I feel blessed to live in such a beautiful country. Even at the end of a long winter, the landscapes are so green and absolutely beautiful. It's hard for me to walk outside without wanting to reach for my camera and I've been itching to photograph someone around my surrounding village since we moved in! So finally a few weeks ago, I got my chance! This is the Jensen family. They are fun, honest, playful, go with the flow, up for trying new things, and lighthearted people. At 8+ months pregnant this woman trekked over 300 very vertical stairs to the top of Notre Dame and walked I don't know how many miles while we explored Paris. A week later we had this photo shoot and few days after that she had her baby girl! (You can check out Piper's newborn photos here.) It doesn't get much more hardcore than that!
I have had so much fun getting to know and photographing the progression of this family! We've only lived abroad a few months but thanks to the Jensen's and many others, Germany already feels very much like home.

I am so proud of Alexa. Our three days in Paris she toughed the cold, frequently graced us with giggles, and seemed as eager to see everything as we were. She is my little traveler. From the moment she was born she's been on the move with us, but she's handled it so well. I love her easy nature and curiosity for life. She is such an angel; I love her so much! While we explored Paris with our friends, I couldn't help but think how lucky and grateful I am that I get to make these kinds of memories with my husband and my daughter. I've always loved seeing new places and experiencing new cultures, but traveling as a mother with my family makes it even more humbling and worth while! I can't think of better company to share and explore the World with.

A few images from our first day in Paris! We got to our hotel in the evening and went straight to Sacre Coeur which is the highest point in Paris. Such a beautiful view! And unlike the Eiffel Tower, entrance was completely free. It was conveniently a 5 minute walk from our hotel, and while it is a bit farther away from the other attractions, I would visit again! While there we took in the breathtaking view of Paris, explored the cathedral, appreciated the work of local artists and ate sugar and nutella filled crepes. As we were walking back to our hotel the carousel lights flickered on with the fading sun and I took this last image before calling it a day. 

I'm in a self portrait group on facebook and this week's challenge is faceless.

Oh Alexa,
Today Dad dropped his water bottle and it bounced right off your nose. You cried and we held and comforted you until the fear and hurt went away. We felt guilty for being clumsy, but you stopped crying and forgave us with snuggles and warm smiles. Thank you for being patient with us. We are new to this parenting thing and as much as we would like to be perfect parents, we make mistakes. Thanks for understanding that. You are a constant reminder that love blossoms when it is filled with patience, forgiveness, and lots of snuggles.
Love you baby girl.

Scott stuck around just long enough for me to admire the beauty of his new mountain bike before he started hitting the trails. When he came back into the house, this is what I saw; mud flecks, helmet hair, and lots of smiles. Happy Birthday Scott.