ahhh, the pressure.

just kidding! i told my friend tracy, though, that it is a lot more "nervy" shooting your friends as clients. but her boys are so sweet it wasn't work - it was just plain fun.
see more of their shoot here!

beautiful music...

i am not sure there is a more beautiful sound than the song of a woman in labor.

last night i was given the privelege to photograph the birth of the third baby of a new friend and sister in Jesus. in the still of night, under the autumn half-moon, with the accompanying harmony of the night creatures, we prayed and rocked and hummed together until the midwife arrived. this strong and thoughtful woman delivered her beautiful boy in the quiet sanctuary of her backyard with the attendants of her husband and a wise and seasoned (believing) midwife.
afterward, she rested and nursed in the warm pool they had purchased for the occasion, underneath the tiny-white-light-studded tent they put up just for the evening, before retiring to her room where big brother and sister awoke to meet their newest addition.

when i arrived at 1 am, she was well past 4 cm, with contractions every 3 minutes.




you can see her maternity, more of the awesome birth, and soon, family photos, here.

congratulations, ian and mel. and thank you for a sacred honor in sharing this part of your lives.

waking up...

every morning littlest comes into our room to nurse before the day begins. because i'm a night owl, i like to doze, so we turn on PBS for him to get his daily tv dose. (yes, i know, i will stunt his brain allowing him to watch tv - i DO have my weaknesses...) pretty soon early bird #2 joins us (e-baby, next big brother in line) and thank goodness, because he keeps Blue from heading off the bed.
finally, but perhaps most valuable, is the appearance of the princess, who faithfully carts them both off, changes the morning diaper, and feeds littlest - giving me a priceless extra half hour to get moving.
i am the most spoiled mom on the planet; i know this full well.
i hold my morning visits as among the most priceless moments of my days.

on another note (because i've been inspired by fellow bloggers four sweet sisters and the nester), i thought i'd share this:

i've used delays in our "spa" construction as an excuse to forsake our master bedroom lately. the other night i sweet-talked my studly man into helping me move some major furniture pieces and return our room to its "haven" status. ahhhh... romance and relaxation.

beach relaxing

i can't BELIEVE i didn't take my camera today. we hit the beach and enjoyed a shoulder-burning beautiful morning with our labrant friends. the beach was the widest i've seen it in ages with no seaweed clutter. the boys caught a jellyfish (no, charlie, don't pick him up!) and the girls "sold" sea treasures to neighboring beach-goers (they were pretending to have a shop, but the new "friends" insisted on giving the girls quarters...) and isaac had a blast crawling and standing in the puddles. God is so amazing to give us these reprieves in our "work" to remember how awesome He is in His creation.

bounty.

every time we go to pick up our organic produce co-op order, we are "gob-smacked" to discover just how SPECIFIC is our Papa's answer to some of our prayers. a few weeks ago, we'd been eyeing champagne grapes at the grocery - but being that they're not cheap, and i didn't know how they taste, i hadn't bought them. well lo and behold, we arrived at co-op that week, and in the "kitchen" (read: cheap because it must be used immediately) basket, we received CHAMPAGNE GRAPES! (and in case you're wondering, they're terrific.) this week the kids had been moaning that it's been a while since we've bought artichokes, and when can we get them again? and guess what was in our "kitchen" basket this week? oh yeah, baby. lunch today was a FEAST. (sorry daddy, but we know you don't love these anyway.)
we love - LOVE - to eat these dipped in melted butter and balsamic vinegar... when i was a kid my parents ate them after we went to bed and for some reason i love inviting my kids to love this with me...







the aftermath.
"how deep the Father's love for us
how vast beyond all measure
that He should give His only Son
to make a wretch His treasure..."

Isaac Walks...

okay, i'm feeling guilty because the pics look like puppy training - the kids are holding out treats for Blue - but he's so happy to oblige them and walk for a snack!
THIS is how they end up with eating disorders, i am sure. however, aren't you excited with us that littlest is taking steps FOR REAL this week???




cutie patootie. his big brother (#2) was feeding him sweet potatoes today and discovered that little Blue LOVES to feed himself! ahh, the ensuing mess of green beans and pancakes...

school days, school days

(with an ornery mama.)

here is ethan's dictation assignment from friday:

(really, that first sentence came from his reader...)

...and here's what we're really studying. ethan's version of the parthenon: