Off-centered and scrappy but I have no doubt my kids are happy. :)
The other day I talked to myself in the mirror (I totally did) and I was like, HOLY CRAP you have a 9 year old. How in the world????
But seriously, I am being absolutely honest, it is the BEST thing watching them grow up. Yeah, it's sad to say good-bye to the baby stage but oh, my goodness... watching your children grow older, and the oldest for me is Noah (who thank the LORD he grew older at all, as, if he wasn't healed he probably wouldn't be here this very day) so nine years old might seem awkward and ancient to some and young to others but I love him so much, I tell him every day, as I rub his hair (that keeps getting longer and longer) and I also crawl into his bed and whisper it in his ear while he's sleeping...
It only gets better, my friends. Better and better.
Back to back measure-ups.
Things are getting easier, especially with Gray. I know I always say I think I'm rounding a corner with him but hey, there are many corners in parenting. So, it might mean giving up on certain battles and he might still wear the same pants everysingleday (shown here, of course) but his spirit (what I've been most concerned about) is more cheerful, is delightful actually, and I fall in love with him more every day. (I happened to pray for this very thing, so.)
This is the June 1st photo - see the past "month ONEs" here. Normally I'd have them dress a bit cuter but Ivy was already in her jammy jams and we were about to go on a long walk and I remembered that it was time for our June ONE photo, so here you go, it's really raw and uncut, but that is the stuff of life.
SO sweet. The words and the images. You go Mama! :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE. that is all.
ReplyDeleteThis gives me hope and it's so sweet. I'm still holding on to the baby stage for dear life, I still can't imagine letting it go willingly.
ReplyDeleteLove it all. Love when God answers specific, intentional prayers. Love watching your healthy, happy kids grow.
ReplyDeleteThose corners are tough to round, but thank goodness they lead to different phases, even though they each come with challenges. We're starting to round the corner w/ Fynn... I think three is the hardest age. Such sweet pictures!
ReplyDeleteLoved this post, Steph. I often hear women say that they fall in love with their husbands more and more every year, yet so many women cling to the baby stage with their children. Shouldn't it be the same with our children as it is with our husbands? I LOVE learning more and more about my Tongginator, year after year. Each moment, each day, each month we experience together, I am privileged to see a little bit more of her heart, her spirit, her mind.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea. And they are adorable, every ONE of them! Loving Ivy's jammies. Must be Hanna?
ReplyDeleteI can practically hear their giggles.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am so stealing this idea when Mr. Baby is born. It will be a fun way to chronicle his first year with everyone else.
Is it me, or does Ivy have a "Ta-Da!" pose going on in the first pic? ;)
ReplyDeleteEach stage is bittersweet for me - I mourn the loss of what has now passed, both good and bad, and am excited about all of the new things the next stage will teach my boys. I just try to embrace each day with love and excitement.
I'm freakishly emotional lately, with my Daughter's 1st birthday around the corner. I needed to hear/see this, thank you!!
ReplyDeleteps cute photo, as usual!!
I just love all your shots of them. You've certainly inspired me. Once K starts walking well, I'm going to try to do this too. I would love to make a book of all the photos someday. You really are an inspiration Steph. Thanks. I hope you had a fabulous holiday!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing my grandkids so happy! Happy June 1st..
ReplyDeleteIvy's jammy jams are just as pretty as her dressy dresses! I agree, every year just gets better and better, my oldest is the same age (8) as my neighbor's youngest and I love watching her with her kids, who range from 8-almost 17. They still bring her so much joy every day and she is still "Mama". It reminds me that with every stage that seems to pass too quickly, there also is something to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteAwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I am glad you like watching them grow up. Me? Not so much. : (
ReplyDeleteLove the photo with the kids back-to-back..
ReplyDeleteI love this!!!
ReplyDeleteYay!! Every time I see pics of your kiddos all together I think holy crap how lucky that little girl is to have such loving brothers!!
ReplyDeleteThey are growing. Great post
ReplyDeletei really. {really.} love that gray wears the same pants every day. [i do the same thing. a lot.]
ReplyDeleteSo cute, I think it's a great photo :)
ReplyDeletei love them measuring up.
ReplyDeleteyes, i have to pray to gracefully watch them grow though. i love it, but i have to ask to not ache for those baby days so much!
Raw and uncut photos are the best kind.
ReplyDeleteLife is most beautiful that way.
I love your raw, scrappy images. They are so full of life.
ReplyDeleteAnd I too am loving the oldness of my babies growing up. Sylas is almost 3 and he's learning to recognize more difficult shapes. Just yesterday he told me that parallelogram-crackers are his favorite.
Bri
I know that I am constantly amazed that I am someone's mother. And what is crazy is that someone will start driving soon!
ReplyDeleteThis post is one of the sweetest I have read all day.
ReplyDeleteI love better and better...
ReplyDeleteIt does get better, doesn't it? I miss my babies (even though I still have at least one, obviously). But the kids they are today are so delightful and fun and amazing, it makes it hard to be truly melancholy over the growing up.
ReplyDeleteHey Steph, I tried to email you but failed a few times. Anyway I added the (baby wearing) button to my page and would love to be added as a baby wearing momma:) Thanks Cat
ReplyDeleteI love these kids.
ReplyDeletefantastic idea. You should make a calendar with them for next year - so it's easy to reflect on where you've been.
ReplyDeleteCute pics! They grow up so fast. I had to stop and remind myself a couple of months ago that I'm a mom of a teenager! YIKES!!!
ReplyDeleteIt gets better and better and better. That is, until they hit fourteen at which point things take a turn for the worse. But only temporarily. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd even then, it's still pretty darn good.
XO, Darc
You said it. People always say, "Ohhh but don't you miss the days when he was just so tiny and sweet?" and I can honestly say no. My kiddo is so much more fun and hilarious and engaging and entertaining (and exhausting and annoying and frustrating) at 19 months than he was at 9 months. I feel like sometimes I've rounded so many corners I am just going in circles.
ReplyDeleteI happen to like pictures that are "raw and uncut." And you have SUCH an eye for photography. Even your every-day, ho-hum photos are...magical. :)
ReplyDeletestephanie@metropolitanmama.net