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celebrating you

One year ago... your face was still a figment of my imagination. You were a prayer, waiting to be fulfilled, a dream... a miracle in the making.  One year ago this day you changed our lives. 

 

You were tiny, yet bigger than They expected.  You barely could keep your preemie diaper in place.

You were so calm before you were born... They worried. You sleep this way still.  Calm.  I have to get so close to your crib that I practically fall in, listening for that sweet baby breath before I turn in for the night.  You, curled up with your hands near your face here, at four days old... and now, four days short of a year later.  Some things never change.

From your calm and quiet disposition to your often present "serious-look"... we all love every tiny ounce of you.  Here, in June with just one tooth...

You complete our family, and make everything about being a family so much more enjoyable, so fun and exciting and laughable.

Celebrating you is an amazing gift.  Your first year has flown by, as no doubt all the other milestones to come. Now, standing... here, for the first time on your own just this week.

 So, for this day, we will just drink in all that is lovely, and sweet, and precious about our baby boy, our baby brother at one.  We will reflect on your crazy scooter-crawl, your perpetual teething (six, with eight more on the way), your hunger to be more grown up than your days reflect.  Your adorable temper-tantrums... the way your little lip curls under, and that long second of waiting between the lip curl and the crocodile tears that will follow.

You are the baby, our baby, your very protective brothers' own "baby" as they pick you up and move you out of trouble, out of harm's way...from the constant predicaments you find yourself in. You can climb the stairs, empty out a drawer full of just about anything, pull the eggs out of the refrigerator and dump a container of sliced mushrooms all within the same minute.  You have the vocabulary of someone not quite twice your age, and can imitate nearly anything. You compete as if you are the middle child.

 

Your personality is all your own.  you are every ounce adorable.

 

 

So we celebrate you... and we did already this weekend as well, with a homemade carrot cake and cream cheese frosting.  You dove right in.  You always do.

Happy Birthday, sweet precious Luke.  

 

bus stop

yes... he did!

6:42 a.m. 

He: barely could contain his excitement.  didn't even stop for a picture.  had to be pulled back by the driver so that mommy could get one more snapshot.

Me: could barely hold back the tears.  didn't realize that it would still be dark outside. seriously? like really dark.  couldn't stop counting the minutes until I saw his sweet face again.

 

12:02 p.m.

the first day was only a half-day (thank goodness)

He: didn't see me at the bus stop, wouldn't have known to get off the bus had it not been for me gesturing at the driver as he prepared to continue on.

Me: panicked and anxious to hold my baby.  Isn't he too young for this? shouldn't he be home with me still?  wondering how on earth time has gone by this quickly.

 

he LOVED it!

choo choo!

 

 Last weekend, we took a little trip to the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel.  For as much of a train lover as Alex has been, pretty much his whole life, I can't believe that we only recently learned about this historic train station - turned hotel. It's hard to believe that Alex is actually beginning to outgrow trains a bit.  But just a bit.  We caught the trip in time.  Had we waited another year, the magic may have been lost on him.  As it was, the boys LOVED the trip.  We met friends from Atlanta, and stayed in adjacent train cars.

  Granted, it was HOT HOT HaaaaawwwwT outside.  Staying in a 100-year-old victorian train car was such a fabulous idea.  One I would recommend in maybe October... or March? July was too much for that train car to keep up with... all those windows of glorious sunshine beaming into that car.  A retro-fitted, probably-aged air conditioning unit struggled to make it bearable in our sleeping car.  Funny how well it worked at night.  We nearly turned into popsicles!  It's funny already thinking back on the temperature extremes we experienced in our night in a train car.  It was slightly less funny last week I would say!

But, not to complain - I am only trying to document (often I write to trigger my own memories for re-reading later)

This was our car by night.  Lit by torches.  I snuck out to take this picture after everyone was asleep. After I convinced two, ... no three, little boys that the fire shining brightly through the blinds was not, in fact, the car burning down.  It took quite a bit of convincing.

 

and another view from the windows... 

A view from inside our train car (yes, sadly they can find the TV wherever we go!)

  Jakey, upon waking Saturday morning...
 

 

and a pillow fight shortly later... (guess who won?)

 

sweet baby Luke and daddy talking with our precious friend, Megan. We so enjoyed spending time with her and her family. Six kids and four adults for a musical-review extended evening dinner was enough to test the patience of even the calmest of parents.  But, we stuck it out and had a great time, despite losing a child it seemed every ten minutes or so!

