Recently continued….

Recently #3

I was so excited by this event! Every year, I turn this blog into a book. I suffer for hours over selecting pictures for the book. I reread 1,000 times the stories making sure I love the pictures I have selected for the story! I add even more pictures to tell as many days of their lives in a book as I can. I hope and pray over the book that one day, my children will see it as a true treasure of  their childhood, milestones, good moments and times of craziness in a house full of love!

This book was no exception. It begins by looking back at the year of 2010 month by month and finished with Christmas 2011 and the arrival of the bikes! It captures the birth of Ben, a mud fight in a backyard, the excitement of a goldfish party, laughable moments that have taken place in our kitchen, many dress up events the girls have created (and attended), birthdays, and so much more!

This year, I was truly (seriously truly) shocked when I was DENIED extra pages. First, who knew there was a page limit in a book you create on your own and secondly, I discovered this the night I was set to press the “Order Book” button. My photographic month by month plan that was already 1/2 completed, had to be swiped! While disappointing, I survived and ended up with a book of memories that is 422 pages!

Even if the kids never treasure these books, I certainly do! I could reread them everyday just to remind me of all the small moments that so often end up getting lost in our memories!

Recently #4

If anyone ever lets Ben in on the secret that he is not a 4 year old, I will be scared for his reaction! This child, though pint sized at times, is tougher and rougher than any other child! In the bruise and fall comparision of our other children, this child takes the cake! Yet, he cries for his 2 seconds and then can move on.

Ben decided the high chair was a bit out of style for his dining fashion. Thankfully he loves the Bumbo booster seat and Wah-Lah we have a table eater! This makes life easy some days and hard some days. Some days Ben sits so quietly and politely in his seat, eats his supper and then gets out of his seat- pretty under the radar at the table. Other nights, he throws all his food to Hank , eats 2 bites before deciding he would rather not eat or in true Ben fashion pitch a temper tantrum that lands him in his crib upstairs!

Nevertheless, the “baby” is growing up, quickly! He thinks he should be climbing the bunk bed ladders, using the potty, wiping his own nose and getting his own juice from the fridge. While believe me he tries, he just can’t do it all yet. He gets an A for effort though!

I am savoring all the little moments of him as “baby”. The love of Elmo, the cuddling in the rocking chair before bed, the sweet sounds of the word Momma coming from his voice, the babbling that makes no sense….

I know it won’t last and he is growing up. I just wish I could hit pause some days.