nostalgia

Three Years Ago

I got this idea from dooce's daily photo today. It made me realize that Ben is actually old enough to have a 'three years ago' photo. And then I became curious about what he actually did look like in October of 2005 (any excuse to procrastinate). And what I found made me smile.

Swimming at the Y

I know that Sam looks scared underwater, but he actually loved it and was all smiles afterwards (as seen in the photo below it). And the lovely Miranda and Natalie are always happy to be models for me in the water.

Dear Ben

I know that I said I do not do these anymore, but after doing one for Sam it seemed only right to do another for you, especially since it has been so long since the last one. You will be three years old in a few days and I can hardly believe it.485839276_1ced7bb52e.jpg You love television. I mean LOVE it. Many parents don't let their kids watch tv and I say "to each his own". I also love tv and still read more than anyone I know. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. You think that we have a magic tv because of Tivo. You just plop down on the couch and ask to watch a giraffe, a hippo or a lion. As if I could magically conjure things up at will. It makes sense since you ask for 'Cars' or 'Dora' and they instantly appear. None of that "it's not on right now" for you. my_angel.jpg I love how you say "please" and "thank you" and "bless you" when I sneeze. How you miss your daddy when he goes out of town. At night you sneak out of your bed and come downstairs and sit on the stairs. Your dad and I will be watching tv and suddenly realize that you are there. It's so cute and a bit eerie. We think you have a wonderful future ahead of you as a cat burglar. I love how much you love your little brother and how when you see him you say "What is that?" instead of "Who is that?" And when you want to tell us what something is, you say "what is that?" just so we will say "I don't know. What IS that?" and you can show us how smart you are. You are truly the puzzle master. I have never seen anything quite like it. Recently we bought you a 35 and a 60 piece puzzle. Josh thought I was being ambitious with the 60 piece, but I said you would grow into it. Within 30 minutes of returning home you had done both. You showed us. You love your school. It took awhile for you to warm up to it but now you really seem to enjoy it. You walk into school and all the teachers you pass say "Hi Ben" and you just walk on by as if you were a rock star who could not be bothered. And when your daddy brings you home in the evening you hand me your latest creation and when I ask what it is, you say "art". _MG_3659.jpg You always want to help out and you seem to really enjoy cleaning. I blame this on your nana (my mother). Last night you were taking a bath and asked me to give you the washcloth I was using. You then proceeded to scrub down the faucet and the tiles. You also like to observe all that we do and drag your stool everywhere so you can see what's going on. You finally let your daddy brush your teeth at night without trying to kick him to death and you two have your bedtime rituals from reading books to shadow chasing. The shadow chasing is my favorite. Right before you get into bed you run around your room "chasing your shadow". SO cute. You love your daddy more than I can say and that warms my heart. Lately one of your favorite father/son activities is playing games on the computer. I admit that I am not so sure how I feel about this. It is a little strange watching you sit in the Aeron chair operating your own little mouse. It makes me want to add 'carpal tunnel syndrome' to your health insurance coverage. Your love of computers is a bit of a puzzle to me. I always see them as an adult activity since we did not have them as children. The other day you walked up to me and put the laptop on my lap and said "Trains mommy." I was a bit worried about how you would react to Noah living with us but you seem to take it all in stride and always ask where Noah and Meagan are if they are not at home. You and Noah have so much fun together and you are such boys. There is a great deal of rough housing and physical play. I keep trying to take you to kids events all over Austin but you could care less. You are obviously not a "joiner". 428277110_668dcce8d0_o.jpg I often write about motherhood in this blog and how challenging it can be. This is not at all a reflection on you. You are a wonder and the joy of my life. Motherhood is hard. Being your mom is easy. It is a role I would never relinquish no matter what. You and your brother are everything to me. I love you Ben. I can't believe you will be three years old. It is all going so quickly. I want to freeze you at this age and at the same time I can't wait to see what will happen next. It's a wonderful quandary to be in. I Love You, Mommy _MG_5843_5D_0208.jpg

What I Look Forward to ALL Year

Our friends the Uyeda/Hales do the BEST holiday cards. I swear that I wait ALL year to see what they will come up with next. So I thought I would share their fabulous 2007 card, which is most excellent. The subtitle was MODEL PARENTS.

