at nine weeks this baby girl is beautiful!  not to mention her beautiful name!!  Eisley.  i hope one day i can pick as just as wonderful name as that.  Eisley was perfect, she couldn't stop staring at me...well, more like the camera, but it's close enough.  i loved her little hood that she constantly had on.
i went to high school with Laura, and i'm pretty sure we went to the same elementary, forest dale, right Laura?  Laura is a fabulous artist.  she paints, paints amazingly.  Dave her husband drums for the awesome band Emery.  be sure to check out their latest release, In Shallow Seas We Sail

but for now, check out Eisley...

before i say anything about anything, Brayden is darling with his biggg ole smiles. 

little Brayden (as opposed to when he is big and is big Brayden) turned one year old the other day.  i went over to my sister's house to make some fotografs on his birthday, oh boy, what a treat.  he was happy, running around, not crying, playing, happy, getting snot everywhere, really happy, and he participated in all foto activities marvelously!  we also saw so lamas at the nearby farm.  who doesn't like lamas?

we also went to a field.  put your self in Brayden's place.  can you imagine being a child in a new world with things and smells you've never experienced?  the grass is overwhelmingly taller than you.  there is so much to touch.  everything but that one blade of grass is filling your attention.  as adults can we even do that? the cares, the worries are all for a moment hidden.  when you have the opportunity to go somewhere new or experience something all entirely different, remember to truly explore it like a one year old in a field of grass.  because not one bit of worrying about all the things in our lives will add any years to our life, and life is a gift from God.

for his birthday party -- which was before his actual birthday -- we all headed over to stony creek farm out in nobletucky.  there were pumpkins, hayrides, lots of crying, kids everywhere -- a real zoo (of kids, not animals) --, and presents, cakes, and friends.  i loved it, i doubt he'll remember much, because, i mean c'mon, he's only one.  well, anyway, this post is slightly ridiculous and i feel like i can get away with it because Brayden is my nephew, and that's what uncles are/do: be/act ridiculous. 

do you have crazy aunts and uncles? 

p.s. if you don't find this boy incredible cute, you're probably a robot, not capable of affection!!!

p.p.s there is a second post of Brayden.  glass and shadows.

there were too many wonderful fotos of Brayden to put on one post.

thus! a second post about glass and shadows.

i present to you, glass and shadows.

what a privilege to continue to document Piper's growth.  these fotos (as opposed to photos) are of Piper's nine month stage.  cute little gal and very precious.  everything with her was fair game to insert into her mouth -- really adorable.  which makes me think that baby's are very bold and rarely fear the little things in life.  how often do i fear such small things and yet i ought to remember the Lord's care.

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?... Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear for clothing?'...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6: 26-34