Archive for the ‘picture this’ Category

Can You Say Awkward? I Knew You Could.

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Okay.  I’ve got an awesome idea.  Let’s all dress in denim, pile on top of each other, and smile really cheesy for our family photo.  It’ll be perfect framed over our fireplace, don’t you think?  Not to mention, it’ll make the most amazing Christmas card.  All our friends and family will love it.*

 Or if that looks a little weird, maybe we should all wear white tops, climb a tree, and straddle each other.  Yup, that’s what we should do.  And to make the pose perfect, I totally think we should all put our hands on our knees and say ‘family’ when the photographer tells us it’s time to smile.*

Or maybe, we should just dress the way we always dress, and do the things we always do, while the most talented photography team in Missouri and Kansas captures us just being us.

 Josh and Jenny of Solar Photographers are an incredibly brilliant husband and wife duo who’ve been snapping photos of our family since Reichen was 7 weeks old.

Since then, Josh and Jenny have been there for all our most important moments, including both boys’  first steps, my big belly during my 2nd pregnancy; they even captured this sweet shot of my 2nd son just days after he was born.

I tell you all this because I’m super psyched about our latest session with Solar Photographers.  I love that they just let us do what we do while they capture it all.  There’s no posing, no placing hands on knees, and the best part:  they never make us shout ‘cheese’ after the count of three.

 If you want to see more from our session, Josh and Jenny have our highlights and so many other incredible photo shoots posted on their awesome blog.  Enjoy!

*Did you like these awkward family photos?  You can see more here.

Happy Easter!

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

mommyandboys2010

From our family to yours, Happy Easter!

A Potty Poem

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Whatever your brother does, you want to do, too

Riding bikes or playing cars, it doesn’t matter to you.

 

But you catch me by surprise with your latest request

Going tinkle on the potty is such a big boy conquest.

 

‘HELP MOMMA’ you say while giving your pants a yank

There’s no way, he’s not ready, this must be a prank.

 

But I plop you on the potty and you sit there and smile

I tell you to be patient since this could take awhile.

 

We wait and we wait, and I promise you’ll see

And before we both know it, you’re going wee wee.

 

I yell for your brother so he can celebrate too

He gives you and hug and says, ‘I’m so proud of you!’

 

I know it’s not over and it’s just the beginning

But you and me together –  we can do anything.

 

LathamPotty

A Test for my Toddler

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

My alarm went off at 7:30 a.m. today,

just like usual.

I took a shower and applied make-up today,

just like usual.

I got the boys up and dressed them today,

just like usual.

I fed them oatmeal and fruit for breakfast today,

just like usual.

I buckled Latham in his safety seat and we went for a drive today,

just like usual.

And then, I arrived at the hospital where my baby was tested for Cystic Fibrosis today,

the most excruciatingly unusual day of my life.

LathamCF

He Just Kept His Secret and Smiled

Monday, March 15th, 2010

When he meandered out of his room and into mine, I. Could. Not. Believe. It.

“Hi Momma,” he grinned like it was no big deal he just hurled his baby body out of his crib, opened his bedroom door, strolled down the hall to his brother’s room and twisted open that knob too.

“Latham, how did you get out of your crib,” I gasped as he toddled toward me.

“I don’t know,” he laughed after he wrapped his chubby arms around my neck and squeezed.

Released from his room, Reichen was two steps behind breathless to provide play by play of their great escape.  “MOMMA, Latham opened my door!  He got out of his crib,” he excitedly said while jumping and clapping.

Out of curiosity, I walked Latham to his room, plopped him in his crib, and asked him to show me how he hopped out. 

He didn’t. 

He just kept his secret and smiled. 

latham09

 

If I Had a Designer Dress, I’d Totally Wear it While Writing this Post.

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

parenting_top20

Thanks Parenting 411 for naming 3 Stinky Boys and Me to your Top 20 Best Parenting Blogs.  I’m so super psyched about it.  And if I had a designer dress, I’d totally wear it while writing this post.

But I don’t.

 

Don’t Let Me Float Away

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

young_nov09_22

 

You squeeze me tight and say, “Don’t let me float away.”

“Never,” I reply.  “You’re my baby now and for always.”

 

I realize it’s the wind that you’re worried about

“These are really big gusts,” you snuggle up and shout.

