Gentle Giant

I know that all moms think their baby is the cutest and smartest ever. I think that's just the way it should be. I also think that every other mom who thinks that hasn't met Jericho. ;) Hehe. But seriously...he is killing me. He has been affectionately named the "gentle giant" by his Mamoo, and there couldn't be a more appropriate nickname for this sweet, giant, puppy-eyed bundle of baby. He stops us in our tracks just because he's so cute we can't help but jabber with him, or kiss his chubby little cheeks.

His sweetness is just irresistible. I hope this kind of personality continues. As much as I dearly love his siblings, we have a sweetness shortage around here. Energy? Got it. Sass? Got that. Hilarity? Yup. Spunk? Uh-huh. We could use a little more J-style sweetness in the mix, if just for my own sanity. And after his check-up last week we discovered he is in the 98th percentile for his weight, and off the chart for his length. (He weights about 22.5 pounds, and is nearly 30 inches long. For comparison, he's about 6 pounds lighter than the 3 year old, and about 6 inches shorter. No wonder my back hurts.) Hence the "giant" in gentle giant. If he keeps this up I'm going to need to sell an organ on the black market to feed him as a teenager.

Screech Week 2012

We're back! We spent the last week relaxing at the beach down in the Outer Banks, NC. (Which I deemed Screech Week 2012. Seemed appropriate.) Well...those of you with kids know that one does not relax on vacation with three small children. You simply carry on your routine insanity at another location, and often with less sleep even than usual since children use any excuse possible to not sleep. Missing blankies, stubbed toes, different surroundings, phases of the moon, weather in other countries, weird noises (often made by their own siblings), etc. It was fun, in that now I really need a vacation sort of way. But really, I love the beach so it was good to get away.

There was this momentary lapse in judgement, where I (the photographer who should know better) tried to do a session on the beach with my  three hooligans. It was about like you are imagining, but worse. I think the only thing that would have made it more stressful was if Jaws himself was involved. It's a good thing the kids are cute no matter what face they are making or I'd probably just be out of luck. ;)

The kids did fairly well on the beach. Merrick was the sand-wallower, which was totally surprising considering he cannot handle when his socks are crooked much less when he is dirty. Tirzah loved it once she discovered peeing in the ocean (particularly on random unsuspecting cousins) was pretty much acceptable. She was not a fan of sand, but ocean-peeing? New favorite hobby. Jericho pretty much sat on the beach and was cute...or napped in the cottage and was cute. His routine doesn't change much when you move him from one place to another. He eats, sleeps, squeals like a beluga whale, looks cute, repeats pattern. He's awesome.

I love taking the hooligans to experience new things. I know trips like these will be more fun as they get a little older, and a little more capable of not peeing all over the van while we drive home through the tunnel, and a little more interested in sleeping past 6:30 am, and possible a little more interested in walking to the beach on their own legs (instead of making me carry 3 people, two towels, two cups, a bumbo, an umbrella, a chair, a ninja turtle and a shovel). But until then, at least I can call it a good workout.

 

The last shot is for Project 366, Sweet Shot, and Communal Global.

Future Olympians

I was watching the Olympics the other night, and was really excited because track and field was finally on. I was watching the guys throwing shot put, and thinking how they were build a lot like Jericho. (We had just been to his check-up at the doctor, and discovered he is in the 98 percentile for his weight, and is off the chart for his length. He's pretty much huge.) This train of thought got me to thinking, if my kids were athletes based on their personalities/body types what sport would they be in? (Thanks, Google, for the pics. Since these are obviously not really my kids.)

Obviously this would be Jericho. Enough said. Then we have Merrick. I decided high dive seemed appropriate. They are generally smaller built and wiry, and are always seen running around in their underwear (speedos) and jumping off tall objects. Merrick to the letter.

Tirzah, I wasn't so sure. But then I remembered hearing a bit on gymnasts, and how the female gymnasts are notorious drama queens. Lots of emotion...tough as they may be...but they can still put on the waterworks and throw a good fit. Yes, that would be Tirzah.

I'm not sure my kids will ever actually be olympians, but I'm as proud of them as Michael Phelps mama either way. ;)

Pinky Promise

Thursday my sisters and I had the honor of shooting another wedding. This was an extra special one, since it was the wedding of a girl who we have practically watched grow up, or grown up with in my younger sisters' case. I'm so glad we were able to be there, and to watch the first few moments of their marriage unfold firsthand.

When my husband was a youth minister a few years ago, this girl was one of our students. I probably am not supposed to admit this, but she was always one of my favorites. ;) She was one of those kids who just "gets it". She has a deep heart, and a good head on her shoulders, combined with an irresistible personality and zest for life. Plus she likes great music.

I was thrilled for her, watching the fresh, sweet excitement of the realization that yes, that just happened. She just got married to the man of her dreams. They were (and hopefully forever will be) totally wrapped up in each others eyes. Counting their married kisses, giggling between the two of them, pinky promising forever to each other during after-ceremony pictures, and generally forgetting anyone else was in attendance a few times. (As it should be.)

Katie and Rob, we were honored to be a part of your first day together as husband and wife. I pray you show Christ's love to the world, and always to each other, through this gift you've been given. Cannot wait to see your love for each other continue to grow!

Share Nice.

Honestly...I'm pretty tired. Not exactly physically, sleep-deprived tired...more emotionally tired. Things with 3 little kids are in constant motion. I love every sticky, loud moment, but at the same time I could really use another vacation. Ya feel me?

Another thing...I don't like conflict, and I don't know if it's just election year or whattheheck, but just being in contact with social media makes...me...tired. I felt compelled to say "why can't we all just get along", but it's not even that. I know we all aren't going to agree. DUH. Just take my kids for example. They can't agree on whose mother I am, much less deep political/theological/social issues. Granola vs. I'm hungry gonna eat what I wanna, Conservative vs. Liberal, Obama vs. Romney, Attachment parenting vs...not sure what the opposite of that one is?, Hug a tree vs. Good ol' boy, etc. I don't really think of myself as an extreme of any of these ideas, or an extreme supporter of any one or the other. I just get weary of the "I'm right you're wrong, oh and yo mama is fat so there" attitude.

Yeah, I'm ranting. Yeah, I'm grumpy. Yeah I need a social media detox. (This will probably be happening in the near future. I'm sure people get tired of me too.) As a stay at home mom I love keeping up with my mommy friends, best friends, and my family through social media...but sometimes I feel like I'm wading through crap and a bunch of arguments to get there. I just wanna know what's up with people, not why they hate so-in-so cuz they don't eat grass 3 meals a day, or why they think so-in-so is prettymuchdumb because they are a Democrat.

I'm also all for saying what you think and standing up for your beliefs, and also for sharing information that you're learning and loving via social media. But ya don't gotta send it a long with a big ol' splash of rude and a side of "you're stupid cuz you don't agree with me". Share away, just share nice. It's like I tell my kids, you don't have to agree with me, you don't even have to LIKE me all the time...but for the lllllooooovvvvveeeee just have a good attitude and be kind while you do it.

I want my kids to be opinionated, and strong in their beliefs. But I also want them to be kind. I want them to be the kind of people who treat other people like people. I want them to examine and re-examine and know down to their toes why they believe what they do. Not because it's cool, not because it's easy, not because twitbook or the media said so...but because it's truth. Whether that other person agrees with you or not, they are just that. Another person. They might not think just like you do, but that doesn't make them dumb or worthless. And ya never know...you (me?) might even be the real lunatic. ;) Now I'm going to break up a fight about how peanut butter should best be applied to the kitchen table. Later.