All I wanted for Valentines Day was a walk in the woods…with my boys and Jeremy and my camera.
I fear sometimes that I will lose it….lose track of the time…lose the memory of now….it’s probably one of my greatest fears…to look back and not remember these days – the sweetest moments of my life. I don’t want to be caught up in cleaning or blogging or showering (heehee) or whatever and forget to really be present in capturing these little moments. When I am older, I want to remember the little things that photography captures…the little memories are the best memories…the little quirks and expressions and details that FLY by and really, make these little humans the people they are. I am afraid of losing that.
So that is why I wanted this walk. Just to snag a few shots of them now….as they are and who they are. It was way too late in the day and the sun had already gone down so they are pretty grainy….but these are my kids…my squad…and these pictures do capture their little ‘things’ right now as they are. I challenge you to do the same. Go take a walk.
I love that Will took five extra seconds to try to figure out the hand signs…he doesn’t know what that means…to put up a peace sign or a “I love you” in sign language….he just has seen other kids doing it and he is learning – that is what kids DO. He is five now and learning that there are some things that are ‘cool’ and others that ‘aren’t’…..I am trying to help him….guide him….and it’s hard! Also – I swear he just got those shoes yesterday and they are already scuffed up on the toes….so HIM.
Weston is so shy. He really is. But he wants friends so much. (he said this the other day and added “and girls too!” 🙂 ) In true second child style, he tends to cling to Will’s buddies as his own and he rarely picks kids his own age as his friends. We are working on it. Playdates with kids his age are in the works….but right now he says that Will is his best buddy. I love that silly fake smile. It is something he practices in the mirror 🙂
These two. They are finally getting to a point where they can play together. It’s kinda crazy to think about bringing home Weston from the hospital and Will holding him. Now they do practically everything together. I always tell them – You know how special it is? To have so many brothers? I hope they truly know.
You wouldn’t know it by looking at him but this little guy can eat. He is probably the best natural eater of the bunch. So basically at any point of the day he has food on his face. And he is obsessed with birds. and planes. and is the one that everyone meets and says that he is so cute…..he does cute things….like the way he holds his hand out, wiggles that one pointer finger and says “meer!” (translation – come here!) and points out the littlest details…like a crawling lady bug or a string that is half buried in the ground.
Will is my predictable one. The one that concerns himself with the whole world. The one that wants to be a super hero always because they are the good ones…the ones that are the rescuers and saviors. He even told me that he likes being ‘Dark Vader’ only when he pretends that he is a good guy 🙂 He is the one that cries when he hurts his brothers….not because he is in trouble….because sometimes he isn’t AT ALL….but because he truly doesn’t want to be that. It’s endearing as a parent but at times I have to remind him that being a perfectionist is a burden.
He is not naturally funny….not in the same sense that Weston is. He isn’t silly. He wants to be though….so Will tries to memorize jokes and tell them exactly so that he can make people laugh and make his friends happy. He makes me cry because his jokes are so simple and innocent. I miss that part already 🙂
Weston is the opposite…he can make a joke out of nothing and it is second nature. He makes us laugh constantly and so hard that we cry. He’s our little class clown 🙂
My two little ones are the ones that make me feel like a good mom. They love on me. And I get to love on them without getting pushed away. They are my little partners in everything. I’m not naturally a baby person….I think I used to be…but somewhere along the way I lost it….but with these guys, I am…I want to snuggle and play and wrestle and all that.
Our walk wasn’t long. Just some clear paths and a lot of saying “don’t get in the mud”.
This picture is my world right now. I wish Jeremy was in it too so I could print it out and put it EVERYWHERE. But he was the one that made them smile by pretending to jump over my head 🙂
Something about Maxi Knight….he is the most ticklish baby I have ever met. He laughs when you hold him, squeeze him, snuggle him, change his diaper….everything is smiles and chuckles.
He loves loves loves his brothers. They make him laugh most of all. They can do just about anything to get him to giggle. And he is in my favorite stage – the sitting not yet crawling stage. This is the BEST stage ever. I think Weston completely skipped it. Will was in it for a week. LJ was in it for two weeks. Its days are numbered.
Everywhere we go, people compliment him on his eyes. OH THE EYES. But really it’s the eyelashes that do me in. They are everything.
Totally blurry picture but this is my Weston. All Weston. So Weston. He is my blur.