 
 

Alex sitting in the lobby of the hotel (the former train station)... beautiful!

also inside the station...

 

The grand lobby...

   

and looking up...

the umbrella lady offered to take our picture.  I warned her that my camera weighed about 10 pounds.  Sadly, I didn't realize that those 10 pounds were in front of the lens.  Geez... not a very flattering picture of me... but the only one taken any time during the weekend.

 

This is a sweet picture of my boy.  Who, at six, now thinks he is super cool... like the pose?  He actually tried to be disinterested at times.  I think it is just an act.  He really had a great time. For whatever reason, he is becoming more MAN and less CHILD everyday.  Six is far from MAN, but it is unbelievably closer than five was.  Stay little, my sweet child...

  
 

 

blog post

So... maybe you didn't know that I also have a blog that I post for photography-purposes more so than family?  I am working towards having a dedicated blog address, and a super cool layout for CSallustio Photography.  But, for now it's super simple and to the point.

Anyways... I somehow posted my most recent update to that blog by mistake instead of here.  But, I don't really feel like rewriting it, so I'll just direct you to it.

blog update

Here's fourth picture that I didn't  add in... (you'll have to read the post to learn why this is so blurry!)

 

as summer begins

 Summer is wonderful and fun, busy and relaxing, sleeping in and traveling lots simultaneously.  It is drinking a cold glass of boyhood.  It is family time and cuddle time... reading books on hot days and watching teeth grow (not a joke - both Alex and Luke have been getting their front teeth in!) playing with the hose, in the pool, at the park. Watching... as Alex learns to swim, to read, Luke learns to crawl, to stand,  Jake soaks in every moment with grandparents, showing happiness and contentment with himself, and adjusting to a calmer self (his diet has made a huge impact in nearly every aspect of his life!)

Visiting family, visiting friends, revisiting the lives of each other.  Here is a taste of our summer so far:

Grandpa Nick's lap was the perfect place to fall asleep.

 

Alex the waterbug.

A more subdued Alex in the field by our house....

 
 

and jakey...(i think my friend Olivia shot this one)

 

why so sad?  Jakey LOVES grandmasue.  even more than he loves his mommy, I'm pretty sure.  So when it was time for her to go, his whole world stopped.

 

and here's baby Luke chewing on grass. now has two teeth. crawls fast. pulls to stand. eats chopped table food.  he is growing way too fast.  

 

sweet pea

 

and the out take, also known as what it really looks like behind the scenes...
 
 
 
 

for daddy

LOVE these sweet boys...  MISS vacation, the road trip, the company...   

going gluten free

jakey. 

sweet, busy, wild jakey.  our middle one.  things are always a little crazy when he is in the room.  he is like a whirlwind, he cannot be controlled or tamed. so different from his older brother, so incredibly strong willed.

I have always felt guilty because so often I get looks from people; you know those looks?  The look of "lady, why can't you control your child?"  The subtle hints on ways to correct him. 

And it's true, I do let him get away with things. but no one understands, no one really believes me when I say that I can't get through to him.  That he hits a wall, and just loses it. That literally nothing will help in those moments except waiting it out, or trying to distract him.

And then. hmmm... we stumbled upon an elimination diet when trying to figure out some tummy issues he had been having.  Take away gluten and dairy, and he is a completely different child. 

Still three, still strongwilled, still a handful.  But now, I can have a conversation with him.  He is "with us" and not "out-there-somewhere".    

It is amazing.  It is a huge answer to prayers. 

People wonder how we can keep him on this diet.  When nearly every food item now has to be avoided.  No goldfish crackers, Ritz crackers, chocolate milk... 

really, it isn't that bad.  really, it is a huge relief and so very worth it to keep him away from foods that were somehow causing him anxiety, agitation, and defiance, not to mention night wakings.

without question, we do everything we can to control his diet, so that we can dance with him... instead of around him.  so that we can laugh and talk and interact without constantly battling an out-of-control child.

we love our jakey.  he is precious, he is adorable.  sweet, compassionate.  and always will be just a little wild.

And... not nearly so wild -- the wee one. I can't resist this picture of baby Luke, fast asleep on the family room floor :)

 

 

and in a blink

I close my eyes, he is six years old.  

 

he talks in a funny voice when he's around his friends.  A voice that says, "I don't need you too close mom... I am trying to be cool here."  he suddenly doesn't want to drink milk anymore. he doesn't look at the camera without a goofy face. licks his lips constantly.  cannot keep those precious lips from cracking.

