An Almost Perfect Picture

I am not a good picture taker. I won't even say photographer because clearly that I am not. I do, however, love taking pictures. As in I am pretty sure I always have my camera out and my kids know that they will get their pictures taken at some point during the day, repeatedly.

I took photography in college, back in the olden days, when we worked with film and learned how to process the film. Everything I did was in black and white, and it was mainly pictures of skateboarders. What can I say, that was where I was at that point in my life!

For a while it was all travel photos, but since our travel has drastically been cut back it is now pretty much all my kids. I have a really nice camera, I have an external flash, I have a 35 mm lens, I have the right equipment, but I don't quite have the skills down to use them in the best way. I am working on it, and while I have no intention to ever be a photographer, I would love to take more than 2 good pictures out of 100.

So, case in point. We bought Lila a chair shaped liked a sheep. She was there when we bought it, but being a typical 10 month old (I refuse to say 11 months until the 5th) she didn't know what it was or who it was for, so when we put it down on the floor to say she was excited is an understatement. There was giggles and smiles and hand flapping and I *almost* got a photo of it. She is blurry, but the sentiment is there. The rest of the photos show the love.

Uh...Psst...

Anyone there? Wow. It has been a while. First I had to recover from Finn's party. Then we headed off to Destin for a week to soak up the sun and swim, except it wasn't sunny at all, and then my computer broke. As my laptop is probably like a 5th appendage to me I actually am proud how I handled it. I hauled it off to a local Mac repair shop, said goodbye, and saw it a week later, all shiny and clean and with a whole new screen! Then I drove to Charlotte and back in the same day to celebrate the upcoming wedding of one of my oldest and dearest friends. In between that I have wiped snot, taught Finn to lift his shirt for beads at a local Mardi Gras parade, administered meds for an ear infection that we didn't even know Finn had, and cleaned dead worms off the bottom of the pool.

All in all a pretty productive couple of weeks, right?

So, you know, I have pictures. Pink Bear pictures, Destin pictures, other various pictures.

But, rather than fill up this entry with them I will just add these two, showing off Finn in his new sunglasses, all picked out by him, and Lila, wearing Finn's new soccer jersey.

The cuteness, it overwhelms.

Finn's Fourth Fire Station Party

So. I swore last year I wouldn't have another party for Finn. Especially not at our house.

And then I realized that Lila was going to be having a first birthday party, and started to feel guilty that I wasn't going to do one for Finn. So we decided to have one for him. At our house. With a fire engine.

Which led to the problem of guests. I won't lie, we have a good size house, and it can hold a bunch of people. But too many people and it just gets crazy. We decided to limit the guests to friends from our street and school friends.

23 kids. TWENTY THREE kids. That is how many were here based on that simple equation. I feel bad that I couldn't invite everyone we know but I didn't even know how to limit it. How do you do this as they get older? It just gets tougher every year, and I think next year, if we decide to do a party (ha!) it will be like 5 kids, max. Hold me to that statement.

But back to the party - let me tell you, even with a good sized house? 23 kids and their parents is a lot. Like, really a lot. And I also felt bad I didn't get to talk to everyone I wanted to as much as I wanted to, but there were minimal tears from kids and everyone seemed to have a good time.

With Finn's love of rescue I thought a fire engine party would be perfect. We have been to several fun parties at fire stations, but I wanted to do something a little different, so we found a place that would bring a fire engine to you. We didn't tell him it was coming, and as it came up, siren on, his face lit up and he ran out the door yelling 'Fire engine! Look everyone, a fire engine!' It was worth the party stress, the expense, and freezing cold temps. Oh yeah, I didn't mention that. It has been in the high 60s here for like a month. Until yesterday, when the arctic blast rolled in. Since 2 years ago  it snowed and most people couldn't come to his party I shouldn't be surprised. But the kids braved the cold, enjoyed the fire engine, and even got to go for rides in it!

All in all, it was an awesome party - even if he did tell me the week before the party he didn't want a rescue party but instead wanted an underwater sea creature party, with whales. And whale sharks. And leopard sharks and lemon sharks and white tip reef sharks. Next year, Finn, Next year. (Definitely don't hold me to that statement!)

Making his birthday morning chocolate chip pancakes, his traditional breakfast!

Served up on our birthday plate

Breakfast with his birthday balloons

And in his birthday hat

And his new shark helmet, to go along with his new bike from Grammy and Papi

Our fire chief Lila!

So, he wanted a rescue cake. With fire vehicles next to water rescuing underwater sea creatures. Somehow I convinced the awesome bakery at Publix to improvise their fire cake and take out grass and add water in the top right corner and I added whales. It was as close as I could get!