When our walk was over, I realized that it was more for my soul than anything. I don’t do enough of that. Slowing down and taking it in. It’s always the next thing and the next chore or the latest project. I need to recollect sometimes and having my camera in my hand and the most beautiful subjects does that. It refocuses me….even when my pictures aren’t exactly in focus 🙂
That’s what I am doing….soaking all that boy glory in…..what about you guys? Jeremy left us last week to go to a Bachelor’s party with his brother and buddies….they were off fly fishing and I was riding solo at the house with the kiddos for a few days. I didn’t realize how much I missed the little things about Jeremy – like how he empties the trash cans and gets the bed warm under the covers before I get in – so just him coming home was a wonderful valentines day treat. I’d love to hear about your week…anything special happening? Any walks in the woods?
❤️
You and your family are beautiful. Inside and out.
Our Valentines Day was spent with good friends sharing good food, cocktails and conversations.
Truly a Happy Valentines Day!
Thank you for this, Katie. I am not determined to find a way today to just BE with my kids even if it’s just for a few minutes. I needed this reminder.
Ack! That should say NOW determined!
Hi Katie!! Loved this post! And I love the posts about your family! Your boys are adorable!!! If you are ever open to sharing, I’d love to hear about your approaches to breast feeding and sleeping. How long did you breastfeed each? How were they different? Sleeping?? What was your approach? Co-sleeping, crib, cry it out? I know all of this can be controversial so I would totally understand if you choose to keep that stuff private!!
As always, thanks for the honesty in all of your posts!!!
Oh Katie — that was just beautiful — Your boys are each so beautiful, but your words about them, are even more so!! You made me all teary and sappy this morning (and at work, mind you!)!!!
I can’t wait to go home tonight and spend some time just watching them and soaking it in! Thank you for the reminder!
So beautiful! I need to do this more, just get out there and capture the now. With a 4 year old, you forget how quickly they grow up until you look back at the photos. Thanks for the nudge, such beautiful photos x
Adorable boys.
This is so perfect. Today is Family Day (an actual holiday) in Ontario and I needed the reminder to just “be” with them.
What sweet souls and beautiful faces. Your words brought tears to my eyes I could feel the love you have for each boy. And know that you see their own little person that they are and you enjoy and love on it.
Katie, you are a wise woman to realize you must savor the moments instead of rushing to the next project. These little ones you’ve been entrusted with will be grown in the blink of an eye. Enjoy them and love on them now while they can love you right back without embarrassment.
A lovely post and an excellent reminder to enjoy the littlest of moments – those are the ones that fill your soul.
That was a beautiful read, and some gorgeous photos <3
For Valentine's day (well, on the 12th) my boyfriend and I went to the theater where they were having a Love-themed improv' night. The first half was a lot of laughter, but the second half was so precious: the "chairman" announced they would do a "couple interview" with a couple from the audience, and of course – with my partner's reluctant permission – I volunteered us! We went on stage and talked about our relationship, then the actors impersonated us and improvised out some scenes from our story under our instructions: how we met, the first kiss, first meeting with the parents… It was SUCH a great laugh! We had to ring a bell if they got our characters right, and blow a horn if they did something out of character. Haven't laughed so much in so long!!!
More than anything though, this made me feel so close to my boyfriend, hearing him talk about us, how he sees me, his dreams for our future (which he does not talk much about) and laughing together while reconstructing our story was SO precious.
We did not expect to go on stage at all that night, and I know he felt a bit awkward and self-conscious, but I am so grateful he let me volunteer us to go and for all the things he shared. Most impromptu Valentine's date ever! But one I will keep in my heart forever.
This was beautiful. I find that I am also scared I will miss it all. This is a good reminder to take more pictures too.
For our valentines we went to a local state park (mount Diablo) with our kids, my mom, my brother and sister-in-love and my niece and nephews. There is a place on the mountain called “rock city”, that has huge sandstone rocks with caves and such. The kiddos all had a blast. We all ended up driving to the summit that looks out over the entire Bay Area (and most of Northern California) We had 70 degree plus weather and it was clear. I’ve never been up there when it’s been so clear…. Couldn’t believe how far we could actually see. It reminded me how much my projects and commintments get in the way of just slowing down and enjoying the life I have. Need to spend more days like yesterday. So I had a wonderful Valentine’s Day probably my favorite so far.
I love the simplicity of this post. Also you sharing you aren’t super into babies anymore- that touched me deep! I feel weird that I’m not “yay babies” like I was before/when I had mine.
I think it’s the tiring aspect, that and LOVING the toddler stage and the sweet conversations and intentional love. I hope that makes sense, I love babies, but I LOVE my toddlers.
Beautiful photos (kids)! I just had my first baby. She just turned a year and I have told myself many times to slow down and really spend time with her. I stay at home with her and its crazy that I can be with her all day but not really connect. I want to focus on balancing quality time with her and getting my housework, cooking, shopping, life stuff, etc done. It’s going by so fast and I want to truly remember all these precious stages!
