milestones

I had to make a quick note of Jake's latest milestone - sitting up by himself! He's still pretty wobbly but I'm so excited that he will have a little stability for our vacation next week! AND, he is cutting his first tooth! It appears the second one will be in shortly as well - both on the bottom. Not sure how long nursing will last once the teeth are in - I don't take kindly to being bitten!

Jeff's says I'm OBSESSED with the comparison pictures - but it's so fun to me! I snapped this picture of Jake this morning, and as soon as I saw it, I remembered a picture of Kylie that looked just like it (except for "the bird").

Action packed weekend ...

Daddy's back !!! ... back in the blog world that is :) First, a picture of my daughter with her toolkit fixing several things in the house ... I just started pointing at stuff and she complied. Her response after fixing moms chair, the baby swing, kitchen table, was - "Dad, whas else you need fixed now?" I hope she marry's a man like her daddy - but if she doesn't, she can hang her own darn curtain rods!!

Mom got sick on Thursday or Friday but was feeling a litte better on Saturday - so she made an awesome picinic lunch with little sandwiches with toothpicks (like fancy nancy!), apples and caramel, crackers and chips too!! Sorry no pic of the picnic - but our blanket is off to the right of this picture about 30 feet. Kylie was "drivin' the train ... come on guys, All Abooooarrrrd!"

Jake and I chillin' on the slide ... i really need to retire those sunglasses.

And finally after a brief stint at the pool and some runs down the waterslide we headed out to a gourmet dinner at Chipotle (yum!)... on the way home, I called Nana to tell her about the picture that Kylie drew for her at dinner ... and then it happened - my brain flashed forward 12 years -- here you see Kylie at 3 yrs old, holding an iPhone and having a conversation with my mother ... growing up in 'generation text' - I'm bracing for how technology will shape our children's path through life.

who's chubbier?

There is much talk about my HUGE baby Jake. I admit, he's really big. I am already buying him 12 month clothes and he must weigh over 19 pounds by now. But, whenever I look at pictures of Kylie at this age, she looks pretty porky herself! I think she was shorter than Jake, so she looked chunky even though she didn't weigh as much.

Jake is really starting to show us his personality. He is VERY physical - always flapping his arms, smacking everything, kicking his legs and trying to stand. He screeches and growls and is almost always happy (unless he's tired or hungry of course). We started some food in the last couple weeks and he's doing great. Loves the cereal and so far has had bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples and peas. He didn't seem to care much for the peas. Can you blame him?

Here is a nice comparison shot - same age.

I put this on my photography blog as well, but had to post it here for my "scrapbook" that I will be printing.

And finally, a picture of my sweet boy. He really melts my heart with that little smile.

Happy 4th of July!

I know the day has come and gone - but it's still worth a shout out!  :)

I've been BAD about taking pictures lately.  Mostly because I have SO MANY sessions to edit for my clients - I can't bear the thought of adding any additional pictures that I might be distracted by...

That being said - if I had to pick just one picture to sum up our weekend, this would be it.  Jake and Kylie in matching outfits from Nana.  Jake giving us a little smirk, or maybe a growl, and Kylie subtly flashing us the "bird".   Like most holidays, Kylie spent this one with a cold, which made her a bit grouchy, testy, ornery, tired and whiny.  She still had TONS of fun with Nana, Dzia Dzia and Amanda who came to visit from Buffalo.  Jake caught a bit of something too - or maybe he's getting some teeth because he was up ALL NIGHT on Friday and was very cranky on Saturday.  And now, Mommy has the crud.  Summer colds are the WORST!

It was really a great weekend though, despite the sick kids.  We got to celebrate Aunt Laurie's 30th Birthday, spend time with friends at the Kings house, go bowling, see fireworks, eat cake - whew - what could be more fun?

Hopes and Dreams

I have hopes and dreams for my kids - that they grow up and live long, happy and healthy lives.  That's it.  Simple right?  Hmmmmmm.   I had (and have) hopes and dreams for my own life as well - but they seem to have become more complicated somehow.  If you boil it down to one thing - it's happiness.  I think the day to day routine of life with kids can really wear on parents (and on a marriage) and we forget what it's all really about.  Happiness.  Each person needs to find his own happiness - whatever that may be.  For Jake it's eating, sleeping or playing with us.  For Kylie it's mostly just playing (with us is her favorite though).   I find true happiness in my children and my husband, and the wonderful life that I have.  However, there is something more that I need for happiness - and I have found it through my work.   My photography business gives me joy, confidence, identity, and it fulfills the ambitious and creative side of myself.  Without it (the "it" being my PAYING job) I just feel lost in the "everyday" of feeding, cleaning, wiping tears, wiping bottoms, feeding, cleaning....... you get the idea.   So, Jeff and I have the most AWESOME nanny that watches Jake for 10-15 hours a week and Kylie goes to preschool (soon to be every morning) - and I get to work.  I'm trying to get over the guilt I carry about having alternate "care" for my children while I'm working (on photography or other household tasks) and I'm realizing that my happiness is just as important as the happiness of my children and my husband.  Part of the guilt comes from my own fear of not being a good enough mother/wife and the other part is fear of being judged by others.  I am lucky that I have found a job that allows me the flexibility to make money for my family AND still be here with my kids for all the special times that lie ahead of us.  I want to be role model for Jake and Kylie. Someone who appreciates what she has and lives life with a positive attitude.  I am grateful for my husband, who believes in me and is an amazing friend.  Life is pretty darn good.  

Whew - all that said - here's some pictures of the kids.  My Kylie Bear is growing up so fast. And Jake - ahhhhh Jake - he's sooooo sweet.  He's rolling over both ways (started about a week ago).  He's eating cereal - though he doesn't care much for sweet potatoes or bananas yet.  He's trying to get a normal nap schedule together - but he REALLY likes to cat nap so he doesn't miss out on anything.  He grabs for things and never stops moving.  Love him.

Kylie in August 2007 and June 2009

Jake now...  :)