to pull out the DSLR to capture you and your crazy-ness. But you are sweet and adorable, and these silly photos of you being delighted with the forward-facing camera on my phone will have to do for this week. I love you, sweet boy, and I will do my best to get a proper portrait of you for next week!!</i></div>
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Linking up with Jodi at practisingsimplicity.com.</div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-27205744302497651362014-10-17T12:56:00.000-04:002014-10-17T12:56:14.789-04:0041/52 - The 52 ProjectWow. Well, I'm sad that I missed two weeks in there :(. But, I'm here now I guess :). We have been *insanely* busy. Besides this whole learning how to be a family of four thing, we decided to throw first time home-ownership into all the crazy life-altering changes happening in 2014! It's 100% beyond time for us to finally make the leap from renting to owning, and we couldn't be more excited and happy, but my goodness, the added stress and busyness!! We don't close until the 29th, but we hope to actually move in on the 30th-31st, so we have a LOT of packing/cleaning/loose-ends-wrapping-up to do between now and then! Lots of stress, but lots of joy :).<br />
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Speaking of joy, my tiniest boy is nothing but pure joy and delight. I am SO excited to have non-phone-camera photos of him for this week :D. Someday, I will capture my big boy as well, but getting a three-year-old to sit still enough to actually photograph is much, much harder than a three-month-old ;)! It's still my goal to take portraits of both boys with my real camera every week again, but I am content with ANY photos of my babies for now :) :).<br />
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<i>Vincent Arthur - You are beyond delightful, beyond delicious, beyond anything and everything any mommy could ever ask for. You're perfect, I love you, and if I ever worried (I totally did) that I wouldn't be able to love another baby as much as I love your big brother, well let's just say those worries were completely and totally unfounded :). You arrived on the scene just three short months ago, and already I can't even imagine life without your unbelievably adorable grinning, squealing, sweet-smelling self snuggled up against me. There are no words. You're pure wonderful.</i></div>
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<i>Teague Jackson - Oh, my big baby. As much as you've been having a bit of a hard time lately (apparently being newly three is universally rough on all little people) and mommy's been a little short on patience, I miss having all the time in the world to hang out with you and your adorable awesomeness. I miss working with you on your letters, watching you paint your gorgeous artwork, and just having time to sit and read and snuggle and enjoy you and your suddenly long, skinny limbs, your ever-expanding vocabulary, and your blossoming sense of humor. I know we'll have that time again, slowly but surely, as your little brother's naps and night times get less erratic and unpredictable, but I miss you, little guy. Giving you bathtub paints and watching your joy in creating only intensified the missing, but it was nice to get a little glimpse :). I love you, Teague Jackson. You're an amazing kid, and I'm so glad you're mine.</i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-19472689429776974212014-10-02T15:41:00.000-04:002014-10-02T15:41:35.500-04:0038/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I know this is a week late, but I did pick the photos I wanted to post--I just never got around to posting them!</div>
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Teague Jackson</div>
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Vincent Arthur</div>
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"A portrait of my sons, once a week every week in 2014."</div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-9392684164882540642014-09-19T16:21:00.002-04:002014-09-19T16:22:32.981-04:0037/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Delighted to have captured both my boys with my DSLR this week.</div>
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<i>Sweet Vincent, your adorableness is beyond comprehension. </i></div>
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<i>Teague Jackson, you went from a toddler to a preschooler in the blink of an eye. I adore these photos of you with that impish grin, and cracker crumbs on your face.</i></div>
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I don't know how two baby boys could be any better-looking or any more incredible. I love you both so much!</div>
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"A portrait of my sons, once a week every week in 2014."</div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-77687923988201982092014-09-12T15:17:00.001-04:002014-09-12T15:18:32.913-04:0036/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You guys, this project is proving to be much, much harder than I ever though it would be. Photography, or anything remotely artistic, is on pretty much the lowest rung of my to-do list, along with things like "going out with my friends" and "wearing makeup." Life with two babies is...well, I truly don't know how to describe it. The only way I can think of at the moment, is to say that with one baby, the constant tandem bike ride of the most intense love I've ever felt and the most intense stress and worry and fear...is now doubled. Actually, I might even say tripled, as the relationship between my two babies is now like a third child in my life :). I chose just one photo. One of the two of them together. I adore it...and I adore them.</div>