That sounds AMAZING. I really want to go there now.
xo – kb
That is so precious. I need to do that with Jeremy…well…maybe not on stage but ask him about how he sees our story!
xo – kb
Well…I have blogged about them sometimes over the past years. In general, we do a very moderate approach…not too much one way or the other. We attempt to breastfeed till age 1 but I only actually accomplished that with Will as I was pregnant with LJ when Weston weened (he weened early because I am guessing the milk changed) and then again with LJ when I was pregnant with Max (again ten months). As far as nursing goes – I had the full experience – Will was the hardest (he is tongue tied and it made it hard), Weston and LJ were both easy as is Max. Sleeping, we do a half crib/half cosleeping thing. And the only child I did let cry was LJ because he was not growing well and the pediatrician said it was time to sleep train….we still did it very moderately as I would rock him for a certain length of time and then stay in the room touching him through the rails till he slept but he needed to learn to sleep in a bed and that was harder for him. Now he is growing again so that is a relief! We in general definitely believe that every child is different and there are no one-fits-all methods….we think you need to make that decision for your family, your needs and your individual child and that you also need to go with your gut in a lot of things. I am surprised all the time on how much I have changed in my thoughts and beliefs since having the boys and seeing how their needs are so different!
xo – kb
Hi Katie,
Love your blog! For a while not its been totally messed up on feedly though. The beginning and the first photo is always good but then all the rest of the photos and words are stretched out and not formatted correctly. It makes it impossible to see the pictures and really difficult to read the words. Yours is the only blog on my reader that does it. Just wanted to let you know in case there is a setting you can change so I can read your blog again!
I love this!! Your family is so beautiful. It makes me really want a lot of kids one day!
Sitting and not crawling our my favorite! My almost 6 year old girl was the best, did that for almost 3 months. The boys on the other hand a few weeks like you said. 🙂 I also have a smiley laughing baby about the same age as yours. They are the best. The smiles make you feel like you are doing everything right.
I’m so sorry to hear that. It actually shows up fine on my Feedly reader. Maybe there is a cookie issue?
xo – kb
i dont have kids and cant relate to everything when it comes to that but this post was beautiful. doesnt hurt that you have a beautiful family 😀 I travel a lot for work so i total get the “walk for the soul”. sometimes you just need to be with the people you love, no agenda, no distractions, just be.
Oh my goodness. I just love this post so, so much. You have such a beautiful family–thank you for sharing with us. And thank you for the much needed reminder to sloooooooow down sometimes and just soak it all in.
Beautiful post! Such adorable kids. Max’s eyelashes are amazing! Know Will is 5 but I forget the ages of the other boys.
This post is so timely for me. I am a Grandma of Matthew (3) and Annabelle (11M). Last weekend my hubby and I rented a house in Northern Michigan. My son and wife came from the UP and my daughter, son in law and babies came from the Detroit area. We gave the family a gift of a weekend together for Christmas. I wish you could see the pictures. It was such nice family time. It was pretty much below zero the whole weekend; so we spent time indoors; cooking, eating, playing and just being a family. It was a great time for all of us.
I know it’s childish but I never thought I had enough love for more than my one son. This post shows me that it’s possible. Over the years that I’ve read your blog, this post is one of my all time favorites. It really speaks to b who you are and the love you give! Thank you so much for sharing your loves with us!
The first time my son watched the movie Home Alone, he laughed so hard he snorted water up his nose, fell off the sofa, couldn’t catch his breath, etc. I am SO glad we caught it on video; I’ll always be able to hear that hysterical breathless laughter of him at 5 years old… priceless.
Weston turned 3 in November, LJ is going to be 2 in March and Max is seven months old 🙂
xo – kb
Yes. No agenda should be my words of the year 🙂
xo – kb
I love the log pictures (well, all of them actually) but the log with the moss. Love! Handsome boys! I love the little stories about their personalities. It also makes me want more kids!
Where did you find LJ’s sweater outfit? It is so cute. I had several for my 10 month old this winter but love the idea of having more for him to wear next winter!
Old Navy!
xo – kb
Gah! Your words! So beautiful! I love reading your blog. This and probably the one with your mom & the vacation in this cabin… happy, sweet, sentimental, endearing, totally goobery tears leaking out for me! Thank you for sharing your life and your loves. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to put yourself out there to the world. I appreciate it. Thank you. 🙂
The years of raising & coaching your kids seems to move more swiftly than a Sasquatch sighting in the woods … which you seem to have captured in your photo of Weston
Haha! He is my little Sasquatch! He is FAST and elusive for sure!
xo – kb
LOVED this post! I really enjoy reading the family updates (they end up being my favorite ones to look back on with our own blog too) and can’t wait to follow your adventuring in Texas!