sketches of moments

One day Lucas fell asleep while playing.

He had been asleep for awhile, when I went to grab the camera. He promptly woke up after hearing the shutter release, obviously confused.

Then he realized it was me, and flashed me a smile.

He likes being online.

Ruthie likes to draw.

Steve gets to wear a “pretty dress” now (according to Ruthie).

Little blessings, little joys

Ruth can count up to ten. She also knows the colors red and purple. She really, REALLY wants to be a big girl so badly; the other little girls in the building are worshiped on a daily basis.

Lucas can fall asleep on his own. Most nights, he stays in his swing, and wakes once or twice a night.

Eventually, Ruth will be in a big girl bed, and Lucas in the next room.

Time is flying by.

Nearing the end!

We’re in the home stretch, folks.

It’s finals week! We just finished hosting Ruth’s birthday party. I’m in the midst of finishing up a few freelance projects, taking care of the kids while Steve studies his brains out (a very messy process indeed).

At the end of the week, we’ll head down to Baltimore to visit family and friends, as well as to triple-dunk Lucas in some holy water. We’ve been meaning to do that for awhile now, so, you know, he can be baptized and all.

So, not too much in the way of reflection or other news, except that of the glee and happiness I’m experiencing after having put both kids to bed at the same time. I wonder if it will ever happen again.

A mother can dream.

Growing Every Day

Lucas has a penchant for falling asleep by himself–something Ruth never really did well as a baby.

Ruth has the biggest smile when she’s in a good mood and mommy is playing games with the camera.

May Photos: A Visit from the Lloyds

So I’ve finally posted a gallery of photos from May that were taken on the Lloyds’ visit to our place on Memorial Day weekend–just a few vingettes of Ruthie being amazingly cute, and Liana being beautiful, and Nathan being playful.

Almost Talking; Almost

Ruth is quite the chatterbox. She looks you in the eye, points and gestures, and even laughs at things she thinks are silly or jokes. I can’t understand a word she’s saying, but she is saying words that resemble other words, like “Hi!” and “baby” and “daddy.” Her favorite almost-word is something that resembles “that,” only the “th” is more like a “d” and the “t” at the end is more like an “s”. “Dhats,” is more like it, if I’d have to spell it.

She’s also almost jumping… as in, she does occasionally launch herself off the ground. Always a climber, I find her on the kitchen table and ambitiously exploring new territories. I have a feeling that the talking and jumping will come at the same time, and we’ll have our hands even more full than they are already.

In Other News

We’ve decided that Tapeworm (as we’ve affectionately called him) will be named Lucas. Middle names are up for grabs. Steve has always wanted to name one of his future sons Lucas, and we figured that since you never know what’s going to be thrown at you, we might as well name this one Lucas. It’s funny how less opinionated I am about naming the second child than I was the first, at least, I feel more at ease letting Steve “get” the name. Perhaps I’ll be picky with the third, I don’t know! Maybe I have too much else to care about!

I do believe that names are important, but I’m not going to wrench myself over what to name our children. We’ll go for nice names that we like, and that’s that.

Work Work Work

Remaining before my self-imposed maternity leave: 3 weddings, 2 engagement portraits, 1 family session, and 1 glamor/girly session. It’s a lot of work, but I’m grateful to be over the halfway point of my weddings season. I still have a lot of photo editing to do, as well as marketing and planning for next year, but I think that will have to wait until my “leave” starts. The winter will be a good time to get myself together and prep for an amazing 2010 season. Inquiries are up for me now, and I’ve been asked to quote three different destination weddings (never been asked before!).

And Prayer, Please

We have a lot to do before we move; please cover it in prayer for us.

Of Cowgirl Boots and Favorite Foods

Ruth: it’s hard to know where to start.

The little munchkin is growing rapidly (don’t they always?). She’s still small for her age, according to those doctor’s charts, but boy, is she strong and coordinated. She walks and runs with assurance, and even attempts a jump or two. She’s brave, but a little on the shy side, preferring to observe kids at a safe distance before making friends.

Tiny Wonder Kid

I Bought A Toddler Harness and I Have No Regrets

I just bought a harness for my toddler.
My reasons? Plenty. Ruth has absolutely no fear, the propensity to run, a love of exploration, an unfettered determination. She simply does not care how far away she gets from me, will not listen to my verbal or physical commands, and will put herself into physical danger without a thought. One day I caught her standing on her father’s desk, four feet above the floor. In the mall, she tried to go up the down escalator while I was running after her. She’ll think nothing of trying to jump off a series of concrete steps, either.
I can chase and command her a dozen times over (believe me, I’ve counted), and it won’t make a lick of difference. At 15 months, both “time-outs” and even a light slap on the hand (if the infraction involves fire or electricity) aren’t guaranteed to curb her enthusiasm for discovery.
I never made the decision that I wouldn’t ever use a harness or leash under any circumstance. I vaguely remember being harnessed as a child, and distinctly remember that my brother Kevin was harnessed whenever we went to the grocery store with my mother, and on other public outing occasions.
(Kevin was notorious for disappearing and hiding in department stores, too. You never really knew what he was going to think up next. In one famous family episode, he took off on his tricycle a few blocks down our street to “look for me,” while I was visiting a friend’s house. That was the only time I ever heard my mother swear.)
As a result of this, using a harness on a child was a normal possibility for my future. I don’t feel that using a harness means you’re treating the child like an animal. Most of all, using one does not mean that you’re too lazy to parent your child.
Therefore when I went searching for a toddler harness (or leash), I found myself indignant and surprised at the negative reactions that some parents have to them. I got angry, even, and occasionally scoffed out loud.
I realize that with regard to many parenting issues, you’re going to find people at extremes; debate can be productive and thought-provoking. Sharing stories, pros, and cons can help people come to their own decisions on an issue. I just didn’t think this was an issue where you would find that much debate. For me, it’s an “Well, if you need it,” issue, to be dismissed with a shrug.
So if any of these vehement anti-leash anti-harness parents confront me in public about it, that’s what I’ll do.
I don’t plan on using it all the time. She’s only one kid, and there are plenty of times when the stroller is tolerable, or when I can chase after her. She’s gotten wise to being careful stairs, after much instruction and one incident of falling. Certainly there will come a day when everything I’m trying to do will click.
The days will also come when I am too large and pregnant, or too encumbered by a newborn and all his gear, that I just won’t be able to chase her down if she tries to run into traffic, or some other horrifying scenario.
And that’s why it’s okay to harness your toddler.

Piano Pals

Ruth and Julia like to play together. Ruth is just 5 months older than Julia, which makes the age difference about the same as me and my favorite cousin, Heidi (sorry, every other cousin I have). You can’t beat two babies playing together, especially if it involves a piano.

Ruth in particular likes to rock out, which excites Julia.

They’re a bunch of monkeys!