Spilled Milk

It is such a treat and joy to be a contributor on this new photography project. 18 moms from around the world, all of us finding together, each week, the beauty and craziness that comes with parenthood. I love looking for my interpretation of each week's theme from simple moments in my home alongside these amazing moms and artists. When you visit the project you can see our first week was "warmth" and this current week is "meal." Looking forward to the many weeks ahead. 

Follow along with us at  Spilled Milk 

Jess

It's My Favorite

"It's My Favorite" 

 1. 

a new mini series of sweet moments 

Holding hands with Kael is my favorite. He will get a burst of energy and run ahead. In his mind's eye, he's chasing a tiger or flying like Buzz Lightyear. But then, he will  stop in his tracks and reach out with a huge grin on his face (his grin slays me)  and asks to hold my hand. It never gets old. All of a sudden, time slows down and I can feel every part of myself soaking up the precious feelings of trust and tenderness. Watching my 2.5 year old toddler turn into a little boy has been the most amazing chapter of life that Samuel and I have experienced, so far. Last night, Samuel walked into the kitchen with tears in his eyes, after tucking in our  little Forest friend and said, "Gosh I love our sons, Jess... Kael, he's just so sweet." More tears well up in his eyes, with a smile that leaves my heart in a puddle. Those are the moments I live for. There are days of whining, frustration and tears, of course. But, I am overwhelmed with tidal waves of love and awe, as I watch this boy of ours lavish sweetness and the most sincere affection on our hearts.

 Kael, you can hold my hand forever.

Jess

Artist+Mother

To say you are the sweetest, most gentle, little souls that I've loved is to speak my heart. 

Motherhood has found me in simple places, the last several months. I've been embracing my own heart, through loving my sons. I've been finding myself, while chasing Kael on his favorite walks and discovering my dreams (old and new) by watching Cedar explore his days with fresh eyes.  

Lately, life has been full of smiles, kisses, tears, early mornings and late nights, friends, family, bumped heads and warm embraces. I've had new motivation that usually comes for me with Spring and Summer. There are new things that I am excited about and old things that I'm learning to dance with, with grace and hope. I have ideas, projects that I've been working on, pictures that I've taken and things that I've created that are waiting to be shared. There are stories scribbled down, songs written and sung at the kitchen sink,  designs I've tinkered with and new journeys that we have started and are about to begin.

All of those things haven't been my driving passion or inspiration during this season, though. It's been the faces of my boys and the heart of my husband that have been my beauty and creative engine. Allowing my heart to explore and soak in this life of mine, without set expectations of my own or others, has been sweet. 

Finding the balance and that fulfilling place of being a mother and an artist, has been a continual growing and learning experience for me. As an artist, I've always wanted to do more, reach deeper with that discontented desire for originality. Right now, my heart feels good, settled in my title of "momma," fulfilled with a healthy desire to create more. 

My home is my center. My family is my home and I'm learning in every moment of every day how to create a living art, by loving them. 

-Jess

Trausch Family Part 1

Last Sunday, I spent the morning at my sweet friend, Beth's house and took some pictures of her beautiful family, 3 year old daughter Hanelia and precious new baby girl, Eva. (I'm in love with her, she is like a little china doll! Swoon.) We had so much fun and my heart enjoyed every second! I took a ton of images, way too many to post, but these are some of my favorites. Beth is seriously so gorgeous and she makes the most beautiful little girls!  Love you Beth! Thanks for letting me play and click away!  

I Like Adoption

A friend of mine posted this video and I haven't been able to stop watching it. This family's love inspires my heart in so many ways. Take a moment and watch. 

xoxo Jess

Hello 2013

Hello 2013. Something in my deepest heart is pretty excited about you. 2012 was a year of growing up, learning what it really means to cherish and to trust. I learned to hope again, to find beauty  and I truly feel like I settled into motherhood. My soul rooted itself in friendships, and found a sweet security, safety and rest in my growing little tribe of boys.  I can't even begin to describe the heaven we find in  our  kids. I've had a growing sense of awe at this precious quiet of love in my life, I'm overwhelmed by it. 2012 was harshest of bitter and the purest of sweet. I've never felt as much pain, and I've never experienced as much joy as I did these past twelve months. There are so many stories that were never written, and moments that could never be captured. It was a heck of a year.

Cheers to simplicity, and to love. Here's to newness, to expectancy of good and the joy of all the days that are waiting to make us know the sweetness of life. This is going to be a precious and fabulous year.

Stocking Stuffers: Make A "Beerd"

These easy-to-make "koozies" are the perfect, fun gift for a guy. Last month, I made several for party favors at Sam's lumberjack birthday party and sold out of them at a vintage market that I recently participated in! All of the guys LOVED them! My friend Jessie thought up the name "Beerds" haha. It's a beerd for your beer. If you don't have a sewing machine and aren't really the crafty type, who says you can't use a stapler or you can hand stitch the seam. These were such a hit so, I wanted to share the fun! 

Merry Christmas! 

Super easy! Place your pattern on the fold of the faux fur, cut, sew and turn inside out! That's it! 

Thanksgiving Was Perfect

Thanksgiving was perfect.  It was wonderful, simple and full of quality time with my family in Texas. My parents got to really fall in love with Cedar and enjoy all of Kael's new passions and his always exploding personality. His obsession with animals and impersonations of them is the latest. haha. The slow, stealthy "tiger walk" with growls and his pretending to sleep and snore are my favs. 

While at my folks house, my dad was the baby whisperer, hands down. Any time Cedar seemed discontent, my dad would pick him up and in 2 minutes or less, this is what I would see. I swear, almost all of the pictures I took of my dad over the whole week that we were there, looked like this: my dad, holding his littlest boy, all snuggled sleepily on his shoulder...

I'm so thankful for my boys who make up our little, growing tribe of sweet and crazy. 

Coconut Oil

I love coconut oil!  I use it for lip balm, lotion, cooking and several other things! It's pretty much amazing. It's anti-inflamatory, anti-microbial, anti-viral and helps you to absorb more nutrients from your food. You can use it for moisturizer and even deodorant.   Kael thinks it's pretty awesome, too.  He wanted to put some on his lips yesterday, so I let him. Then, I just watched as he continued to rub it all in his hair and eat finger scoops of it. He must have been listening to me earlier when I was telling Sam how good it is for curly hair...haha.  I figured the mess would be minimal and he was having fun experimenting with the texture. Needless to say,  Kael smells like a tropical beach boy. =)

Have you ever used coconut oil? Here is an amazing link that tells you over 100 different uses for it! CLICK HERE  Do you have a favorite recipe or usage for it? I'd love to hear!