The Year of Risden - Video

I made this video, a collection of footage we took over the past year, to celebrate Risden turning one!

If you would like to view a larger resolution file, click here.

Holiday Mini Sessions!

Christmas is right around the corner...(as all retail stores are already reminding us!) If you and your family live in the Boulder area and are looking for some fabulous holiday photos (at a very reasonable rate) I cannot recommend these guys enough!!! They're the ones that have taken the majority of our family photos that appear on this blog.  Feel free to contact me too if you would like more info!
http://fuse-photographic.com/

A Fox-Themed First Birthday

It's been a year and I can't believe it.   This time last year Judd's and my world as we knew it was about to be turned upside-down. We had no idea what we were doing, but we jumped in and forged-on anyway.  In a lot of ways I feel like I still have a newborn. I am still trying to adjust to life as a parent. I still can't get out of the house on time. And I still hope everyone around me can grant me constant grace because everything in life is just a little more challenging these days!  All of that being said though, nothing lights up my world more than that little giggle of Risden's. Or when he concentrates so hard to walk, and gives a big toothy-grin to show how proud he is.  I love that he is my little buddy that I get to walk through this life and see things as if for the first time with. I love that he is old enough to now interact and play with us. I love how much fun Judd get's in crawling around the couch, being chased by, or chasing the little Bubber. He is the joy of our lives and we could not have asked for a better year.

A few snapshots from his super-fun Fox-Inspired First Birthday Party :) 

(Photo Credit: Thank you to Laura Ramos at Fuse Photographic for the awesome photos, as always!)

Ten Months

Ten months....and a few days.  Risden's first birthday is just around the corner!  This past month has been great and (knock on wood) I've actually said out loud that it is starting to get easier.  Risden's two naps a day have become consistent and longer.  He is also sleeping 12 uninterrupted hours at night.  I cannot believe what a difference him sleeping makes on our entire family!

Little man has two bottom teeth and three more are coming in on top.  His favorite phrase (his only words really) are "uh-oh" and he says it all the time.  He'll eat just about anything as long as I mix in peaches, and he loves finger-food such as grapes, apples and chicken.  He's still nursing four times a day and we'll keep this up as long as he stops biting me (ouch!!).  Risden is still crawling as fast as ever and has started standing on his own throughout the day.

He loves Judd and I, grandma and grandpa Nutting, grandma Bohanan (from Skype dates :) but NOT the friendly people at the YMCA Child Watch where I try to take him 1-2 times a week so I can attempt to get back into shape  The second he realizes where he is he get's all spider-man clingy and cry's off-and-on for the hour I am gone.  This morning I took him to "Cruisers and Crawlers" story time at the Boulder Library and as soon as he saw other kids his super-hero tendencies surfaced.  It took lots of coaxing and 10 minutes of me not leaving for him to finally relax and play with the other kids.  As soon as he saw an open door at the end of the room though, he bolted out and into the library.  For how affectionate and cuddly he is, he sure is independent and adventurous.  We love our big-eyed sweet and energetic guy to pieces :)

Oh, and it was nearly impossible to get him to hold still for these photos.

Nine Months

My head is spinning as I write this.  Is it just me, or does a crawling child with so much energy just totally take everything out of you?  Today has been especially exhausting because Risden and I are both fighting head colds and between reaching for Kleenex and keeping him out of sink cabinets I'm spent.  Oh man, but is he as cute as ever?!  He has grown so much in the past 9 months, it's hard to believe he's the same little guy.  He has perfected crawling and can get across our condo in seconds.  Most recently he has also started to walk with his walker and can stand on his own for a split second.  He babbles all the time, preferring "dadadada" and a few other silly sounds.  He still loves studying things and can easily play with a tag for 20 minutes in the car.  His giggles are hilarious, and he laughs pretty much on command.  Tonight while Judd was giving him a bath he pooped in the bathtub and of course, thought it was hilarious.  Our little guy is so sweet and fun, I can't believe that a year is just around the corner.  Crazy!

 

Eight Month Update

Is it just me or does every month come quicker than the last!?  Risden has changed this past month more than any other so far.  About two weeks ago he started crawling and practically grew up overnight.  He went from being my little babe who would stay where I put him, to a pre-toddler with his own agenda.  He started showing signs of crawling (getting on all-fours and rocking back and forth) and within three days figured out how to move his legs and arms to get him moving.  Within a week nothing was off-limits.  

Being as prepared as I am, I ordered a baby gate back in April, only to find it was too small when we opened it when he was officially on the move.  Oops.  So, for about a week while we awaited the replacement, Judd and I were on high-alert (we have a very long interior staircase up to our condo).

One of Risden's favorite games is chasing our cat Hulk.  Hulk wants just about nothing to do with Risden, which sort of breaks my heart because Risden get's rejected all day long. :-/  

As crazy as it is that Risden has started crawling, it has been so fun to watch him get around and get into things he finds interesting.  Plus, his naps have drastically increased in length, and have become very predictable.  I finally have the schedule I have been dying to put him on!    

  

In Defense of the Pinterest Mom

I've been seeing a lot of hype on social networks lately that basically scream, "down with the Pinterest mom! You're making us all look bad!"  I understand that it can be extremely overwhelming to glance through Pinterest and see all of the fabulously beautiful things you could be doing with your time and money and feel really deflated.  I on the other hand, still love Pinterest, and find so much happiness is seeing all sorts of beauty in one place.

What is the purpose of beauty anyway?  God made beautiful sunsets that happen day after day, He created majestic mountain peaks and crystal clear rivers.  So much of our world is beautiful, but for what purpose other than to be beautiful and bring joy to those that experience it?  I think this is part of the reason that I love beautiful things.  I love the joy that a beautiful cake can bring to a party, or the fun decorations that distinguish this celebration from any other day.  I love creating beautiful things from other items that aren't inherently beautiful.  And I love the simple joy that comes from beautiful celebration.

For years I was able to focused my creative energies on my ventures in Architecture school and the work I did after.  Now that Risden is here and I am currently a full-time mom, I do not have this outlet built-in.  Even with my hands full between feeding, bathing and simply just raising a son, I still have as strong of desire as ever to put my hands to use.  And most of all I have Pinterest to thank for all of the ideas and inspiration.  I've never been great at coming up with ideas out of the blue, but I am great at copying!  Even Pablo Picasso was onto something:

"Good artists copy, great artists steal"

Sure paper plates and store-bought cake do not mean a bad party.  The people present are always the most important.  But I do believe that a beautiful backdrop can set this moment apart from others.  This life is meant to be celebrated and beauty is meant to be enjoyed.

And so, in defense of the Pinterest mom, I am not trying to make you feel bad about yourselves by baking a beautiful cake, or trying to decorate well for a party.  My intention is to use my gifts to celebrate, honor, and create an atmosphere that is to be enjoyed.

Here are a few of my recent creative ventures that I have been so honored to be asked to help with:

A friend's First Birthday cake:

Photo Credit: Stephanie Whitehill, Elevate Photography

Our Church, All Souls of Boulder's Celebratory Dinner:

 

 

Photo Credit: Fuse Photographic