national velvet

I grabbed a DVD of National Velvet out of the sale bin at the bookstore the other day for $3.99.

I hoped that Jackson would love the classic tale of friendship, faith, determination, and girl-power as much as I did as a kiddo, but I underestimated the extent of his enthusiasm. He has watched it at least five times in the last week, and I keep overhearing him quoting dialogue when he and Walker are playing. Lest you think that he's solely taken with the story of Velvet Brown, Mi Taylor, The Pie and their improbable journey to the Grand National steeplechase, let me assure you that it has something more to do with being positively smitten with the young Elizabeth Taylor.

"Mom," he has said more than once, "Velvet is SOOO beYOOOtiful!!!"

His first movie-star crush?

birthday

Jackson turned four years old on Saturday! We all had such a fun, joyous, friend-filled, happy celebration. Truly one of the best days ever -- one that left us feeling so incredibly blessed and profoundly thankful for each other, our family and friends, and the richness of our lives. A sweet sweet day. Here are some of the highlights:

four years ago

This was me, about to pop!

I can't believe that on Saturday it will have been four years

since I became a mom.

Where did the time go?

We're Back!

We are home after our wonderful, exciting visit to North Carolina! I look forward to posting pictures of our many adventures as soon as I get unpacked and settled back in here in NYC.

Meanwhile, here is one of my favorite moments from the trip -- when J got to go on his very first horse ride!

Happy Birthday, J!

Moments after your birth

Your first walk in Central Park

Yawning

Snuggling

Crawling

Age 1!

Age 2!

Age 3!

I love you sooooo much, kiddo! Thanks for making me a mom.

Three Scenes From Early Labor, June 11, 2007

Photos by Liz Rubincam

Time Flies

I snapped this photo on our roof tonight, as my nephew, Finn, set a party balloon free.

I never got around to posting a weekend links post, did I? I had very good intentions, but things got pretty busy, and the next thing I knew...the weekend was over already!

Today we threw a little celebration in honor of J's 3rd birthday, which is coming up on June 11.

The festivities got me thinking about how fast the time is flying by -- how quickly my babies are growing up. Tonight I feel a little bit of that Mama wistfulness.

Just three years ago I had yet to give birth! Now I have a son who loves films and books and maps and dancing and running and climbing and basketball and pizza and saying big new words like "essentially" and "Greenland".

It's a lot to comprehend, as a mother. Exciting and sweet and sad, all at the same time.

And it's days like today that just make me want to be still and observe every moment and every milestone and somehow preserve them forever before they're gone!

But it doesn't matter how many photos I take, or how many notes I write down, or how many blog posts I post. I can't hang on to this.

So: I am reminded to be more present. More still. To give my boys as much love and attention as I can, every day. To cherish their fleeting childhoods.

'Cause time really does fly.

December Photo Project, Day 9

Oh my goodness! In the craziness of the last week I have totally been remiss in taking a photo every day for the December Photo Project :( As of now I am re-committing to the picture-a-day challenge.

I snapped today's photo moments after these cookies came out of the oven. J and I had a blast making them from my mother's recipe and they are DELICIOUS!

This post is dedicated to the most awesomely wrong comment that someone left on the Baby Mamas video on YouTube, which completely cracked me up:

"Ugh. Stop dancing and get in the kitchen."

So, yeah, I'm able to rock the kitchen AND the music video, thankyouverymuch! LOL!!!

When You Give a Two-Year-Old a Camera...

...you get some pretty interesting perspective!