He puts together lego sets in 20 minutes flat.... if you don't know about legos, well - then you don't understand -- I am talking about Big Boy legos, the ones that say "ages 7-14". doesn't even ask for help.  he is witty, yet sensitive. close, yet aloof at times.  

six is different from five, much different from four. Lightyears away from preschooler, toddler.  

 

And still, when he was but six months old I remember so clearly holding him in my arms, and for a split second, picturing this moment. picturing this moment and the others that will follow.  This month, it is kindergarten graduation.  but I have no doubt that if I dare blink again it will be high school graduation.  it happens that fast.  

 

he is precious, beautiful, caring.  he is boy.  laughs at "toots"  yet, still little enough that he calls passing gas "toots".  he is a sponge, soaking up the world around him.  asking questions, figuring it all out.  

he is our First, our number one by chronology. he's our learning curve.

if there is one hope I have for him, one prayer for my boy on his birthday, it would be that his heart would always be so pure, so tender.  He knows and loves his Jesus.  He hurts when people hurt, he feels their pain.  Above all else, this is what I treasure about my boy.  This is what I choose to nurture.  Yes, it would be great if he was the super-smartest in his school, the best athlete ... but in life, in his life, in our eternal life, what means the most is our heart, our faith. My prayer is that he will shine like a star in the universe as he holds fast to the word of life. 

hello, blog

Dear blog,

apparently I have lost your address.  I've look through the piles and piles of laundry, rummaged through the endless trail of toys with missing batteries.  I have checked below the dust on the dresser, and under the beds near the dustbunnies.  Somehow you have been neglected, forgotten.... left for bust, much like the broken tricycle in the garage.

meanwhile, three monkeys have invaded our home.

 

 The littlest one has the loudest screech.  And, while clearly still a monkey - his sound is not unlike the one the middle monkey used to make -- the one we used to call pterodactyl.  So, dinosaur monkeys are running like wild.  precious, beautiful, crazy things who throw toys, roll over folded clothes, change clothes 20 times a day, hide everything under their beds, take out a clean dishtowel after every bite to wipe their sweet, messy faces (all by themselves).

this monkey is nearly toothless these days.  he is funny, yet sensitive.  two weeks shy of six years now.

and here is our middle one.  he still does screech, too.  daily, though, more and more of the screeches are being replaced by words.  we owe a lot of his improvements to prayer and a major diet change for him. he is the wildest of the bunch.

  

the littlest one here with his cousin, Ryan...  still an easy-breezy wee one. a loud, easy-breezy wee one.  but, perfect in every way a baby should be.

 

these three creatures have me spinning circles day in and day out.  sometimes, spinning circles in dance. sometimes, spinning around - disoriented from the chaos, and sometimes, just spinning because spinning is fun. 

 

since we haven't been in contact for nearly two months, you should know that somehow, in the past few weeks, someone has snuck into our home and shrunk every monkey's clothes.  suddenly, I am seeing ankles sticking out from pant legs, and wrists peeking out from long-sleeved shirts.  do you know who has done this?  I've heard that these monkeys keep growing, but man! it seems to be happening overnight.

... and, in case you are wondering, I have yet to take a decent picture of them all together.  seems like they all have their own agenda at all times.  do you have any idea when this might change?  I am waiting patiently for the perfect moment... yet feel that it is no time soon for certain.  we are happy and sad, angry, mad and goofy all at once, and at every different moment of the day (and night).  

well, blog, this should catch you up for now.  No doubt I will misplace your address again.  I mean, really, it's not like they are suddenly going to all sleep at once, or sit quietly, or stay neat and clean... or for that matter stay dressed at all.  but, for now we are embracing the chaos.  trying our best to enjoy these sweet moments of constant crazy, knowing that all too soon the monkeys will grow into men.

love.these.boys.

distracted,

christina 

bookends, rice cereal, and pick-a-hand

answer:  the highlights of our past week.

(1)  check out these new bookends....  I came across them in the playroom on Friday.  I would be happy to loan them to you if you want to see how they fit on your bookshelf!

 

(2) another first... 
 

yeah, we're not really sure what he thinks of this just yet, either! 
 

(3)  Oh, to be three again.  What innocence.  Pick-a-hand.  Do you know which one?  We have NO idea ;)

 

(4)  You didn't know there was a bonus question?  The answer is yes, the Tennessee jersey is worn every-single-day.  Oh, to be three again...