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<i>Teague and Vincent. No words, my darlings. I love you so.</i></div>
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"A portrait of my sons, once a week every week in 2014."</div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-26320240787203459092014-09-04T18:28:00.000-04:002014-09-04T18:28:08.270-04:0035/52 - The 52 ProjectWell, I accomplished half of my goal :). I got *one* of my babies with my "real" camera! As much as it seems pulling out my DSLR to capture my babies is redundant and unnecessary when my phone camera is so quick and so easy, I'm always reminded how completely worth it it is! All those details, his sweet chubby baby eyelids, every darling baby lash, and the reflections in his humongous baby eyes...no phone camera (that I know of!) can even come close! Even more motivated to capture both babies with my DSLR this week!<br />
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<i>Vincent - you bring me more joy than I ever thought possible. </i></div>
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<i>Teague - I love this photo, phone-camera-rific as it is. You have absolutely zero fear. You left mommy and Vincent standing on the sidewalk without a thought, sprinted down the lawn, and swung out into mid-air on the guard rail. There is actually quite a sizeable drop from the first lawn down to the second (hence the guard rail, I'm sure!), so as much as I love your independence and fearlessness, I fear you're making me old before my time :). As much as I'd like to curb your craziness sometimes (your energy surpasses any two-year-old I've ever known!), I love your adventurous spirit and unbridled joy. You're perfect and I adore you.</i></div>
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Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-34335745791780501062014-08-28T20:26:00.001-04:002014-08-28T20:26:28.293-04:0034/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hi again, </div>
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Well, my goal of being able to take actual portraits of my children with my "real" camera, every week, through all the change and transition and taking care of a newborn-ness of our lives right now is rather unattainable :). But, I think the mere act of selecting a photo even just from my phone of each of them, and taking the time to reflect on each of them, every week, is still extremely valuable to me. I think I can see a light at the end of this tunnel, though--and am looking forward to capturing my sweet babies with my real camera every week again soon :)!</div>
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<i>Vincent - Where has my scrawny little newborn gone?? Where are those skinny lil chicken legs, that soft, wrinkly, loose skin, that floppy, squishy, foldable body? Who is this chubby, round, wide-eyed person who greets me every morning with more expression and alertness than the morning before? Who will stop fussing when mommy comes near, and will give mommy happy, crooked grins and wonderfully long strings of baby conversation? Who can actually be distracted from crying by playing with daddy, or being laid on the floor for some tummy time? I can't believe how quickly you've changed from a newborn to a baby, my love. You are joy and a wonder, and we are just so lucky you're ours.</i></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnB1QQ8Qc2A/U_9O-Y5gGVI/AAAAAAAAvZI/brJEf2P9rwg/s1600/IMG_20140822_140005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnB1QQ8Qc2A/U_9O-Y5gGVI/AAAAAAAAvZI/brJEf2P9rwg/s1600/IMG_20140822_140005.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Teague - You are officially too big for the biggest size of diapers out there, before you even turn three!! You were insanely excited to be wearing "Bus Ightyear" on your new pull-ups, and didn't stop checking yourself out in the mirror for about fifteen minutes! We hope to start potty-training soon, but for now, we're just thankful pull-ups exist!</i></div>
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<i>Well, you and I are still working out this whole "you're not my only baby anymore" thing. Mommy is slowly learning that her attitude almost 100% controls how our day goes, my dear. If mommy's grumpy and short-tempered, so are you. But if mommy does a heart-check and focuses on what's really important, we're both infinitely more cheerful and willing to help each other through the day. You're still my precious boy, Teague Jackson. You amaze and delight me, and I am so thankful you're mine. </i></div>
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Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-25830922949376371482014-08-21T11:09:00.000-04:002014-08-21T11:09:29.149-04:0033/52 - The 52 ProjectWell, I am quite late this week, and I am using two photos from my Instagram, which I don't prefer, but we had a very stressful week, what with tiny Vincent hitting his 6-week growth spurt *hard*, and my sweet Teague finally starting to show signs of the stress and frustration of sharing mommy for six weeks. I was exhausted from lack of sleep, and the near-constant nursing of my growing little boy, and from worry and guilt over my oldest baby's hurt and sadness. But, we survived. Vincent jumped a clothing size, seemingly overnight, and mommy and Teague are working on finding each other in the midst of all this craziness and change. It's been rough, but my two boys are unbelievably precious, and I wouldn't trade this experience with my very own babies for anything in the world! Except maybe sleep ;).<br />
