Almost Like You Were There

A casual afternoon throwing rocks into Lake Michigan.

Which throw of Jacob's has the best form? How about the best face?







I have two words for you: wind up.

Here's Nicholas's simple, drama-free throw.



And, in honor of Father's Day, here's the father of my children giving his best impression of the pitching stance of Bronson Arroyo (Arroyo's pitch is right at the beginning).



These pictures were taken by Matt's brother Garrett (Unkie G) on his fancy new camera. The camera has a sport mode with which one may take several pictures per second. Perhaps a regular video would show as much, but the frame by frame has real charm.

Garrett is moving to Australia to get married (to Rhada). We are so happy for him, but sad for us as he'll be pretty far away. We love you Garrett and Rhada! Congratulations!














Garrett's camera and skills also captured this precious picture of Nico. Sigh.

My First Born

Because of some friends who are very obviously pregnant, Jacob is fascinated with someone having a baby in their tummy. He likes to ask all sorts of people if they too have a baby in their tummy. Not many of them do...

Anyway, the other day the subject came 'round to babies in tummies again and he asked, in an exasperated way, "When am I going to be a baby?!?" I told him that he already was a baby and would never be one again. Then he said, "But when am I going to be born again?!". Now, I immediately thought that this could be a great object lesson, but I had a feeling that baptism wouldn't sound as exciting as a) somehow hiding inside mom and b) miraculously getting out again. It's like a magic trick! And if Jacob's stuck on an idea, it's best just to explore that idea rather than try to divert him. Trust me, I know.

I decided to show him the video of his birth. Jacob was born on a lovely summer evening in Atlanta. After a long and tumultuous labor we were told we had to do a c-section. I was crushed. I firmly had my sights set on a "standard birth" (I don't like the term "normal" considering my circumstances) since I was a teenager. I couldn't help but cry quietly as they prepped me for surgery and re-did (yes, re-did) the epidural. But, once they started wheeling me to the operating room I was realizing that I really was having a baby and that I had no idea if it was a boy or a girl. Great things to focus on at such a time.

The video shows me shivering my head off and highlights Matt's and my amazing conversation skills after 24 hours awake and in pain. And then he came. Once the doctor pulled his little body out Matt saw what he was and cried out, "Jacob!" The nurses cleaned him up as quick as can be and brought him to me and pressed his little face against mine. I felt like he was imprinting on me or something. What a welcome, to have his smooth baby skin, unreal, amazing baby skin pressed up to my face. I don't think I truly realized until then that I was really carrying a baby.

As we watched the video yesterday Jacob stood behind me while I sat on the floor holding the video camera in one hand and Nico in my lap. We were all mesmerized. It had been a while since I'd seen the video and felt sure that I wouldn't cry. (It had been a long discipline filled day.) But I did. Unabashedly. And Jacob gave me an inquisitive look, asked me why I was crying, and started gently rubbing my back. Happy, happy tears. With joy that this man was born into the world.



And that he's growing.














I can't believe how he's grown. How he's delighted me, tested me, loved me, and taught me. He's a wise, sweet, loving, delightful child. Full of lots of feelings, smarts and determination.



Today is his 4th birthday. Happy, happy birthday J-man! I love you, darling. I feel so grateful to be your mother.

So, today have a treat and a big glass of milk in honor of Jacob.

He's worth it.

So, I Made Some Capes

I was so excited.

I found some University of Alabama fabric (roll tide) at the bottom of my sewing bin. I bought a half yard of it way back when I only had one child. Because it was an odd cut of fabric I had to make up a pattern and be pretty creative. Very fun and also very time consuming.

Oh, who am I kidding, it felt pretty nightmarish a lot of the time. I'm a novice with sewing and I'm also a perfectionist. Perfectionism is a burden at any time, but couple it with pretty basic sewing skills and making two simple capes can seem pretty soul crushing.

That being said, the night after I finished the capes I felt so sad that my project was done. Little did I know that learning so much and being so focused on a task for my children was edifying me and filling me up. Each night I thought of the boys and how they'd love the capes. I was giddy about how much they'd love them. I was so used to sitting at the machine, cutting, thinking, measuring, ironing, gasping in terror, and unpicking that I am anxious to get sewing again.

With all of the cape making and the day dreaming of my boys leaping tall buildings in a single bound I forgot one thing. Jacob. In his own bull-headed way he won't wear his. The child who two weeks ago was holding pieces of paper up to his shoulders and saying, "I'm Superman!". Won't...wear...it.

Sigh.

So, here is Nicholas in his cape. He's still not sold so I haven't rushed to sew the velcro on the ties (for safety). But at least he'll wear it, right?




































Super Nico!




































Even super heroes get their feelings hurt.


















Anyone interested in a child's cape with a J on it? I think I know of one is that is completely not being used. Sigh, siiiiigh.