First Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas celebrating Jesus with our loved ones. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the past couple of days.

I love this hat.

My two handsome boys.
Em and Jaclyn preparing our Christmas feast... way too much yummy food.

Owen and his Uncle Todd making crazy noises.
Exploring new toys... Owen has this hysterical new squinty eyed smile that he loves to give. His little personality is really comming out.
Me and Owen loving Christmas morning at my dad's house.
Owen is getting close to walking these days. He got behind this push train on Christmas Eve and pushed it accross the living room for the first time. Owen's new love is trains...he sat with my dad by the tree watching the train for most of the holiday. Does every little boy inevitably love trains?
Owen and Grandpa on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas from the Saukkola family.

Lovin' Christmas

Last night we bundled up for a quick walk around the island to enjoy the Christmas lights. I love Christmas.

See what happens???

When you are surrounded by older women??
Hazel and Flora, Owen's older cousins, LOVE him! They start the head rubbing the second he is within arms reach. We have already established the pecking order in this family.

Thankful

In a time of so much uncertainty and loss, it is so easy for me to lose sight of all that we have and fear instead of thank. My husband has such a grateful spirit, he reminds me daily that we have everything that money can't buy... since he is a better person than me, he follows the advice of our pastor and writes down 10 things he is thankful for everyday before he starts his workday. Here are mine today.

1. My marriage. I am married to a Godly man who wants to fulfill God's purposes for our lives and love me and Owen. He is good, and handsome, and so much fun to be with.
2. New life. My heart has expanded this year with Owen, he is such a miracle. Never did I think that I had any room left for such a big love to add in my heart.
3. Beauty. Everyday, no matter what mood I am in or what chaos surrounds us, God gives me beauty in nature, music, books, and people to remind me that he is good.
4. Our families. both the Burtons and the Saukkolas are amazing... where would we be without them?
5. Community. Mark and I are surrounded by some of the most outstanding people I have ever known. They support us and journey with us through whatever may be going on.
6. Our church. Right now I am in a spiritual growth group that is rocking my world. So thankful for the women who allow me to be vulnerable and imperfect.
7. God is god and I am not. I am so thankful that I have a good God guiding me, and that he is in control and I am not.
8. Running. It has mostly been a year without running with the pregnancy and post baby bod. Im so glad to be able to run again (even if its not as often)... it feels amazing.
9. My time at home with Owen. Im so grateful for this time off of work... it has been a dream. Im grateful that I have a husband who values me being home more than the money I would be making.
10. Hot beverages. Okay, so I didnt save the best for last... but where would I be without my cup of comfort? I love my hot coffee or tea... anytime, anywhere.

What are you thankful for?

My Favorite Place

Im convinced Crystal Cove is one of the most beautiful places in the world... when I need to feel alone, or need to get away and get my mind off of something, or just want to be somewhere beautiful, I go there. Last Tuesday Mark and I were craving a midweek vacation, so when he got home from work we strapped Owen in and caught the sunset at Crystal Cove. Its a mile away, but for some reason it feels really far from any worry or stress. Without failure, everytime we turn into the parking lot one of us says to the other, "Do you know this is one of my favorite places?" as if we had never said it before. It just feels good to say it. Owen LOVES the backpack. He loves the beach just as much as we do.

I may be sick of the heat wave, but I love the amazing sunsets. Have you seen one lately?

My bright spot.

My son is simply edible to me right now. I cant help it, he is so cute. He can brighten up any day, and make me forget any worry.

ps. Photo by Simon Pollard

Cute-a-saurus Rex

Gotta love the side view.Owen and Grandpa... BFFs.
Here's a sneak peek of Owen in his Halloween costume. We dressed him up after church on Saturday for the Harvest Carnival... it was pretty funny. Thanks for loaning us the costume Linds.

Jeremiah 17

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when the heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.

New things..

This week, Owen took his first shower with dad. It was a total hit. He loved every second of it and did not appreciate being taken out.

Owen met his new soul mate, Shelby.
As for the new crib, Owen has found his niche. I place him in the middle every time I promise. He snuggles his way into the absolute corner of the bed. I think he misses his bassinet. Check out all of the unused space!

We are out of the woods on the sleeping strike. He is back to his old amazing ways...thank you.

