He was born with all this fur. I love it. His future wife may not. (Oh, wait. He’s already married.)

Speaking of marriage…my husband says I should take a long break from blogging because everyone is tired of seeing my kids.

I insist that *everyone* does not read this blog.

I win.

But she can also kick your butt.

So during this little session, I happened to snap something totally offensive and inappropriate.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but when I came across it in my files, it literally made me laugh out loud. I don’t think I can post it here, though. Unless you can convince me that you won’t be offended… [ETA: Okay...here it is...]

Also, wanted to share this.  Lookie at the bracelet her Mee Maw got her:

It was high time we had another construction session for T-man.  The first one we did was two years ago.  I have to admit, however, that first session was pure magic.  This was fun, too. Kinda impromptu, but they seemed to enjoy it!

And since we’re revisiting past sessions, here are a few more from Babe in the Woods…

(The color version for her daddy ;-).

It was five years ago today that he came into our lives and I became a mom.

FIVE years???

So I’m feeling a little weepy already. I just can’t even believe it. How much our lives have changed in five years.  How much he has changed. How his big personality just explodes from his little body.  To celebrate, today’s post is dedicated to my little man:

My dear Tristan,

I love you. You are an amazing human being and I’m so thankful that you chose to be our first son. I love your exuberance and the way you schedule out our day. I love that you still love construction, dirt, and concrete.  Those things have become synonymous with your personality. I love how you want to be strong like your daddy but are oh-so-gentle with your baby sister. I love how you talk like you’re 30 and I love that you’ve been doing so since you were even able to speak.  I love that you love books.  I love watching you create bridges and vehicles out of your construction blocks. I love how you tell people you want to drive a garbage truck when you grow up…and you know what? I can honestly say I would love it if you did because I would know that you were happy. I love how you’re so particular about your clothing and wear the same shirts day in and day out until I finally have to sneak them away into retirement.  I love thinking about how excited you’re going to be when you bound down the stairs this morning to see if the Birthday Fairy left you anything.  I love that you know that I am the Birthday Fairy but you still call it the Birthday Fairy anyway. I love it when you hug me. I love that you still let me hug you.

I know you probably don’t understand the significance of this milestone birthday, but if you see mommy looking at you with tears in her eyes today, just know that I’m not sad, baby. I’m actually very happy and very glad and very, very, thankful that you are my son.

Love,

Mom

A few days old.

One. I remember this day like it was yesterday. He had just learned to say “appum” and he was so proud.

Two.

Three.  One of my most favorite pictures of him ever.

Four. So him.

Five.

For Daddy, MeeMaw, and Nini:

Can you even believe it?

[Cake by Humble Pie Desserts.  Thanks so much, Jeanna. It was a hit!]

The fog was so beautiful & mysterious this morning. As was my daughter.

I was escorted by two *very* handsome gentlemen the other day to an evening of food, fun, and lasers.  Ladies, prepare to be jealous:

(Can’t even begin to tell you just how difficult it is to drive a boat, hold camera and focus with one hand, AND try to keep an eye on two kids at the same time.  I won’t be doing that again.)

(Just moments before my 24-70 took a direct hit.  Ooops.)

Eat your heart out, Tiger.

It cracked me up how these two– having never seen laser tag in their lives and barely able to walk in those big vests– slipped into boy mode within seconds of entering the arena:

“Captain, do you read me?”

“Yes, I copy. We need to find the aliens. Let’s get ‘em.”

“Roger, roger.”

I was so totally out of my element (I probably didn’t even get this conversation right).  But wow, what a rush to get to do such boy things with my little guys.  With little Miss A taking up most of my time, we haven’t been able to play like that in quite a while. I was honored they let me into their little world.

Totally off topic, I was visited by a little angel the other day.  This was from a year ago.  And here she is today:

So, you can totally understand why my camera jumped up and attacked her the second she came through the door. ;-) Thanks for the visit, sweet J.

Psssst. Pinkle Toes Photography will officially re-open for booking on Feb. 1st for sessions starting in March.  Spaces are very limited, so if you are interested in a session this spring/summer, please contact me as soon as possible.  I will also unveil my 2009 product line on the 1st…I’m so excited I could burst.  I searched high and low for the coolest stuff this year–can’t wait to show you!

A nice little surprise, the boys were invited to stay with their grandparents this weekend.  They packed their own suitcases:

Only the necessities.

Clothes neatly tucked away…

The hubs is going to kill me for this, and I don’t know if I shouldn’t be rather embarrassed, myself, but here is how we spent our break:

We bought two copies.  And then the series. For shame.  [At least he can claim its for school.  I have no excuses.]

Other random pics:

Why does she always look as if she’s merely tolerating me and the big black box that’s always in front of my face?

He turns five soon. His technical abilities never cease to amaze me. He’s been changing the batteries on his toys since he was two.

It was pajama day at preschool Friday. He was so proud of his Pj’s and bedhead.

Speaking of preschool, we now arrive to the point of my post.  I’m not sure how to say this, but I have some news….

I became a mother-in-law last week!!

“How?” you ask? Simple.  There was a preschool wedding that I was conspicuously NOT invited to. Yes, I had to hear about it after-the-fact from my son’s teacher who evidently is also a preschool wedding photographer…

The beautiful bride.

The wedding party.

The picture that sent me into hysterics. Priceless.

The reason for the wedding. Yes. I am also a grandmother as well.

[Note to self: Must remind my children that typically, marriage comes before baby.  Also, no need to worry about that 2009 Mother of the Year award.  It's already in the bag.]

…that I can get anything done around here. ;-)  Smooch!

(How about that baby mohawk?  I never imagined I’d be lucky enough to have one like L’s boy. ;-))

I’m sure we’re all over the holiday season right now, but I still had to share this card with you and then I’ll stop.

Okay, to be completely honest, I’m actually procrastinating because I’m:
1. NAKing (nursing at keyboard)
2. Still trying to get everything switched over from my PC to my new Mac (what a nightmare!)
3. Finalizing everything so I can start booking for 2009 (eek!)
4. Redoing my entire website (yes, I like to reinvent the wheel)
5. Reorganizing Organizing my desk. It’s oh so bad. It’s so bad.
6. Returning a bazillion e-mails (I’m soooooo sorry I’ve fallen behind on those).
7. Paying bills.
8. Thinking about what we should make for dinner. Any ideas?