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<i>Teague - You are precious and darling, especially when you're so proud and delighted to be eating your very first bowl of cereal. Mommy needs to remember this when she is sleep-deprived and your brother is screaming, and you just want some attention. Even when that comes in the form of you joining in the screaming yourself :).</i></div>
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<i>Vincent - I can't even stand your luscious wonderfulness. You filled out so much this week--I can't believe my scrawny little floppy newborn is all but gone! You officially gave us real, happy, huge, crazy baby smiles this week, along with some ridiculously adorable coos and babbles. Every day, you look bigger, cuter, more amazing. I love seeing these tiny glimpses of who you are in there, I just want to know you!! Oh, and the fact that your little baby face looks rather uncannily like MY baby pictures is just icing on the cake :). Your wispy, silky newborn hair still looks red in the sun or under a lamp, so we are hoping that stays! But no matter what, you are our sweet, amazing baby, and we couldn't adore you more!!</i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-81904369713622034412014-08-13T11:40:00.001-04:002014-08-13T11:41:34.145-04:0032/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Vincent - I still can't get enough of your adorable sweetness.</i></div>
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<i>Teague - I couldn't believe how much my heartstrings were pulled as I watched you getting bowled over and over down the slip 'n' slide by your daddy. Your elation & delight were intensified by the sunlight highlighting your grins and laughter, and your huge blue eyes framed by your sopping wet hair. You were so tiny, so happy, so brave...and yet you suddenly seemed so old. Like you'd suddenly grown up and I'd missed it. How I felt all this simply while watching you play, I don't know. But I know I love you fiercely, and I'm so proud of you it hurts.</i></div>
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"A portrait of my sons, once a week every week in 2014."<br />
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Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-63540537760676476292014-08-06T14:12:00.003-04:002014-08-06T14:12:50.971-04:0031/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Delighted to have finally successfully shot both my babies this week with my DSLR :).</div>
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<i>Vincent: You just keep getting sweeter.</i></div>
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<i>Teague: Looking suddenly like a seven-year-old on your brand-new bike. You haven't figured out how to actually pedal it yet, but you're only two, after all! And you look good on there, baby. Breaking mommy's heart.</i></div>
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Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-83831069899822312612014-07-29T21:49:00.003-04:002014-07-29T21:49:37.232-04:0030/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Vincent.</div>
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Teague & his extremely good-looking daddy.</div>
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<i>I don't have much time for words this week, so I will simply say that this week has been much like these photos, quiet moments of clarity while my tiny baby sleeps, and crazy, happy, swirly moments, watching my husband and big baby play together. This is life for me right now, and I am just soaking it up.</i></div>
<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-91953730279215998662014-07-23T12:05:00.001-04:002014-07-23T12:09:44.495-04:0029/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Teague: my fearless boy. Absolutely nothing the playground can offer scares you. This mama has to chuckle when other kids, much bigger and older than you balk and scream and cry, terrified to swing on the big swing or go down the big slide or slide down the fireman pole. Then your tiny, bold self pushes through and dives right down, giggling happily all the way. We want you to be fearless, sweet boy. To trust your body to be strong and agile and sturdy to take you wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do. Though this bravery comes with its share of skinned knees and bumps and bruises, you are happy and confident, and we wouldn't want it any other way.</i></div>
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Sweet brothers.</div>
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<i>Vincent: Oh my baby, once again, I find myself at a loss for words. You are amazing in every single way. You are a treasure. I still can't believe how lucky we are, that you are ours. </i></div>
