The Bitty Biscuit Turns Four

OK let me just say 2009 has been a rough summer. For a lot of reasons. One of the toughest times in my life. Last summer was one of my best summers ever. The kids were just at these wonderful ages and we had so much fun playing together. So this year I decided not to put them in any camps. That we were going to have Camp Mom. And I was going to relax and enjoy them all day long as we lolly-gagged our way through the rotation of beach, park, pool.

(Seasoned parents already know where this is going and have determined that choice must mean I'm insane.)

The weather didn't cooperate. That was one. Chicago's famous Bummer Summer has had us damp and cold for much of the season. The other is that I'm just in a funk which is not conducive to running Camp Mom with much enthusiasm. And lastly the children's ages this year are less fun for me personally. And they are tough kids. They are. I love them but they're tough. And my sweet little Biscuit who is my lover and snuggler and give back girl is turning 4. Today. (Well today as I write this.) And 4 is a hard age in this household. It was a nearly impossible year for me with Collin. And my little Sadiekins has been way ahead of schedule with the arrival of attitude and sass and screaming. Oh the screaming! Fewer snuggles, more fights. Sibling rivalry! Time outs! Sensitivities!

And just like the cobbler's children have no shoes the Photographer's kids this year have few pictures. I just haven't had my camera out much all summer. I told you I was in a funk!

But I did pull together a highlight reel of the last year with Sadie Lady. A few pictures that capture the essence of my girl. The good the bad and the funny. Starting with my favorite picture of the year. One that perhaps best illuminates my summer mood....

In cuter dress up news we have Safari Girl. Or actually cowgirl. She thinks this is a cowgirl hat. And she's all riding the range when she puts it on. Even though she also wears the binoculars at the same time. Couldn't be more safari. But to her (and therefore to the rest of us) it's the Wild West.

If I had to choose one word that best describes Sadie's personality, it would be passionate. That displays on her with such joy and enthusiasm. She is as likely to scream and squeal with delight as she is to throw herself on the floor in hysterics. She's rather well known for her high pitched sometimes deafening happiness.


She has her moods too. She's passionately grumpy on occasion. And sad. She expresses all emotions with gusto.


But she is perhaps most well known for being a lover. I don't know how else to put it - she falls in love. Easily, transparently, and often. She's choosy to a certain extent but not at all stingy. She loves with her whole heart and soul.



For all her passion she can actually be rather thoughtful at times. Reflective, pensive, reverent. It doesn't happen often and it's easy to miss. But she thinks about things. Or maybe it's more that she spends time with quieter emotions as as well. (She is a feeler after all.) Her depth is not to be taken for granted.

That's my love bug. My Sadie Girl. Miss Kins. It's been a rough patch lately but overall she is my delight, my passion, she fills my soul with wonder and marvel and I am profoundly blessed for the gift she is in my life. I'm excited for her as she embarks on the adventure of pre-K but so sad to see how much my little girl is growing up. How much more independent she is. And I want to stop and scream to the heavens, "Wait! I didn't enjoy it as much as I should. I wasn't as present as I wanted to be. It was harder than I thought it would be. Can I take a make-up test?"

But there is no make up. There is no second chance. Her first 3 years are behind us. And while I know in my heart it has been wonderful for us both, the greedy and guilty part of me wishes I could bottle the best of those times and keep them close. That the worst of those times I could erase. And that everything in between somehow made a difference.


I love you Sadie Lady,
Momgon

Cutest.Child.Ever.

Yes, the title is correct. This sweet Baby C is the cutest child ever. And believe me, I'm placing her above my own precious babies. I've met good kids, sweet kids, beautiful kids, smart kids, precocious kids, chatty kids, resilient kids, but I had never before seen all these qualities in one child. Miss C has it all.

It's not the biggest surprise. Her parents are two of the most amazing people you could ever hope to meet. Mom is a sparkler - a trait she passed to her daughter.

Dad graced her with his sense of adventure and good times.

But she is very clearly her own person. We haven't seen her in nearly a year. And we had the most delightful visit. It took me about 10 seconds to fall right back in love with her.

She adapted quite easily to our household and my kids. She's a flexible and charming traveler. She keeps her parents on their toes. This is a big world with tons of opportunities and she's not going to miss a thing. Plus she's fearless and fast. Even though she can be a challenge in the best sense of a 2 year old, her joy, that lively face and personality makes time with her an experience, an inspiration in curiosity and energy. Ah, to be 2 again....

Bittersweet

George, my first baby ever, photographed here and here, is moving away. He is taking his sisters and wonderful parents to live in Oklahoma where they won't have to endure our Chicago winters, where they will have space to run and roam, and where they will be close to family and best friends. And while it makes sense, and I am happy for them, they will sure be missed around here.

We scheduled a photo shoot before the movers empty the house to chronicle life right now, and capture a few memories of Evanston so they can one day look back and marvel at the wacky year they spent here.

It seems most appropriate to start with Lucy, the big sister extraordinaire. Lucy fits the first born stereotype, responsible, practical, looks after her charges with sweet, attentive, authority. She is quite serious in her endeavors and could almost be described as intellectual, if she weren't 4. But she's not all business, there's plenty of room for pleasure.

