Steve and Jenny Valentine

“We’re going on a bear hunt.  We’re going to catch a big one. What a beautiful day. We’re not scared!”   As Isaac and I sat on the couch together chanting these words from one of his favorite books, I was struck with a great truth that was found in this classic children’s story. As the story goes the family encounters obstacle after obstacle on their bear hunting journey. Each time they come to a new obstacle they chant: “we can’t go over it. We can’t go under it. We’ve got to go through it!”   As we read these words together Isaac likes to scream the last line and point forward with his hand as though he were the captain of a ship. Every time he does I pray that God will make this the disposition of his heart. As we journey in this life of faith that he would with bold confidence set his face toward the trials ahead and be willing to go through them. That as he grows as a man that he would lead his future family in this way, trusting that as...

(Isaac at his 18 month photo shoot) {for pics only...keep scrolling...otherwise enjoy the details} Oh this little man steals our hearts over and over again each time we look at him!  I always imagined having a son but could never have dreamed how amazing it would be!  He is a delight and adds so much joy to our family. He truly reflects the meaning of his name, "he will laugh, brings laughter".  Only the Lord could have known that as we decided on a name for him over two years ago.  18-22 months has probably been my favorite age.  I have often told people, I really don't remember it being this fun when Karis was this age (maybe for the fact that I was surviving off little sleep with a newborn and trying to figure out how to parent her at the same time!)  There is a benefit I think in having this third child two years apart rather than 18 months.  Isaac has constantly kept us on our toes with each new thing he is into.  He is our gentl...

Just because I like looking at the kiddos at similar ages, in similar poses... Karis - around 13 months old on a trip to the beach Isaac - around 14 months old on a trip to the beach LOVE these two beach babies!  Definitely similar in looks, yet still very different!  Both of their sweet smiles light up our days!   Thankful for them.

Aunt Lala has taken many great pictures of Isaac his entire first year, starting at his birth.  We are so thankful for her talent and she always knows how to make our kiddos laugh to capture such cute pics. {Not to mention she had her big ole pregnant self laying on the ground for some of these cute pics}  You're a rockstar, thanks Lauren!

Isaac is one year old! I admit I feel a little emotional...such a sweet little blessing he is to us. His birthday started off with him sleeping in just past 7am {all you who know how early Karis rises, you know this is amazing}…Steve got up with Karis and let me sleep a little longer too! Steve took the day off work and we spent the day low-key together as a family. We had a party Sunday following his birthday with our friends and family. If you know me at all, you know I'm an idealist and very sentimental.  His first birthday wasn't at all planned out like I wanted it to be and I was a bit bummed but I made the most of our UN-idealistic situations and we had a fantastic day as a family filled with many special moments.  I had wanted him to wake up and open his gift from us...but due to all the sickness we have had around here in the past weeks, we didn't have his gift and it just didn't happen that way.  So after his morning nap we all loaded up and went to buy his...