Camera-less

This morning I was tempted to call my mom at 6am - when Jovie was wide eyed and ready for the day.  See, she tells me that someday I'll miss these early mornings with my babies, and each time she says this her eyes leak, so I know she is not kidding. But since I am grown with a family of my own, I figured if I called her at 6am she would panic, worrying something is wrong, so I refrained...at least for this morning. 

Aside from the exhaustion that having a kid with a cold brings (Kiplin), I lived up that 6am wake up call to the fullest. 

We were busy here, doing the things we do best - and here is the proof...

Aunt J with snoozing baby J

And I just love the way that babies have a special way of getting all cozy in the strangest positions...

 The early morning wake up made our little J a snoozing gal for Aunt J and Nana's visit

 Feet from a tiny baby and giant baby

 Middle of the day TV show watching, just to calm down two rowdy boys (one of them who is sick)

 She is trying to become a thumb sucker...

We went on a late family walk this evening after much bickering of "it's too late" but goodness sometimes you just gotta throw the schedule off and just get outdoors when it isn't raining buckets.  So our little family of 5 all got ready, we had a few melt downs in the midst, but finally made our way out the door.  

And though we were only outside 30 minutes, it was just what we needed.  

The camera got left behind (thanks P) - which initially was a bummer. But it let me just sit back and enjoy the moment.  Sometimes it is so easy to get wrapped up in taking pictures, capturing every precious second of these little lives we get to see grow up, that it is nice to sit back and just take it all in.  

While I was camera-less I really got to focus on my kids.  I got to soak in the little 8lb10oz baby who was snuggle up against my chest, in that perfect spot, all cozy in her bear suit, closely nestled in the sling.  I got to see my little K's smiling face as he raced up and down the gravel path with his daddy, sporadically picking up rocks to throw them.  I got to throw rocks into a big puddle with R, who would say "wow I throw them mega far cause I got these muscles" as he proudly flexed his "muscles" for me.  I got to see the bickering transform into bliss.  There is just something about being outside that does something for each and every one of us.  And so sometimes, it is worth it, to throw off the schedule for an impromtu family outing to go exploring.

and all evenings should end this way.