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"A portrait of my sons once a week, every week in 2014."</div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-2456494672596402512014-07-17T11:15:00.000-04:002014-07-17T11:15:05.636-04:0028/52 - The 52 Project <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Teague - We are considering hiding your "fireman boots" from you. You insist on wearing them everywhere, all the time, and since you can put them on yourself, you tend to get your wish. With the arrival of your tiny brother, you suddenly seem HUGE. You impressed us beyond our wildest expectations the day we brought your brother home and you knew exactly who he was. Your comprehension that this tiny red-faced being is a part of our family was just so...awesome. </i><i>Your adoration of him (and subsequent slightly dangerous toddler displays of ardent affection) amazes us. And even though sharing mommy and dealing with all the changes that have come over our home in the past two weeks have been a challenge for you (and us!), you are adjusting. We love you, Teague Jackson, & are so proud to call you ours.</i></div>
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<i>Vincent - How to put anything I feel about you into words? You are perfection from head to toe. The easiest, happiest, sleepy-est baby in the world. The cutest, the snuggly-est. I already can't remember life without your warm little baby body in my arms. You are darling, you are incredible. And we just adore you.</i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-28140352302078537612014-07-08T17:23:00.001-04:002014-07-08T17:26:40.966-04:0027/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Vincent.</div>
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Teague & Vincent.</div>
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Teague & Daddy.</div>
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"A portrait of my sons once a week, every week in 2014."</div>
<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-66402652514113204432014-07-02T18:22:00.001-04:002014-07-02T18:22:23.844-04:0026/52 - The 52 ProjectLate this week because of this.<br />
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Vincent Arthur. There are no words. We're just so glad to finally meet you.</div>
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Teague Jackson. My favorite prenatal checkup buddy. Waiting so patiently for our wonderful doctor on my due date. Little brother came two days later :).</div>
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<i>"A portrait of my sons once a week, every week in 2014."</i></div>
<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-35314161050981993062014-06-24T18:22:00.001-04:002014-06-24T18:22:20.622-04:0025/52 - The 52 ProjectHi everyone,<br />
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I couldn't choose between these two images this week. The first was taken earlier in the week, of my amazingly intelligent big boy, connecting the word puzzle game he plays over and over with real life. Sooo cute. And the second is my amazingly energetic big boy, literally climbing the walls at my prenatal checkup this morning. I am just in awe of this tiny ball of constant movement and noise that we created together, who amazes us on an hourly basis, and brightens the day of everyone around him with his contagious delight and joy.<br />
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I am in the last few days of my pregnancy, and I am grateful for my overwhelming peace and serenity, and for the delightfulness of this darling almost-3-year-old boy.<br />
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<i>Teague Jackson, you bring this hugely pregnant mama so much joy. I'm so glad you're ours. </i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-48243752295686656592014-06-17T13:50:00.002-04:002014-06-17T13:50:46.553-04:0024/52 - The 52 ProjectHello everyone,<br />
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So, I finally pulled out my DSLR this week, and I was just so glad I did.<br />
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"A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2014."</div>
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<i>Today, we took a nice long walk through all the intimately familiar places in our tiny, much-loved little town. Our beautiful friend Abbie came along with us, one of the only people who feels the same about our gorgeous town as I do. She feels the magic. I loved watching you soak it all in, my sweet boy. Even if you were in a balky, cranky mood almost the whole time :). I can't wait to walk all our favorite routes with your tiny baby brother in my arms and not in my belly. I know he'll love it all as much as we do. </i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-88962863533971216552014-06-11T22:11:00.001-04:002014-06-17T14:00:06.662-04:0023/52 - The 52 ProjectHello everyone,<br />
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I know, I know, I am just so late this week! Our sweet tiny Vincent is due to join us in just two short weeks, and my nesting has kicked in <i>hardcore</i>! I have never experienced such tunnel vision, nor such surges of intense energy and motivation to clean, organize, purge, scrub, wash, and sanitize everything in every room of our house! And, when I'm not nesting like a crazy person, I am cranking out project after project from my sewing machine, serger, and crochet hook! I spend the rest of my time cuddling and (probably weirdly) staring at my darling Teague (never have I felt more urgency to just drink him in), watching hilarious and amazing shows on Netflix with my adorable husband, and...sleeping. Or at least trying to sleep. Sleep is extremely elusive these days. I try to look at it as preparation for all the sleepless days and nights ahead of me :D.<br />