For his party I made cake pops... 

And lots and lots of cupcakes, with fire engine wrappers and fire engine decorations... 

Yummy and so cute, cookies from a friend of mine

Mason jars ready to be filled with lemonade...

A red and yellow candy buffet set up to enjoy, with red and white striped bags so everyone could take some home with them!

Fire hats for the guests

And black, white and red barrettes for the youngest guests

The fire engine!

The excitement!

Thumbs up in the drivers seat

Hanging out with his good buddy Tyler 

Papi and Lila

Finn and daddy

Getting ready to go for a ride 

We set up the front room with lots of little tables and chairs, creating "Finn's Canteen", so the kids all had a place to eat

Enjoying a cupcake with his best buddy Adam from school

Finlay at Four

Finnster Minster -

If there was a way to adequately and shortly express how this past year has been with you, well, I wish I had it. How could you be four? Four. I get weepy just thinking about it. I remember your birth like it was yesterday, yet I can't remember a time without you.

Four years ago you shot into the world, you filled my heart, you created our family. In the past year you have become a big brother, you have come into your own, you have lit up our lives day after day after day.

The stories I could tell. The pictures I could share. The words I could write.

But instead, as you get older, what I want you to know is that every morning when you come into my room, when you climb into bed with me and snuddle, every single bit of my being is filled with such love that its enormity is impossible to explain.

Your love for underwater sea creatures and rescue vehicles is unparalleled, and you could sit and talk fish and whale sharks and ladder trucks all day. And you often do. Maybe you will be a marine biologist. Maybe a fireman. Maybe a superhero. While I can't predict what you will be what I can predict is that you will throw your entire being into it, and you will be successful. That I am sure of.

Every time you smile I smile. Every time you cry I hurt a little inside. Every time you get in trouble, well, let's just say that is just as hard on me as it is on you, especially when you tell me you don't like me anymore. We have had lots of those moments lately, but I know that we are okay. I know that you are still my sweet guy and I will forever be your mommy. And while someday, probably soon, it will morph into mom, my love, my heart, my soul, it will always be there for you, one hundred percent.

So my little man, here's to turning four. May you run faster, sing more loudly, dance more crazy; may you continue to be the beacon of joy you always have been, and may you always be our FinlayBinlayBoo.

Love,
Mommy

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10 Months

My MoonieGirl,

Another month has come and gone, and you continue to fill our lives with such joy, such light, such love. You are no longer the baby we brought home from the hospital, instead you are quite persistently marching full speed into toddlerhood, leaving behind any remnants of baby sounds and smells and snuggles. But that's okay, I will take my almost toddler snuggles anytime.

You have accomplished so many milestones in the past month, getting 4 new teeth at one time, clapping, waving, climbing stairs, and most importantly, walking. You have gone from standing for 30 seconds at time to standing and dancing, and taking steps. The most you have accomplished is 11, the day before your 10 month 'birthday' and while you haven't done more than that yet I know it will only be a matter of time before you are chasing your brother around, or, more likely, getting chased by him.

There is no person you love more in this world than Finn, the very one that loves to torture you by being loud and pushy and bossy, yet you laugh and laugh and laugh, which just makes him do it even more. I hope you always want to play together but I also hope that someday you can give him just a small taste of his own medicine. Don't tell him I said that.

And, as always, you love to dance. You dance to songs, you dance to toys, you dance to shows your brother is watching. Sometimes you just dance for no reason at all. You get your love of dancing from me, although I hope you have talent I don't have! Always dance Lila, always. It will make your life a happier, fuller, more fun place, I guarantee you that.

Every time I look at you I wonder how we got so lucky, to have a baby who is so smiley, so loving, so perfect. I know you may not get as much one on one attention being the second child, but the love is there. I promise you, my missy miss, the love is completely there.

So, as this road we are on heads full speed to one I will continue to cherish these moments, the tears, the smiles, the hugs, the waves, the dancing. You have made my life a happier, fuller, more fun one. I can also promise you that.

We love you sweet girl,
Mama

Week 42

Also known as woman get your act together week because you are a week behind. Again. Or thank God the weeks are getting close to being done because someone in this scenario does not like to have her picture taken with Pink Bear. At all.

Month 10 is next. It makes me weepy. Like, really really weepy. But I have a girls weekend starting tomorrow so soon the weepiness will be replaced by lots of alcohol.

Hey mama? Let's use Green Frog this week. I am like, so over Pink Bear.

Gah. Fine. Pink Bear, let's get the show on the road.

Nibble. Nibble. Nibble.

Catch ya later mama, our contract is up.