freezing time...

i took oliver jack to the doctor last week and dear dr. anne said something that has stuck in my mind ever since. she said that not enough people enjoy their kids these days; she went on to say that there has not been one day that she has not had fun with her kids. i must have had a look of disbelief because she quickly clarified that that did not mean that she did not have *hard* days, but at least once, in even the most difficult days, she has found moments of happiness with her children. that i can relate to. my new goal is to remember that this is happening so fast. i am focusing on the legacy that i am leaving behind for my children. i do not want them to remember me as a mad mommy that cared more about the condition of their room than the condition of their hearts. i am trying to gather myself each morning and pray that God helps me to focus on those precious moments that are seriously slipping away---oliver jack is going to be 2 months old on friday! 2 months of his sweet life has already passed and 2 months more calvary will be turning 3 and 4 months after that harper will be turning 5 and starting kindergarten. i am learning to focus on the underlying frustration more than the object of my frustration---for example, harper's dirty room is the object of my frustration but the underlying frustration is her not doing what i have asked her to do. i do not want to use enjoying my kids as an excuse not to teach them respect for others and respect for property, but i do want to see their hearts and for them to see mine. i cannot believe how fast they have changed... on top of remembering to enjoy the time more, i also want to chronicle their lives with more diligence.
my friend, and talented photographer, lori jackson came to our house on saturday to take pictures of our family. i always hate having my picture taken; i feel so awkward. however, lori makes the process as painless as it possibly can be for me :) it was great having her at our house because she took pictures of the kids in their own element. she brought her friend allyson with her and they took pictures of the kids on the trampoline, in the backyard, on the swing set and one of them actually climbed on the trampoline with the kids to get pictures! talk about wanting to get a great shot! she set up in the living room and took some studio shots which was awesome because anyone with a newborn knows how important a schedule is to communal sanity. the brief moment that oliver jack was awake was taken advantage of without having to get in the car and travel. inspite of some interesting behavioral moments from harper and calvary i think we had a really good time. i hope that lori and allyson enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having them here. whenever i look back on the pictures she has taken of harper and calvary i truly feel like she has frozen a moment in time---unmanipulated, pure, and beautiful---
tomorrow is a new day and i pray that i make the best of it with my husband and my children. if they only knew how much i love them...

http://www.lorijacksonphotography.com/