What a year

This blog has been an absolute joy for me to partner with my wife in creating something together. I love photography and the stories that an image can tell, and my wife is so gifted at using the written word to communicate in a creative way. It is quite obvious that we have both been a bit, well, irregular when it comes to posting.

In the time the last post was written, we have moved to the High Desert of California from Orange County, had a son (7-11-08), and purchased a fixer upper. By fixer upper, I mean a home that will demand a total of 4 months of renovations before we can even move in. We love all that has happened, and feel blessed abundantly.

Having a son has been an interesting experience for me. I want to be a solid example of what it means to be a man, husband, and father to him, but I also want to make sure I capture some of the stories that happen as our family grows together. That being said, hopefully over the next few months (and ambitiously, years), these photos that are shown here, will also be the stories of our family.

Ryken joined us earlier than we were expecting by about 5 weeks. Because of that, the first seven days of his life were spend in the NICU so he could be evaluated. We are quite blessed, as he was given a clean bill of health, and sent home with out any major issues. One of the first times he looked up at his mother was quite fitting. They were both hooked up to a cluster of machines, and I could imagine him saying, "You have wires everywhere too! We must be related!"

We have had some good times getting to know our new "little man", as we call him. Being one who loves photography, I try to find the moments that truly capture the interactions we have. The above image seems to be his attitude as we try to figure out what this whole parenting thing is all about.

But as we get the hang of things, it feels more rewarding. Though he is just a smidge away from smiling when we smile at him, we can sense that beneath that ever-thickening face of his, there is a happy boy waiting to explode out. He is blessed beyond measure to have the mother that he does. It's amazing how difficult the job being the primary caregiver really is. I am constantly amazed at my wife, and how gracious she is with him.

The stories of this blog will likely shift from fictional stories based on an abstract photograph to something much more real. We will undoubtedly continue to explore abstract worlds and unknown realities as we visit these places together - as a family.