Kid Pictures!

My Aunt Tabby found this really cool kid-proof camera and thought that Hamilton (and by extension, I am sure, Veronica) might enjoy taking some of their own pictures. Boy, have they! (and we can pretty much vouch that this little camera can go through a lot and still keep clicking). Here are some of their better shots.

With Hamilton and Veronica both represented in this picture, I think one of the cousins must have been trying it out.

Cool oldest cousin, Emily. (Did I mention the camera comes with a flash?)

Daddy

Veronica ready for bed

Mommy not saying "Cheese"

There are about 20 pics of Caroline from this particular photo shoot--all from this very flattering angle.

I have a feeling this picture is incriminating...

Skyping with Daddy

I was witness to this series...it sounded something like this...
Hamilton: Veronica, say "cheese."
Veronica: Sees.

Hamilton: No, Veronica. I said, "Cheese."
Veronica: Sees.

Hamilton: Cheese!
Veronica: Sees!

Hamilton: Veronica, please say, "Cheese."
Veronica: ...

There are a lot of pictures of Veronica's nose...taken by Veronica. And if you hear a little voice somewhere around your knees saying, "Sees," you best pause and give your best smile.


Thanks, Aunt Tabby!

Quiet Time

"So, when do they nap?" It's a question I try to avoid, since it's always a little awkward when I say, "They don't, really." Some other parents then try to apologetically explain how they are trying to get their child to give up a nap--like I am somehow judging them.

Nope...it's just that my firstborn was never a great day sleeper (or night sleeper for the first 8 months, for that matter). And at some point around 18 months, he gave up naps for good. Of course, I kept trying with it for a bit but I realized one day that he didn't get grumpy without one. And, if I did get him to fall asleep, he would inevitably be up until 10 or 11 at night as opposed to his habitual 7 o'clock bedtime. So, we made the executive decision to stop enforcing nap time.

Really, trading in that hour of sleep for some flexibility in the afternoons worked well for me, and Veronica was such a great napper-on-the-go that we kept the pattern going after she was born. That was, until I was getting into that want-to-go-back-to-sleep-at-ten-in-the-morning part of the pregnancy with Caroline and it hit me...

No rest in the afternoon isn't going to work with three kids. And while Hamilton was pretty good with entertaining himself, he wasn't very good at entertaining himself quietly. Plus now that Veronica was no longer in her crib, I needed to be more intentional with her rest time in the afternoon, too. Eek!

So began our family quiet times. And, whew, it's been a lot of work and lots and lots of trial and error. And more errors than successes generally. It's been a work for me in being disciplined, too. I know from my teaching days the importance of consistency in getting a routine to work and become effortless...but the mother-Jenny is apt to nudge aside quiet time on a nice day and head to the park or run an errand. And pay for it the next day in trying to reinstate the routine.

Enter the iPod...loaded with familiar VBS songs...and our quiet time now looks like this (on a good day).

She spotted me and said, "Cheese."

He only looked up because of repeated flash needed in our bedroom.

This little one could teach the rest of Team Whitney a lesson about consistency in routine. She is a clockwork napper and goes to sleep on her own. I am in awe--I had no idea it could be like this!

Our Little Lady Bug

at 3.5 months
in double-time
(I especially like the bit between 25-30 seconds..who can resist a baby smile)


p.s. it's a silent film

Not gonna catch up!

Each time I sit down and look at this "New Post" screen, I am a bit overwhelmed. There is so much I could write about. We are so blessed; our lives are never boring. I end up typing a couple of sentences and giving up. So here's my admission. You are probably never going to read a blog post about:

• the fun park and zoo visits the kids took with Freeman and Grammy while I was getting used to having Caroline at home;
• the Book-a-Mania Library Event and trip to the planetarium with Oompah;
• the trip back to the planetarium the following week with Grammy and Granddad;
• Thanksgiving and Christmas 2011;
• Zoolights;
  
• the countless trips to the Children's Museum;
• the adventures of learning to get around with three; or
  
• New Year's Eve in the ER (and Hamilton's song about it).

Instead, I am starting with tonight. And keeping it simple. Because, really, I want to have a blog to look back at and remember what life looked like around here and I want to share these things with the family and friends that I don't reach out to as often as I'd like.

Tonight, somewhere between dinner mayhem and bedtime craziness, Freeman rallied the kids for a cool little science lesson. He pulled up the star chart on the computer and found Venus and helped the kids locate it outside our (hand print decorated) window.

It was a sweet moment. I'd write more about that, but I've got a fussy little one on my lap...more soon.

Before and After: 2011

Freeman and I were checking out some old photos and video last night of our kids. Through the laughter, we kept commenting how much Hamilton and Veronica had changed from the beginning to the end of the year. See...

Veronica - January, 2011

Veronica - December, 2011



Hamilton - February, 2011



Hamilton - December, 2011

Sick Days

I recently read a quote (and I won't even try to cite it since I think I saw it on Facebook and it sounded like one of those requoted-so-often-the-original-source-is-buried type of things) that said, "What if we only had today what we thanked God for yesterday?" And I got to thinking of all of those unnoticed gifts that get buried by daily life. (And, then, as quick as that, life took over again.)

Tonight, after I got Caroline down, I was really looking forward to taking a shower and crawling into bed myself. No sooner than I was dressed for bed, I heard the unmistakable sound of...well, let's say a stomach bug doing it's thing, in our bedroom. Yes, poor Veronica is sick...again. We had just gone through one round of this with everyone but Freeman affected and I was so thankful for our regained health.

I got poor, sweet girl out of her bed and into the shower to get her clean enough to put back to sleep. As I was remaking her bed, I heard another unmistakable sound from the other side of the room. Oh, yes. Apparently our oldest two did a very effective job of sharing this bug.

So, over an hour after I was seconds from being in bed, I am hanging out at the computer, waiting to see if I am needed again...and remembering that quote. Don't get me wrong, I don't think God's in the business of taking away things immediately when we don't thank Him in this era of history. But, isn't it true that we recognize what we had more acutely when it's gone?

As I think of tomorrow, which will probably look a lot like this

(and I may even have to cancel our playdate for Wednesday)
I am going to work to be thankful in all things.

Sweet Caroline

With each of our kids, I've (somewhat inadvertently) come up with a song using their name. Basically, while trying to calm a screaming infant, I resorted to singing. As you will soon see, I am neither a great songwriter or singer.

Hamilton's song is to the tune of "Where is Thumbkin" and went something like this:
I love Hamilton; I love Hamilton. Yes, I do. Yes, I do.
I-I love, Hamilton; I-I love Hamilton. Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

Brilliant, no?

With Veronica, it became a bit of a duet, since I had Hamilton as a helper, so we developed a little ditty to the tune of O, Christmas Tree.
Veronica, Veronica, how are you, Veronica?
Veronica, Veronica, how are you, Veronica?
Are you tired, do you want to (and Hamilton says) sleep.
Are you hungry, do you want to (once again, Hamilton) eat.
Veronica, Veronica, how are you, Veronica?

As she got older, we changed the "how are you" to "we love you."

Now, not only do I have Hamilton to help out, we've got a budding choir (ha!). And, of course, what tune could we possibly pick other than "Sweet Caroline (ba, ba, ba). Enjoy! (and please ignore the craziness in the background)

I tried to cut the video in time to save your ears from some high pitch screaming. You are welcome!