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Anyway, all that to say, I am late, but I'm delighted I am here, writing right now. Still hanging in there with this project! It's been wonderful to actually stick with something creative. Amazing for this fledgling artist's self-esteem :).<br />
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This week's photo is, sadly, another phone camera photo, but when I look at it, I remember how I felt about my son that day. How I simultaneously felt like laughing and sobbing all day long. How it felt to be so proud of my baby that it literally hurt my chest. How it felt to be so happy to be out in the summer sunshine, browsing slowly through our gorgeous town's annual art fair, to be watching my big boy blissfully darting and dashing and dancing and grinning and exclaiming with unbridled joy at everything, to be spending time with adored friends and their precious baby, and to be feeling my sweet Vincent's feet and elbows and tiny body shifting around inside me, as much a part of my day as the already-born people around me. The past few years have been difficult ones for me. In so many innumerable ways. But just this year, just this beautiful, crazy, insane, change-filled year, I've been seeing the fruits of my struggles. And I've been feeling joy. And I'm just so grateful.<br />
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<i>Teague Jackson, you make this mama so proud. </i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-44606084541855928562014-06-04T10:19:00.001-04:002014-06-04T10:19:49.773-04:0022/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hello,</div>
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So, I have really tried to make a habit of pulling out my DSLR at least once a week to take these portraits. But I am also trying to be realistic! I knew this year was going to be one of the busiest of our lives, and also filled with the most change, but these were the exact reasons I started this project in the first place! I am so painfully aware that these years are fleeting. That all too soon these years of raising and making babies will be over. So it suddenly felt so necessary to do *something* to help me focus, something to help me stop and look and see and feel what it's like to be right here, right now. Smelling a disgusting diaper that needs changed as my son leans his warm body against my arm, feeling my darling baby's tiny feet shift against my ribs as he sleeps peacefully in my womb, and hearing Finding Nemo in the background as I hurry to write a somewhat meaningful and coherent post for this week. These days are precious. They're fleeting. And even though the change to come will be being able to see and stroke and squeeze my baby's tiny feet *outside* my womb, and from changing a large toddler's messy diapers to days of pull-ups and racing to the potty and promises of Spider-man underwear (both extremely welcome changes!!), taking time to enjoy the now is just irreplaceably important. </div>
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So. With all that in mind, here is a grainy, ill-composed candid shot that sums up our now of this week. My wonderful and adorable husband, exhausted from work and woodworking and life, still trying to squeeze in moments with our sweet son. My beautiful son, with his chubby fingers in his sleeping Daddy's beard and tiny toes curling and uncurling, impressing both of us with his aptitude for Preschool-age learning games on our iPad. Our dilapidated and food-stained futon that has served us so well for many more years than any futon ever should. In our tiny, cramped rental home that simultaneously drives us crazy and keeps us afloat financially. This is our now, and I think it's just beautiful.</div>
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<i>I adore you both.</i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-61829675759009844442014-05-27T18:51:00.002-04:002014-05-27T18:51:54.934-04:0021/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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My goodness, we are enjoying summer over here!! It's possible that we are extra-delighted with every green leaf, with every warm ray of sun, with every riotously colored flower, with every glowing green and gold view out our windows because our winter was so unbelievably cold and harsh and LONG, but whatever the reason, we are hungrily, happily gobbling it up!! </div>
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I just couldn't choose between the two portraits this week, so I posted both! Our air conditioning is still not up and functioning yet, so today neither I nor this lil goober got much of a nap! Both of us awoke in very cranky moods, so what better way to cheer us both up than to give my son his very first ice-cream cone all to himself, and for me to take happy photos to document this joyous event??</div>
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It totally worked, just so you know ;).</div>
