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.

Thank you, thank you!

A few weeks ago our new friend Bo Kim took our family pictures at the University of Chicago campus and at Promontory Point. Calling them family pictures is almost an insult to the pictures and to Bo. They're just so...beautiful! Thank you Bo for making the experience so fun and so fruitful.

Take note Chicagolanders, she worked wonders with us.

I couldn't choose, so here are a million pictures in no particular order.

Mom, Chicago, Fun!

My mom came to visit us a few weeks ago. It was so much fun to spend time with her and to enjoy the city together. I loved Atlanta, but it's not quite the destination that Chicago is. I mean, the Coke museum is great, but how many of you even knew there was a Coke museum? (It's awesome by the way...especially the international tasting section at the end!)

Anyway, Chicago's got a bit more glitz to it. Most days of mom's visit we jumped on the train or bus (I make it sound easier and breezier than it is, but it's not bad!), got to town and then got to do something pretty cool.

Here's just one of those cool things we got to do. Really cool. Like amazingly cool.

A river tour!


















The day we did this tour was pretty much the nicest day of her trip. Clear blue skies, warm weather and lots of sun. Perfect to enjoy the views.




























Cool pic mom took, huh?


















Cool kid on my lap, huh?




























Pack your knife and fork and stay tuned for more about Hilda's trip to the big city! We love you mom.

Just what I needed

I had to have a dental crown today. (Beware your old silver fillings!) By the time my two hours in the dentist's chair were over I felt like I'd been punched in the face. About 5 times.

As I sat watching the boys eat dinner tonight I just felt yucky. I slouched in my chair and said, "Sorry guys, mommy's just not feeling great right now".

Nicholas looked at me up from dinner and simply said, "Boiler ache?" (pronounced "boyla ache").














I really didn't think Nico would understand not feeling well, but he understood it and linked it to his favorite Thomas book in the which Henry has a boiler ache. What sympathy and brains!

That, along with a very amusing duck-duck-goose round, was just what I needed.

Too bad no one did something cute at bedtime. Mother was grum-py. You can't win 'em all.

I promise this is the last time I'll mention it

But they just look so much older!




























These pics were taken 3 days apart.

Seriously, I'll get over it.

Sigh.

I hate haircuts

This baby is gone.














Forever.














His hair is much, much more blonde. This has happened to me before. I do not like it. The above photos were taken thirty minutes apart. Who knew thirty minutes could age you a year! Sob.

Plus, as an added bonus, Nico's hair has a few large blonde patches. These patches look like completely bald patches. Especially the one smack dab on the back of his head. A real refugee look. Nice.

Jacob (who I am more used to seeing look grown up) got his hair cut too.














Cute boy. A little bit evil, but mainly cute.

Oh, Jacob

The other day I was squeezing a lemon into my water. Jacob started asking me all sorts of questions about it. He wanted some lemon for himself. He said he wanted it on the cup. I wasn't sure what to make of that, so I squeezed the lemon into an empty cup. I handed it to him and he dropped the cup as if it were made of fire. He said there were things (pulp) in it and he didn't want that.

So I went back to the drawing board. He told me multiple times, very emphatically that he wanted the lemon ON the cup. I had no idea. Then he picked up the lemon and the cup did his best to put the lemon on the cup.

With that, I got it.


















I really don't know where he learned this since after I squeeze a lemon into my drink I just throw the lemon away.














He's so observant. And, he winks!