On where I've been:

Posted on | August 19, 2015 | No Comments

Hello out there! Long time no blog, I know. It's been a whirlwind of a summer with camping trips, family visits, and the girls being simply busy as ever. Hazel is now 3.5, and Juniper turned 16 months today. It's crazy to even write that! I've also began a very exciting endeavor and started a photography business - Little Trees Photography. Back in April I took an 8 week course to really improve upon my photography skills, and it inspired me so much creatively that I decided to finally jump in and start this business. I've discovered my true passion and niche of photographing ordinary moments that prove real life can be just as beautiful (really more beautiful) than posed, smiling at the camera images.

So that's where I've been folks. I've dedicated so many late nights to make this dream a reality, and am beyond excited about it. I will update my blog over there most of the time, so add me to your reading list if you feel so inclined :) www.littletreesphoto.com

I hope you are all doing wonderful! Hope to hear more from you soon.

Xo, April

Category: life , Photography , sisters

Gratitude

Posted on | April 7, 2015 | 1 Comment

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Gratitude. I've recently taken note of how much happier I feel when I practice gratitude on a weekly if not daily basis, whether it be in silly conversations with Hazel, meaningful ones with B, or just writing down a list of my gratitudes at the end of the week. Often they are little victories such as "I got a shower today!" and occasionally they're bigger ones that involve epic hikes to beautiful vistas, but as long as I'm taking the time to appreciate and focus on a little positivity in my life I feel so much more whole and content as a mother, wife, and human being.

So here's just a smidgen of my gratitudes this week.

Visits from B's parents. His mother and step-dad are truly such kind hearted people, I'm always left feeling a bit inspired by them when they leave.

Juniper approaching one, and learning so many new skills as of late. She's starting to stand unassisted and walk while only holding one of our hands. She's so ridiculously proud of herself and giggles the entire time, looking around to make sure everyone is watching.

Naps on momma. They're getting harder to come by these days.

Hazel. Oh, Hazel. Grateful for her doesn't begin to explain it. She's so patient when her little sis needs my attention, and so gentle/always on the watch for her sisters safety. She's also so creative and independent as of late, I could just quietly watch her create and imagine for hours.

My job. Seeing women in such raw, natural form everyday is truly a gift. I love helping to empower women to have the birth they desire.

Some recent dietary changes focusing on whole foods, which has left us feeling energetic and healthy. Although there was a little binging this easter weekend... ;)
Speaking of Easter -- watching H's amazement at the 'bunny tracks' around our house when she awoke and then watching her run around the entire 5 acres of our property collecting eggs was just perfect. Holidays are exponentially more exciting with kids.

My mothers impending visit. Despite some differences we've discovered in my adult life, my mother is still just a rad, lovely person. I'm just excited to have her out in Oregon especially to celebrate J's birthday in just a couple of weeks.
Spring! Blooming flowers, rain clouds then sun, and even the lonely garden is starting to awaken. I'm eager to get out and work in the dirt.

What have you felt grateful for this week?

Category: babywearing , easter , gratitude , holidays , Love , Thankful

Spring break mountain escape

Posted on | April 2, 2015 | 1 Comment

Last week was spring break, which for us isn't really any different since the babes are so little and we work the life of nurses. Regardless of this, we managed to squeeze in one day off as a family and decided we'd head up the mountains, as we had heard there was snow up there (a few weeks prior almost all the reachable snow was gone which is just crazy early). A short hour and a half drive and we found just what we were looking for - a day amongst fresh powder, quiet solitude, and mountain air.

Hazel was wearing my old snowsuit which is nearly 30 years old and at the end of the day didn't quite do the job we hoped it would do, haha. The beautiful thing about a child, however, is she didn't even notice or care that she was soaked down to her undies.

We fired up the jet boil and had coffee & cocoa with a mountain view - pure bliss.

The girls went sledding (J's first time!) and it immediately brought me back to Hazel at about Juniper's age and how much she belly-laughed her first time as well. It's funny how different the two of them are. Juniper loved it, as you can see in the photo, but she was very quiet & simply took it all in with a smile throughout the day. Hazel at that age was very verbal how her excitement, always blabbing & we knew exactly how she felt. I've been able to tell their personality differences from the start, it will be interesting to see if it continues.

I sat by this pond and nursed June before we left for a solid 10-15 minutes while B & H had snacks back at the car. There was a moment of complete contentment between us, where even June seemed to appreciate the stillness and calm. I will hold that moment forever.

Hoping the rest of your spring breaks were lovely, friends.

Category: Oregon , Photography , sisters , snow , spring , spring break

Serendipity

Posted on | March 20, 2015 | 1 Comment

This week has been a week of sickness. You know the type -- it's the beginning of spring and you think you're in the clear from all the late winter nastiness out there when BAM suddenly the kids are up crying and puking at night, of course hours after you've put freshly laundered sheets on the beds (seriously). Dad & I had to take a day off due to this double trouble and we decided yesterday a car nap was the best way to get actual long naps in them since they had both been sleeping and napping so poorly due to congestion. So we hopped in the car and headed upriver, giant coffees in hand.

We ended up at a spot that we discovered when we first explored Western Oregon looking to move here -- it's a place we camped at many times sans kids, staying up drinking local ale and listening to Death Cab for Cutie, a tarp over our campsite as a effort to stay dry (Oregon camping, duh). I remember sitting on this riverbank wishing for babies, as we had been trying to conceive to no avail for about two years at the time. I remember the lyrics 'I need you so much closer' I was listening to one day while watching B fish, and it was exactly how I felt about these future babies of mine. The ache was so raw, so consuming. Now here I am, 5 years later, with two sweet girls who watch their daddy fish from this same spot.

Some days it all feels so serendipitous. We were always where we needed to be but simply didn't see it. We discovered one another as man and wife longer than some get to have. We moved twice, went on some amazing adventures, & bought a home in the country we may not have found had our path been gone differently. It's hard to see those lovely consequences in the midst of infertility.

And guess what? Waking up to this river with our little backstory was just what the girls needed. Their runny noses and congestion were no match for the beautiful sounds of mother nature, the calm they truly needed. They played in the sand and hiked in the forest, giggling and singing like the happy souls they are. And I was left feeling whole, as if my life was leading up to this moment, middle of the night vomiting and all. Because life is what you make it. And mine, well it is simply beautiful.

Category: babywearing , Love , marriage , Motherhood , Nature , Oregon , sisters

Lovely Little Trees

an aesthetic voyager drawn to the wild, my sweet family along for the ride

On where I've been:

Gratitude

Spring break mountain escape

Serendipity

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