MOVEMENT

Motherhood is Movement.

It is constant + it starts from day one. For months, you can feel your Little One moving within, kicking, spinning + hiccupping. After months of anticipation, contractions start or water breaks. Delivery day arrives. Welcome to Motherhood. During your child's infant stage, you move far more than they do. Climbing in + out of bed to feed your Little One. Rocking your Little One to sleep. Holding your Little One's head-up until they gain their own strength to do so. Strolling your Little One around the neighborhood to breathe in the fresh air. Motherhood is Movement.

Your child grows older + reaches the toddler stage. At this age, you may think that your Little One moves more than you. They are crawling, standing up + taking their first steps, but I'm here to argue that while they are moving, Mothers will move faster. Catching sippy cups or plates of food your Little One attempts to throw on the floor. Jetting across a room to keep your Little One from pulling a lamp off of the side table. Snatching a neighborhood sidewalk mushroom from your Little One's hand before they insert it into their mouths. Or consequently, calling Poison Control when you couldn't quite grasp it in time. Motherhood is Movement.

Currently, both of my Little Ones are past the infant + toddler stage. At ages seven + four, they out-move me. Often times, their foreheads are sweat-drenched after an indoor Nerf gun battle or outdoor biking. As for me, I usually only work up a sweat when I'm vacuuming or cleaning bathrooms. And while other household chores of mine like cooking meals, folding laundry + ironing clothes, don't leave me hot + bothered, they do keep me moving. It's just at a slower pace than my Little Ones. Motherhood is Movement.

For this week's #TheBethadilly52 photo prompt, Movement, I thought I would try something I had never tried before. I have a friend, Susan, that shared a family photograph of her + her husband sharing a kiss while their children literally ran circles around them. It was blurry picture perfection. I wanted to see if I could create a similar photograph + capture my Little Ones at this current stage in life, as fast-moving blurs. I put my camera on a tripod + used the self-timer to take these photos. I pretty much love how they turned out.

Taken using Nikon D7200, Nikkor 50mm f1/8 mm lens, at ISO 100, f16, 1/25 ss.

Embrace to blur, Mamas.

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LOVE

I thought last week's #TheBethadilly52 photo prompt, Love, would be an easy one. Not because I find photography to be easy. It's more because God has blessed me abundantly with a life full of people + experiences to love. Laughing with my Husband, joyous expressions on my children's faces, traveling (usually via road trip because I don't enjoy flying), sunshine + beauty found in nature all rank really high on my love scale. But there are also little loves like cooking + eating a delicious meal (cleaning up afterward makes an entirely opposite list), wearing a shirt that I feel pretty in, or getting a pedicure.

Then sometimes, I simply love a photograph. Most of the photos I'm sharing today, I captured last summer, back when the days were full of sunshine + warmth - much unlike the days of last week. But still, I love the moments, smiles + beauty that was captured.

My daughter, on a day she dressed herself + opted to wear her shorts inside out + backward. Four is such a fun age.

My son, perfecting the belly flop, on purpose.

Running through the sprinklers on our way home from the local farmer's market.

Braving the splash pad.

Flag football days. I think I enjoyed watching the games more than he enjoyed playing them.

Her first participation in The Nutcracker. This was taken during dress rehearsal when my daughter + a friend attempted to do what the ballerinas on stage were doing.

Love. The current week's photo prompt is Movement. I've got some work to do. =)

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VALENTINE'S DAY 2017

 Our Valentines Day was filled with lots of red + pink love. Delta Mae's preschool hosted their party on Monday. She was SO very excited to hand out her gifts to her sweet friends.

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EXPLORING PORTLAND || CATHEDRAL PARK

Last Friday, I woke up early to get dressed + ready to go on a field trip with my daughter's preschool class. We made it through our morning routine + then off we went, headed to school. Upon arrival, I could tell something was off because the parking lot wasn't packed full of vehicles. The second clue came when we walked into the classroom and saw that none of the students were wearing blue tees, the field trip day required attire. I had done it again.
This isn't the first time that I've incorrectly scheduled and subsequently arrived far too early to an event. During the fall of 2015, I showed up a week early for a Pumpkin Patch Playdate with my MOPS group. But in this particular situation, I showed up one entire month prior to the event. Don't even get me started on times when I've shown up days late for parties + other social functions.
So what's a girl to do? Well, first, I had to apologize to my daughter. She was a bit unhappy. Then I climbed into my vehicle + called my husband to fill him in on one more thing his ditzy wife had done. Finally, I ran a quick errand + then mapped my way to Cathedral Park. I had never visited the park before + I figured it would be a morning wasted to just go back home, especially after I had taken the time to wear something other than sweats to school drop-off.
Maybe this is a start to a new post series... Exploring Portland, When There's Nothing Else To Do.
But getting back to Cathedral Park, it is quite remarkable. The park is located under + named after the gothic arches that support St. John's Bridge. A quick Instagram search and you'll find that it's an extremely popular location. Whether you're out walking your dog or reciting your vows, many people are drawn to it's beauty.

Aside from the beautiful arches, I also found the railroad tracks that pass underneath to be a charming touch.
Stay tuned for more Portland Explorations, brought to you by a Lady who's never on time, be it too early or too late.

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FROM ABOVE

Wrapping up this week with another #TheBethailly52 challenge post. This week's theme, From Above, was a fun one. The rose photo above is definitely my favorite from the week. I love having fresh flowers in the house and luckily, bouquets from Costco are super inexpensive. But nothing beats the bouquets that are sold at our local farmer's market. May can't get here quick enough!

Maybe I'm getting off topic...

Anywho, here are a few more photos taken From Above.

Don't you just love a good movie quote?! =)

Next week's photo challenge theme is Love. Should be a fun one!

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