And then there's Alice. Who MOVES. She keeps Mom and Lucy running all. day. long. She's goofy, quirky, playful, silly, spunky, spontaneous. The kind of sister those kids will love having, even though she'll make them a bit crazy at times with her big ideas and gregarious personality.


And then there's my George. Still as sweet and gentle and wise. This baby just has my heart.



We attempted to get a picture of the family of 5 all together which was comic genius. Alice just would not sit or stand still, she was on the go constantly. There just wasn't any way to get them all on the same page at the same time. But look at this gem. What is it do you suppose Alice needs George to know here?

It was a day full of spring color and pink cheeks and blue eyes and vibrant gorgeousness. But there were a few that were just begging for black and white. I'll send you off with those. And we'll be sending this rockin' family off in just one week. But thanks to the internet the world is smaller now. And while they will no longer be right down the street, they won't be far from our hearts.

Bittersweet indeed.

The Brothers K

Sometime in the 90's, maybe even as many as 15 years ago I was living in New York City. I was on my way to work one morning, emerging from the subway onto one of Manhattan's busiest corners (34th & 7th), when who should I randomly run into but David, who had been one of my best friends in high school. Turns out he was on his way to work too. A coffee date later that day gave us ample time to catch up and make plans to get together with the now spouses. When I think of all we've shared both in high school and since that fateful day, I have to believe there was nothing random about it. It was one of the nicest gifts the Universe has ever presented me.

Here's David now, all grown up and handsome (well, OK, he was in high school too, but age seems to really agree with him). And with him is his precious family. Wife Erin, sons Graham and Noah.
Noah is the babycakes, the new toy. So he gets all the cooing and pumpkin pie attention. He is ridiculously cute in person. His parents refer to him as charming and cheerful. I must say I totally agree. He was sick while he was here and contrary to any other kid I've met, especially any 13 month old, it was as if he didn't even notice.

Erin is everything I ever expected of her as a mother. She is one of the most empathetic, naturally caring people I've ever met. Plus she's thoughtful, wise, and brilliant. So it was no surprise at all to see her so lovingly in action with her kids. What I love about this picture is how open and joyful she is. That pretty well sums up how she is with her kids.

And I must admit that, to me, David is one of the most amazing fathers. He so enthusiastically enjoys his children and his family and being a Dad. He shares with them his curiosity and creativity, his humor and good sense. He is undaunted by the tasks of parenting and seems to be energized by time with the kids. It's truly inspiring. It is obvious that fatherhood is the most important thing in the world to him. His devotion to his kids is nothing short of sacred.


Big brother Graham is almost too wonderful to describe. Pensive, silly, sweet, loving, smart, sensitive, kind. He is very into space right now. And by "very into" I mean at age 5 he knows way more about space and planets and stars and comets and such than I do. Which is why I love this picture. His brain is always working, not just thinking but also dreaming. Can't you just see the wonder?

He also has his rough and tumble, adventurous side. He and my son found these amazing climbing trees at the park. Graham didn't think twice about scaling them to amazing heights. He's long and lean, all limbs. I love how they're all folded up in this tree.



Quite naturally he is a wonderful brother to Noah. And Noah pays him much attention.

They have always been great friends to us and we love them dearly. It is such a joy to meet their children, such an eclectic blend of all that is wonderful in each of their parents. These last two show you everything you need to know about the fine family they are.

Ma Cherie Amour

This is my cousin Cherie. She's always laughing and smiling. Her spirit overflows with sunshine and laughter. Don't get me wrong. She is a woman of great wisdom, substance, and takes her life and her job as a Mama very seriously. But what shows is her joy, her joie de vivre!


She has two girls Pretty Paige (born the night of my first date with my Mikie D.) who is a freshman in high school and dreaming of her sweet sixteen. And Beautiful Blythe is slogging her way through Middle School. Her son Kyle (not pictured) is graduating from high school this year and is a baseball superstar. He's just as handsome as the girls are beautiful. Cherie made herself some pretty babies!

She's a great Mom. She LOVES and ADORES her kids and they know it. She's patient, understanding, empathetic, nurturing, engaged. But she's also fun and funny, always making them laugh, diffusing tension and teen angst with humor. Theirs is one SILLY household!


This is Pretty Paige. Paige is outgoing, boisterous, confident, protective. If you mess with her she will mess with you back. She's a tough cookie but not at all hard.


And Beautiful Blythe. Blythe truly is sugar and spice and everything nice. And lucky for me she's incredibly patient when it comes to people, especially cousins, who just can't keep their hands out of her hair. Oh, the hair!


And this is David. He's new. He's her fiancee. They are recently engaged and very much in love as is evidenced here. He adores her which she deserves. He's charming, kind, gentle and devoted to her in every way. It's nice to see.


Today just happens to be Cherie's birthday. And I'm filled with excitement at this new chapter in her life and all the blessings that are currently coming her way.


Bon anniversaire ma Cherie! Love you always.