Friday Photo Favorites

Railway Children

Friday Photo Favorites

I never understood how parents could so willingly and even longingly let their little ones sloppy kiss all over them. Then, I had PT who was too much like his mother and gave kisses by gently touching his forehead to yours. Then came Avery who smiled and nestled in for a book early on, but did not give kisses. Mary Colette was the daintiest little one who by nine months had the perfect little peck and was so girly and sweet and lavished only her Daddy in the softest kisses. George came and he finally warmed us up to some the best cuddles and a few sloppy kisses. Followed by a few more sloppy kisses, only for me, from Annie. She would look at everyone else in the room get their attention and then grab my faces and just slobber and pull pack so proud of her obvious display of affection. Now for Eleanor, oh this little one gets so excited and happy she grabs the closest face and just lets loose. She gives very intentional kisses to her mommy and daddy, but every now and then she gets caught up in the moment and just plants a real doozy on a sibling, which of course shocks and delights them. They keep track of how many each has received and beg her for more which then she laughs and simply shakes her head no. Oh how we delight in her and her in us! 

My Beautiful Girl!

Feeling rather frumpy and disappointed in myself that my post baby body is just not where I hoped it to be, I pulled on a skirt and top, one that usually is worn much closer to after having a baby, and sighing in front of the mirror and reconciled myself not fret anymore about the situation and move on. Then my Beautiful Girl came bounding around the corner and gasp, "I wish I were as beautiful as you!" she exclaimed.

One Sunday I got a rare treat to take just Mary Colette and Eleanor to Mass. Both were stellar, during the Consecration Mary Colette leaned over and asked in astonishment, "What's the Word?" Her eyes sparkling to say if only we knew the correct word all would be well. 

Oh my Beautiful Girl, you are stunning, beautiful, generous, nurturing and a romantic. I love you so much, more than I show. You are so mature and capable of so much that I so often forget to let you be five. We are so very blessed to have you.

The Wild One

One of our beautiful children has the affection nickname, "The Wild One" at Gia and Poppy's church. They all smile a telling smile and maybe chuckle a little bit when they see a little frizzled blonde walk in because they know it's gonna be a show up front. She is for sure our wild one and for the longest time she has had a wild kind of beauty about her looks. An almost superior creature appearance in her gaze, a gaze that is unnerving and breathtaking that captivated at her birth. Oh how she keeps us exhausted. If you say no, or you're not old enough/big enough she hears it as, "Why yes, please go and climb on the locomotive, or over that fence or into the sink or help yourself to the banana while standing on the counter." Basically the world is an open invitation of opportunity for adventure/heartattack.

I found her face down on the counter eating George's left over bulldozer cake caterpillar style while enduring George's best wooden sword efforts to save his cake. She was proud of her thoughtfulness in not getting her hands messes.

Really I don't think her wildness would be so exaggerated if the most calm and mellow child wasn't her immediate predecessor or maybe it would...she is our earliest walker and once she started walking she saw herself as older than George as did he. She is a mighty force, and yet she is she is so gentle and sweet and oh so loving and tender hearted. No child goes to timeout by himself and no one cries without being brought their own special comfort item. It's really endearing and stops a lot of scoldings. Image getting onto your big boy and all of a sudden the sweetest little face comes around the corner dragging a massive blanket that she rescued from the top bunk. Your big boy can't help but to sheepishly smile because his weak spot is exposed and you are just filled with humility and love realizing your littlest understands more about the big picture than you do at the moment. So you scope them both up and thank The Wild One for her reminder that life is about correcting out of love and not frustration.

As we headed to Mass on Immaculate Conception we talked about why we were going to Mass, not just for Annie's Birthday. We talked about Mary being conceived without sin and how we honor her for being the Mother of  God, and about how neat it is that Annie was born on this feast day.
Then I asked what Immaculate meant to them. Getting some good answers I asked if they had ever heard someone one say, "This place is immaculate." upon entering and nice clean room. There was an agreement and then Paul Thomas said, "Oh so that pretty much the opposite of Annie, she is such a messer." (Family definition: messer -n- someone who makes messes wherever they go intentionally or unintentionally or someone who is perpetually a physical mess, that is dirty clothes or no clothes, crazy hair, wild look for picture look up Anastasia Kim.)

We were eating at the table and Annie was taking a rare nap (thank you flu!) and PT, "Uh-oh I hear Annie.)
Avery corrected, "No that's just a firetruck."

The other day Annie disappeared for too long...when she emerged from the bathroom she had applied a small layer of makeup, don some perfume and fixed her hair in a familiar way. She proudly presented herself pointed to her fixed hair and said Momma. It is always so show stopping when they imitate you.

My pray as of late, "Lord let me be a worthy example for my children."

I know this is no small request, however they are in my charge and God is great. Daily I am blessed by The Wild One.

I love you Anastasia Kim, you are me all over again. And no one has given better more intense baby hugs than you. There is no doubt you are loved and that you love fiercely.