The Flying IUD

I got a call the other day from my OB's office confirming my post partum appointment and the insertion of an IUD. There was only one problem with this. I was not getting an IUD inserted. So I called back and informed them that I don't want an IUD and never planned on having one. It's almost like someone called them and said "Put it in her chart that she requested an IUD. We don't want her reproducing anymore."I don't have anything against IUDs, but after many years of birth control it is now Josh's turn. Plus I got my first BA (yes I have two, because you can never have enough student loan debt) at UC Santa Cruz. At UCSC there was a statue that we affectionately called the "flying IUD" because it looked like, well you guessed it. So every time I think of an IUD I think of this big, red sculpture and it doesn't feel so sexy. Here I am with aforementioned "flying IUD" in a "I am 22 years old and my life is very serious" pose.

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Perfection

My children will never again see me as perfect as I am to them now. I don't have bad breath or need a shower. To them I smell wonderful, look wonderful and don't need to lose even one pound, much less thirty or more. I am smart and charming. I have lovely hair and am always dressed to the nines. They love me, as Billy Joel said oh so many years ago, just the way I am.In a few years they will start looking at other children's mommies and I will, I fear, suffer by comparison. Suddenly I will be too fat and I will embarrass them with everything I say and do. And WHAT on earth was I thinking when I put THAT outfit on? And then they will refuse to let me kiss them in public and eventually even in private. I will have to steal my cuddles as they mutter "oh MOM". That day is coming. So I hug and kiss more often and cuddle as much as possible. Knowing that extinction is near.

One Year Ago


_MG_6809.jpg, originally uploaded by lazygirl.

Oh my. What a difference a year makes. I can't believe this is Ben. I am going to lock him in a short closet and demand that he stop growing (but still become independent).

The Keepers

All the baby gifts you get are great. But some you know are destined for the hand-me-down pile and others you know you will always keep. That is how I feel about my friend Clare's hats. I met Clare a few years ago right after Ben was born at a gift fair at CCA. Clare and I both went there but had never met as students. She got her MFA in painting there and she is an AMAZING painter. She was selling her fabulous baby hats and I bought a few. Ben wore his proudly before he outgrew it (it is waiting for Sam). We ended up doing a trade where I designed her painting website and I got one of her paintings (which I think would be the first thing I would grab in a fire—after the family photos of course). She has since moved to Sweden and sent us these amazing booties and hat for baby Sam which he proudly models below. If you are looking for a unique shower gift check out her etsy store. She makes great stuff and she's just a REALLY nice person to boot._MG_6488.jpg _MG_6486.jpg _MG_6490.jpg

Mad About ID Photos

pb_trio_1989.jpgThese were all taken in 1988 when I was living in France. They are wild about ID photos there. You need one for EVERYTHING! So here is a sampling of a few I came across the other day. What is up with that HAIR?

Blast From the Past Part II

pb_bw_rkvcbb.jpgFound another one taken with Val and her husband (then boyfriend) Rik in Austin. I think this was a subsequent visit. Guess I SHOULD have listened to my grandmother when she told me that it would be a good idea to write the names of people and the date on the back of photos because some day I would forget. Yeah right. Like I am going to FORGET?

Blast From the Past

austin_pb_clr.jpgThis was taken at a photo booth also at Amy's but at the original store in central Austin. I think the year was around 1992ish and I was visiting my friend Val who I have known since we were 11. She was at grad school at UT and has since moved back to California. She was my introduction to Austin and I will always associate her with this place. It's weird when I drive around her old neighborhood I keep expecting to see her walking down the street.