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<i>Oh my boy. You delight me every day! You talk SO much now, with so much clarity and such a big vocabulary! You also have a vast library of movie and tv show quotes (all kid-themed of course) that you never stop performing with impressive gusto. You wake up shouting quotes from Toy Story, you go to sleep reciting entire scenes of an episode of Curious George. Your memory is incredible, your performances amazingly spot on. You also love to sing, and actually land on key more often than we would ever expect from a two-year-old. We think you're amazing, sweet boy, even when you use a dramatic scene from the Aristocats to try to distract us when you're in trouble :). Mommy & Daddy just love you.</i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-37098494441698802242014-05-19T20:01:00.000-04:002014-05-19T20:01:09.194-04:0020/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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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. </div>
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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. </div>
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<i>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. </i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-63561971884435415262014-05-13T22:22:00.000-04:002014-05-13T22:22:21.171-04:0019/52 - The 52 Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two big changes happened this week: it suddenly became unseasonably warm for May, and I took my crazy, unpredictable two-and-a-half-year-old to get his hair cut for the first time! The unseasonably warm meant mostly incredibly wonderful things like sunshine-dappled boys careening through the grass in bare baby feet, beautiful blue skies and even more beautiful spring greens, and moving our lives outside to escape the staleness of indoors for as often and as long as possible. But it also meant a family unprepared for the impressively oppressive Indiana double-whammy of heat and humidity, with an 8-months-pregnant mommy who tends to overdo it :). The weather is supposed to be much more May-like for the rest of the week, so crisis averted, but we were very clearly reminded that pregnant mommies need air conditioning, and will be much more vigilant about getting the A/C turned on next time!</div>
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And you know what? The first haircut experience? A complete breeze. Not a single tear, screech, struggle, and nary a wiggle!! My darling baby who balks with impressive stubbornness (and decibel levels) at the slightest attempt to control his movements sat completely calm and still as the barber ran the loud, buzzing clippers all over his little blonde head. I was shocked at the lack of resistance, button-bustingly proud of my sweet baby, and more than a little grief-stricken at the sight of all those blonde curls disappearing one by one. I was amazed and just...even more in love with this adorable, completely unpredictable child of mine.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb57Bz72jKo/U3LN-pAM6qI/AAAAAAAAm4o/kymZkS5QhR0/s1600/_MG_7204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb57Bz72jKo/U3LN-pAM6qI/AAAAAAAAm4o/kymZkS5QhR0/s1600/_MG_7204.jpg" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
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"A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2014"</div>
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<i>Oh sweet boy, without your curls. Still so gorgeous among the errant maple seedlings in our yard. You amaze me, you fascinate me, you make me better, day after day.</i></div>
<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-25991020544808074862014-05-05T15:11:00.000-04:002014-06-17T14:16:16.626-04:0018/52 - The 52 ProjectHello everyone,<br />
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Greetings from the *finally* Spring-y land of Northern Indiana! The past week or so we've finally seen temperatures consistently above 40 degrees, and finally, finally we are seeing my favorite part of Spring--shades of beautiful GREEN that almost hurt this mama's nature-loving eyes! I just want to sit and stare and stare at all the green until it permeates my heart and soul and mind with its achingly beautiful hope and joy and sweetness.<br />
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Speaking of sweetness, this week's photo is once again, an imperfect phone camera photo. But I caught my baby in the midst of one of his happy little shivers, where he brings his tiny hands and shoulders up, up to his ears, does a little shake, then spreads his arms wide, just grinning with all the bliss his baby heart can handle. Also, our tiny, eclectic, much-loved home is in the background, which makes me love this image even more. Feeling the blessings in my life this week. Many, many things in our lives right now are stressful, hard, and make us wish things were just a little (or maybe a lot) different, but there are absolutely infinitely more things in our lives that are blessings so far beyond what we could ever ask or hope for. Thank you, Jesus, for Spring :).<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqLdAZ4yZtQ/U2fZda-DNhI/AAAAAAAAmFA/5QpiZbuPdcw/s1600/IMG_20140505_132504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GqLdAZ4yZtQ/U2fZda-DNhI/AAAAAAAAmFA/5QpiZbuPdcw/s1600/IMG_20140505_132504.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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"A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2014."</div>
