14/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

A Texas spring tradition: portraits in the bluebonnets.

Photos by my father-in-law, Bill Ware

Right Now

Right now, I'm...

...drinking a cup of coffee made from the last bits from 3 different almost-empty bags... note to self: need to add coffee to the grocery list, stat.
...enjoying the view of a mowed front and back lawn- even though for a certain Ladybug Friend that means her magical ladybug plants have been cut down (she has been announcing to them all that they can find homes in our garden, never fear).
...marveling at the cattle egrets that have been picking over our freshly cut grass since Sunday afternoon.
...breathing in the calm after a day of reminders that our youngest has now entered the Terrible Twos.
...adjusting to just how quiet that calm is, now that our aquarium has found a new home (I may need one of these to help me make this transition).
...laughing at the joy these kids can find in the most arbitrary events... like wearing new socks... only new socks... on the potty.
...loving a weekend spent with our loved ones, celebrating our sweetest little one, and reveling in the things that make him, him.

This past weekend made us tired in all the right ways and happy in all the best ways. Even on a Monday when we have to take our youngest in for shots (always a sad day!), the glow from the weekend lingers.

May everyone be followed with the glow of the sweet simple things, even in the face of difficulty.

Happy Monday.

Two!

Our youngest just marked a second trip around the sun with a swinging shindig centered around what seems to fascinate him the most right now- cars and trucks. He seemed to soak up every moment, and I tried to, too. I can't believe it's already here, his Second Birthday.

What a light in our lives this little guy is. He wakes up happy, he loves giving hugs and playing with his big Sissy, there is almost nothing he won't eat or at least try (just keep mashed potatoes and lima beans away from him, thank you very much), he's afraid of movies unless he's sitting in Mama's lap, he loves to help unload the dishwasher, and he loves to sprint around naked before bath time.

Sometimes it seems like he has bad dreams.

Sometimes he gets so frustrated he throws whatever he can gets his hands on.

He loves to sit on the potty with a favorite book, though he hasn't connected what he's supposed to do once he's there.... yet. But he loves being up there.

He is always excited to see Daddy when he comes home, and he is always ticklish.

He is a treasure, and we are so glad he's here.

Happy birthday, Bubba.

The Last One

Today, tonight- the last time with our last One.

We celebrated a day early, so out-of-towners could be with us. We ate lots of cookies. We played with lots of trucks. We ran and laughed and got hot and sticky. Then, as the sun was going down on the last day of our last One, I went out to the back porch for a little peace... and he came out with me. Our last One, my last One.

He crawled up on my lap, settled right in, sighed happily, babbled to me... everything he said with intense sincerity, eye contact, and many recognizable words. I marveled to myself at this One.

He laid on my lap as the sun sank, attempting the roosting bird calls all around us, trying to talk to Leeloo, saying something about Sissy and cookies and muddy mud.

He strapped on Sissy's shoes, all by himself. He counted all three princesses- "One, one, two, treeee! Pin-sss-ESses."

I tickled his sweaty back, and wondered how much longer he'll be in diapers... probably not much longer. Not with this One.

I admired the sunlight in his unruly curls. My fuzzy-headed golden boy, my happy guy.

He sat comfortably with me, chatting casually, asking questions and listening to the answers. He didn't want to practice saying, "I'm two!" He seemed to just want to linger in the peace, the quiet, the fading light...

...it was like he knew it was his last evening being One... our last One.

This Moment

Playing along with Amanda today... in her words: 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

13/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Henry on the harmonica, dragging out the last few minutes before bath time.

Audrey by her Aud-Tree at sunset.

Right Now

Right now, I'm loving...

...my beautiful/handsome Easter loves.

Aren't they all incredibly good-lookin'? Swoon.

Hoping everyone had something half as purdy to look at this weekend. Happy Monday.

(that's right, purdy, ahahaha....)