The Miss Elaine-ous Life

random acts of life, family and photos

Stolen Moments

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My kids are busy these days.

Between school and the activities after, and well…. Minecraft, they have a lot going on. 😉

I was just thinking how my days of “playdates”, full of tots crawling around my living room and coffee with other moms of little ones are virtually over.

Everybody in this house has a fairly involved schedule.  Even the three-year old.

But there are still those moments that I can find with each of them, thankfully.

Of course sometimes they are moments when the oldest has fallen asleep reading a book after getting up in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT the morning before to finish the LEGO set that he received for his birthday.

I wish you could hear the snoring that was going on when I took that photo.

“Sawin’ logs” as they say.

And K loves to roam the neighborhood so that is just what she and I did the other morning.

We set out to go see if the yogurt cup someone had left in our neighbor’s palm tree trunk was still there.  She had seen it a few times before and was fascinated by the ants and other bugs crawling all over it.

“Mommy, the spoon is still in it!!”

“Please don’t touch, baby.”

“K, Mommy.  I just want to see da ants!”

Unfortunately when we got to the tree the yogurt was finally gone.  Well, unfortunately for her.  I was pretty glad.

It was okay though, instead we had a nice discussion about how many fairies must live behind this little door.

And she wanted to see if their lantern was working so she got really close, and took it off the nail.  But quickly replaced it when I told her they won’t be able to find their way in the evening if she did not put it back.

And then she went up and down the neighbor’s front steps about a bajillion times before we made our way back home…

G is my little artist so I called him to come do some chalk drawing with me in the driveway on Sunday afternoon.  He was reluctant at first but then he started making his creations and he forgot about whatever he was doing before.

I love his concentration face.

I drew his name in bubble letters and he thought that was so funny.  I remember when my girlfriends and I used to draw our names in bubble letters all the time in our school notebooks.

These are the moments I am trying to burn into my brain.  Or at least put here, so I remember them.

My kids are growing up so fast.

Just like yours I bet.

P.S. Don’t forget that this month’s installment of Old School Blogging is still open so please join us and link up! 

Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?
Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Comments

  1. They are, aren’t they? But here you are, capturing those wonderful, gone-too-fast moments.

    Also, I bet your oldest will look (and snore) the same when he falls asleep with a book in 20 years 🙂

  2. I can’t get over how fast my children grow – truly takes my breath away.

    Rick Riordan is da bomb. My son has read everything he has every written at least twice. Such a great boy’s writer!

  3. I love your pictures so much and I so remember the bubble letters. I love that you are showing your son. Boys should know how to do them too!

  4. It really does happen far too quickly. Love the photos and the fact that you’re capturing these moments. These little things are the ones you will look back on the most in the future.

  5. Oh, see this is why I feel the door shutting on having my babies. You know how I go back and forth all every day about my baby #5? It’s partly because of what you described up there. I can FEEL us moving on. My kids FEEL older and it FEELS like we’re all shifting into a new phase. So much beauty in those photos Elaine 🙂

  8. I love the fairy house! So cute. I always feel like i’m rushing my kids through phases. Like “I can’t wait until they’re this age and will comprehend more,” or “I can’t wait until they’re old enough that we dont’ feel like we’re herding cats.” But I know it’s all bittersweet.

  11. I feel the same way a lot of days. Especially when I notice how much older Jack seems than just a few months or weeks ago. Your pictures capture the little moments so nicely.

  12. It’s like you blink and they’re suddenly different kids than you had before. I try to remind myself that we’re really not *that* busy now. That’s it’s going to get a whole lot crazier pretty soon. You’ll be happy you have these memories preserved.

  13. Oh I just love this. It is so important to take a step back and just watch once in a while. And you do it so well. You are so good at capturing these moments. LOVE this. 🙂

  15. Your kids are so cute! But of course they are – you’re adorable. There’s nothing I love more than parents who appreciate their kids and celebrate them. Love.

  16. Yes bubble letters were totally the way to write your name in elementary school. We would even write our names that way in the pencil ledge on our desks- shh! Love the picture with you and your saw drawing chalk and your daughter on the stairs. Great post.

Stolen Moments

by

I grabbed you up in my arms as your chubby baby hands reached up for me. One little tear was coming down your face. It was time. Time for you to sleep and be rejuvenated.

We made our way into the hall that we walk down every morning while I made circles on your back with my hand and whispered into your ear. By now you know that my entrance into your room and the closing of the door behind me means it is time to rest.

This day my mind was reeling with all the things that I needed to accomplish once you were safely inside your crib, off in dream land.

It didn’t matter though. As you rested your head on my shoulder and I took in the sweet smell of your hair, I tried to forget about everything else except for this moment.

You raised your head and looked into my eyes and I into yours and I began to think about the day when I could no longer hold you like this. Your brother is already there. I tried to memorize your face – your sweet little nose and long lashes as you laid your head back down.

I squeezed your toes and felt the baby soft skin on your short little legs. I said a quick prayer that it wouldn’t go too fast, this time, these days when you are still small, still my baby.

Instead of lying you down right away I held you longer and hummed a lullaby while you relaxed into my embrace. I wished for this moment to last forever.

I would have stayed longer but you did need your sleep. I promise to find ways to steal more of these moments with you from now on. The laundry and dishes and dusting can wait. But these times will be gone in the blink of an eye. I will close my eyes and hope for them to last just a little longer…


elaine

Comments

  1. Oh, that was SO sweet!! What a beautiful post.
    I feel a bit sad because I can no longer hold EITHER of babies like that. I miss those days!

    Sniff, sniff …

  7. This is such a lovely and true post. I can’t tell you how many times a day I think the same thing. They’re gone in an instant so it’s so important to cherish them now.

  14. Oh so sweet. I can certainly relate. It seems like I never want to let go when finding moments like this 🙂

    A beautiful post.

  18. Oh you totally win for the best post I have read today! BEST POST!!!

    Seriously Elaine, these are the moments. I hate that they go by so quickly!

    BTW- I have totally been reading along, sorry not much time to comment, but I wanted to tell you that you look FABULOUS in your picture. The one you now have as your profile! FABULOUS dear!! Love it!! 🙂

  19. That was so sweet! (As everyone else has mentioned.)

    I’ll squeeze my twins a little extra next time. It’s hard to remember to slow down and sniff the babies when there’s always stuff to do.

  21. Ok, you REALLY have me in tears this morning!! So sweet and sooooo true! Don’t you just love the weight of their bodies resting on yours? It is the best thing in the whole world!

  25. Oh Elaine, this was beautiful! I wish I would have taken in more of these moments…my baby is 4 and he has no interest in snuggling with his mom.

    I’m gonna have to get a dog!