 

Your 3 year old self is convinced it will happen

You just know you’ll drift away unless you take action.

 

So you scamper up my leg and to my neck you cling

“Momma, hold me tight,” I hear you begging.

 

My world stops spinning and I will myself to remember

This moment with you, I will treasure it forever.

 

Your words, your embrace, your weight in my arms

Your smile, your giggle, your little boy charms.

 

You won’t fly away now, but one day you will

You’ll have lots of adventures with the dreams that you fill.

 

And when you’re soaring in the sky, I will remember this day

When the wind whipped and you worried you might float away.

The Talk of a Toddler

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

lathamstanding

 

Words:  they’re spilling so quickly from your mouth these days

Several syllables strung together I can’t believe that you say.

 

You’re so proud when you speak, you know it’s a big deal

You say ‘bulldozer’ when you see one and let out a squeal.

 

Your brother is impressed, even though he’s only three

“Momma,” Reichen says, “Latham talks just like me!”

 

You say ‘please,’ you say ‘thank you’, you say ‘excuse me’, too

You say ‘mine’, you say ‘Elmo’, and when you’re dirty you say ‘poo.’

 

You laugh when you say ‘giraffe’, you think it’s so funny

And when you see one outside, you point and say ’bunny!’

 

You’re 21 months and it’s all just beginning

It’s so exciting for us that your words are now trickling.

 

You’re my youngest boy of one and I can’t wait to hear more

My little Latham baby, your words will make you soar.

To Cut, Or Not To Cut: That Is The Question

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Who wants to cut these curls?

Lathamcurl

Daddy does.

Lathamcurl1

Mommy doesn’t.

lathamcurl2

Good thing mommy always wins.  Always.

Just in Case You Need to buy Me a Present

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

You know what’s really handy, dandy about this little bloggity, blog thingamajig I have going on here?  Every now and then, my handsome husband actually reads it. 

The last time he hopped on was just before my birthday in December.  He was looking for the perfect present for my 35th, and boy did he discover a doozy.

So, I thought, you know, just in case he needed an idea or two for future holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, or President’s Day, these lamps from Z Gallerie would look perfect in our dining room. 

mariposa-table-lamp-black

Don’t you agree, Dear?

 

The Lean Cuisine Lesson I Leaned the Hard Way

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Never, and I mean never,  talk to your husband on your cell phone sandwiched between your ear and your shoulder after just microwaving yourself a Lean Cuisine. 

Never, and I mean never, set your lunch on the floor to cool, while you pick up the tornado of toys left in the wake of your two toddlers while talking to your husband on your cell phone sandwiched between your ear and your shoulder after just microwaving yourself a Lean Cuisine.

Never, and I mean never, let your phone slip from where it’s sandwiched between your shoulder and your ear and watch helplessly as it does a triple gainer with a half twist to the floor where it pops up again into a flawless front somersault, back layout combination before landing into the Lean Cuisine enchilada lunch with extra cream sauce you just microwaved and set on the floor to cool while picking up the tornado of toys left in the wake of your two toddlers while talking to your husband.

phone

It’s.  Just.  Not.  A.  Good.  Idea.

Bye Bye Bah-Bahs

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

I have a kiddie cabinet in my kitchen;  it’s the place I stash all froggy sippys, dinosaur plates, and car cups.  It’s also the place until today, I stored all the boy’s bottles.

Every day, when the boys eat lunch, I spend that 15 minutes or so cleaning the kitchen.  Some days I sweep, other days I Windex the counter tops, or wash small appliances; some days I clean the refrigerator and wipe down the shelves, other days I better organize the pantry. 

Today, I was emptying the dishwasher and stuffing all the plastic parafenillia into the kiddie cabinet when I had the best idea ever:  if I get rid of the boy’s bah-bahs, as they call them, there would be so much more room in the kiddie cabinet. I mean, they don’t need them;  they don’t even use them.

baby-bottle

So, in between coaxing Richen to eat 3 more bites of chicken and begging Latham to stop dropping food on the floor, I packed their bah-bahs into 2 large Zip Lock bags and placed them in the pantry. 

I did it without thought.  And I did it without ceremony.  I just did it. 

I was living in my happy little world of oblivion when my husband came home and ripped me back to reality.

David:  “Did you put all the boy’s bottles away?”