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<i>Oh my happy boy, there is nothing I love more than watching your tiny self just soaking in the joys of being outside. Every bunch of soft new grass, every tiny purple violet, every tree, every leaf, every bug, squirrel, or bird, every bright yellow dandelion sighting is cause for squeals of delight and close examination, usually squatting down, with your face almost touching your knees, studying every detail and proudly reporting to mommy in your squeaky baby voice all the wondrous things you see. I feel like I will never, ever get tired of hearing that excited, "Mommy?" and my answering, "yes, baby?" and your breathless report of "purple fwower, Mommy!" "Mommy, a dandy-wion!!" "A squirtle (squirrel), Mommy!" The fact that you share with me, that you bring your happiest joys, your angriest tantrums, your most dramatic sorrows, and even just your simple requests and quiet moments and calm observations to me, is a tenuous, fragile, immeasurably valuable treasure. I hope and pray that I never underestimate the gift of you sharing yourself with me, baby boy. You're loved beyond belief. </i></div>
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<br />Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-14621591079571072922014-04-30T12:44:00.000-04:002014-04-30T12:44:03.246-04:0017/52 - The 52 ProjectHello,<br />
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It has been amazing to me, throughout the 17 weeks of this project, to realize just how different my life is from the life I had nearly 10 years ago, when I was a carefree, unencumbered college student, traipsing about our gorgeous little town (we still live here!) in bare feet, a long, flowy skirt, with my beautiful friend Abbie by my side, with our prized DSLRs jammed into our faces, taking photos of absolutely anything and everything that caught our fancy. When I was in college, I lived and breathed photography. I was never without my camera, and was constantly uploading and editing hundreds of photos. Photography was as natural as breathing back then, and it has just been an experience this year, literally forcing myself to pull out my camera on a weekly basis and to spend that time following my darling baby around, trying to capture just one somewhat respectable photograph to post. It has been harder than I ever thought it would be to commit even to a once-a-week posting, but the result, even after only 17 weeks, has been just so unbelievably worth it!<br />
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This week and last week, I have been playing around with my 50mm lens, and I'd forgotten how much delightful depth and life just changing a lens can breathe into my images. The up close and personal images of my boy are almost always my most treasured, and well, the image below is my case in point ;).<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_h9DNSpMB0/U2EbYPTb9uI/AAAAAAAAlqI/ORN7pR4HZ10/s1600/_MG_7201b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_h9DNSpMB0/U2EbYPTb9uI/AAAAAAAAlqI/ORN7pR4HZ10/s1600/_MG_7201b.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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"A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2014."</div>
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<i>Oh, my precious boy. Today, you were fascinated by the sight of your bare little baby belly in the mirror, as you sucked it in and out, in and out. For some reason, the sight made you smile and giggle, and this mommy almost couldn't handle the cuteness. Lately, it seems your bent toward deafening tantrums and defiant pushing of all boundaries and your nonsensical commitment to wreaking havoc and destroying everything in your path has abated (at least for the moment), and the last few weeks have been delightful. Without your constant need to screech at the top of your lungs at the least provocation or disappointment, we've been given a wonderful glimpse into the little boy you're becoming, and it has been a beautiful sight. Both mommy and daddy have enjoyed taking you places and just loving your sweet (tantrum-free!) companionship. We love and adore you no matter what, but your contented, happy, precocious, chattering, singing, movie-quoting, affectionate, loving, giggling self delights us more than we ever thought possible. You're amazing, Teague Jackson. Our lives are immeasurably richer with you.</i></div>
Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247878096012843571.post-40255021379527300142014-04-23T14:28:00.001-04:002014-04-23T14:28:57.519-04:00The 52 Project - 16/52Hello,<br />
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Slightly more on time this week :).<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZEjNyPvZFQ/U1gEZqtjJWI/AAAAAAAAlRk/-160mXzN4x4/s1600/_MG_7193b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZEjNyPvZFQ/U1gEZqtjJWI/AAAAAAAAlRk/-160mXzN4x4/s1600/_MG_7193b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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"A portrait of my son once a week, every week in 2014."</div>
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<i>Oh my baby. I feel I have nothing to add to this photo. It's just you. Perfect, gorgeous, happy. My treasure, my precious baby boy.</i></div>
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Ruthiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11569738562264761449noreply@blogger.com0