31

Thursday was my 31st birthday. I love birthdays, as they have always been an excuse to reflect on life and thank God for all he is doing and has done in the year. This year I began the day with a 4 am wake up call from Owen (who by the way is on a sleep strike all of the sudden). The wake up ended up being a total blessing as Owen went back to bed and slept until almost 8:30. I had my morning run at 6 all by myself since Mark hadnt left for work and Owen was still asleep. On that beautiful run and in moments throughout the day, I had a chance to meet with God and talk with him about my year. I talked to him about how much life change has happened, how these life changes are changing me, and how grateful I am for all of the blessings he has given me. My life is not perfect, and 31 is in some ways different than I would have pictured it when I was young; but, I have abundantly more than I could ever have wished or imagined in God, in love, in family and friends. In my eyes, I am the most fortunate woman in the world.

A Severe Mercy

I am reading my favorite book again. Every time I reopen it, its like revisiting one of my favorite places in the world. The story is completely beautiful on every page...trust me and read it, you will be hooked by page one. The first time I read it, I couldn't put it down, I think I finished it in two or three days. Its been a year or two since I last read it (and I finally got it back after the entire Turek family read it, and loved it) so I thought it was time.... I am completely caught up in the lives of the characters. It is a story of friendship, love, adventure, and the mysterious and beautifully unique way that God pursues us into relationship with him.

Sitting is the new standing.

Two weeks ago, Owen stopped falling when he sat by himself. This has opened a whole new world for us! He used to want me to make him stand pretty much all day, but now he wants to sit and play with toys. (And he absolutely loves touching this tactile blanket his auntie En made for him.) This has been absolutely wonderful for me. Owen also popped his first tooth, and weighs 20 lbs. already. Our favorite things to do these days are going to the park and swinging on the bucket swing, wrestling with dad, and being out and about in any way with my friends' kids.

I love football.

Owen's first football game. Let's go warriors! Please excuse the pictures, but we were pretty excited and wanted to document the whole thing for coach.

Watching the game with Auntie, warriors are looking good. I love it!!! When can I play?

Sporting my Troy hoodie and football shoes. I want to be like grandpa.

3 Years.

This is one of my most vivid memories from our wedding day. I will never forget walking down the aisle and seeing Mark for the first time that day, feeling as if my heart was home. Last weekend we celebrated our three year anniversary... in a really good way it feels like we have been married so much longer. The past three years have honestly been the best of my life; God has really shown me so much about his love through my husband. Mark is so good about intentionally doing certain things everyday that communicate love to me.

Mark and I celebrated our anniversary in the desert, just the two of us. It was our first trip away from Owen, and although I was a bit sad to leave him, it was so good for both of us to just focus on each other. We vegged out by the pool (something I havent done in about a year!), went to the spa, ate an amazing meal together, and slept almost 10 hours of sleep that night! Enough said.

A New Season..

I love the transition from summer to fall. The breeze is different, a hint that change is coming. For most of my life, fall has brought the adrenaline rush of the new beginning of school, leaving behind the spontaneity of summer and getting back to strict routines and disciplines of the mind and body. This fall is different for me... It is a different new beginning, the season of me and Owen. I am now the early morning beach walker I used to jealously pass in my car on the way to work. Instead of stopping for a quick coffee, I make mine and enjoy it while I read and clean during Owen's nap. My after work dates with friends have become play dates with a stroller ride and a trip to the park. My days are simple and sometimes repetitive with Owen, but they are always filled with love and surprise. The new season brings quieter days, and I feel like God is quieting my soul. Im learning to slow down, to love and be loved, to listen, and to trust.

Two peas in a Pod.

Everyday, as soon as Mark is changed out of his work clothes, Owen attacks him. Yesterday, in the middle of a nose-bitting tackle, I noticed they were wearing the same thing... Doesnt Owen have a guilty look guilty on that adorable face?

Baby Blues.

Our friend Simon Pollard took some amazing pictures of Owen. Here is one of my favorites... more to come.

Big Bear

The Burtons had a "Dan in real life" family vacation this weekend in Big Bear, by request of my dad. The weekend included pancakes, dominos, Olympics, tubing at the lake, bbq, ice cream in the village, Alpine slide, and lots of downtime with books and magazines. It was really fun to be under the same roof again for a short time, I really love waking up to pancakes with my dad. I think everyone got in their Owen time, as he was definitely the favorite form of entertainment for his grandpa and aunties. The only bummer was the lack of sleep for Mark and I as our champion sleeper had a little vacation speed bump... Im hearing that's normal?? Whoa.
The newlyweds.The princess... who is by the way leaving for Hong Kong again in a month! Sad.

Playing with Dad on the cabin porch.

Mark LOVES coffee and the paper in the morning.
Pancakes! Burtons like them VERY light and thin.
My dad bbqed salmon and tri tip....yumm. Check out his facial hair. Look out George Cluny.