Me:  “Yup.”

David:  “That’s kind of weird, don’t you think?”

Me:  “Hmmm?  What do you mean?”

David:  “I mean, it’s weird we may never use the bottles again.” 

{PAUSE} 

David:  “Ever.”

Me:  “I didn’t even think of it that way.”

{PAUSE}

Me:  “Yeah, it is weird.”

What’s even more weird:  during the last several months, I’ve put away a lot of baby stuff:  clothes, bibs, socks, and toys.  The boys didn’t need them and I put them away. 

I put them away without thought.  I put them away without ceremony.  I just put them away.

I’m not sure if our future hold anymore bah-bahs or babys.  But I do know:  the next baby items I store, I’ll do it right. 

I’ll put them away thought.  I’ll put them away with ceremony.  And I’ll put them away with the respect that period of time in our lives deserves.

Christmas 2009

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

When Santa brought packages for you overnight

You could hardly believe the incredible site.

 IMG_2050

You laughed really loud when you saw all the presents

You must open them now, you said, that very second.

IMG_2238 

“Latham,” you asked, “could he open a couple?”

“Yep,” I replied, “Santa said he stayed out of trouble.”

 IMG_2100

A huge helicopter, a jumpy house, and a really long train

All toys that you wanted and couldn’t wait to open and play.

IMG_2217 

Did Santa give me a present, you said I needed one, too

I thought, nothing’s better than Latham, daddy and you.

IMG_2230 

It was such a great Christmas, it couldn’t have been any better

But the most special part: we enjoyed every minute together.

 

Have Yourself a Sugarcoated Christmas

Friday, December 25th, 2009

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is such a delightful ditty, it inspired today’s post.  Please hum the classic carol in your head or out loud as you read, if your in-laws, children, and odd Uncle Bob don’t mind.  But even if they do, you should probably hum it anyway.  It will enhance this particular blog experience dramatically.  Thank you for your corporation.

 

Have yourself a sugarcoated Christmas.

rudolphcake

May your tummy be round.

x-mascupcake

Bakerella.com is where lots of yummy sweets are found.

cupcakecookie

So have yourself a sugarcoated Christmas now.

‘Twas Reichen’s 3rd Christmas

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

No family legacy is complete without a story about a  kid screaming on Santa.  Here’s Reichen’s from last Chrismas.

 

‘Twas Reichen’s 3rd Christmas

 

‘Twas Reichen’s third Christmas, when I hatched the best plan

I’d take him to see Santa – he’s such a great man.

 

You tell him your wish and he makes it come true

There’s just one little thing, the old guy could scare you.

 

Other moms warned me, I knew they were wrong

They just don’t know my little man – he is so big and so strong.

 

“No.” The moms said, “Reichen will cry too.”

“Ha!” I replied, “How I will show you.”

 

So I dressed my son in his clothes with care

He and St. Nicholas would soon be a pair.

 

My little boy would smile and Santa would too

Wallet sized proof for you and for you.

 

I waited in line with the babies who bawled

Reichen smiled and played – he just loves the fun mall.

 

Elves in red and in green showed me the way

“Santa is ready,” I heard them happily say.

 

I sat my two year old in Santa’s lap with love

I was extremely confident Reichen would rise above.

 

When the picture was snapped I heard all the clatter

I watched in surprise, I couldn’t believe what was the matter.

 

My perfect baby boy, my pride and my joy

He was crying and moaning – he didn’t want Santa’s toy.

 

“Please. Oh Please.” I begged my only child

“Just smile for Mommy. Don’t be so crazy and wild.”

 

Reichen wanted no part of it, not even a glimpse

And Santa wasn’t helping – he was being such a wimp.

 

“Off my lap” Saint Nic said. Can you believe it?

“Not until he smiles.” I replied. He croaked, “Forget it.”

 

To prove this all happened, I’m including Reichen’s pic

I don’t want you to think this is just some made up trick.

 

So that’s the end of my Santa saga, I almost cried too

Don’t feel sorry for me though – I just couldn’t take it from you.

 

And as I leave you with this wild and crazy site

We wish a happy holiday to you all, and to all a good night.

Reichen Crying Christmas

p.s.  Please forgive my fuzzy photo.  I had to take a picture of a picture.  Happy Holidays!