Jon's been out of town this week, so the kiddos and I have just been hangin' at home. At ages 3 and 5, they're both at just such FUN stages of their life. They're full of giggles, personality, creativity, thoughts, ideas, curiousity. Everything is new and exciting for them. And because Jon's out of town, we've ended up with slumber parties in Mommy's bed -- or at least last night we did. I'm sure I'll pay for that decision tonight, when I won't allow it. But for last night, it was nice.

Having my little snuggle bugs nestle close to me just sent me back in time to when they were tiny and so dependent upon me. I won't lie -- I'm not a baby person, and much prefer the stage they're in right now to infancy. However, there's a certain magic to infancy as well; to total dependence upon a person. The smell of their sweet hair, sweet breath, their soft breathing, the way they curl into you -- there's just nothing like it. And the gift of time and rememberence makes those late nights, lack of sleep, blow out diapers -- all that stuff just disappears!

So my Throwback Thursday is simply that -- reflecting on when my kids were littler. And in looking through old pictures, I happened upon two of my favorite scrapbook layouts. They were both taken in May of 2007, so Dominic was 11 months old, which would make Amara 33 months old (i.e. almost 3).

In May of 2007, we took a family trip to the Black Hills (South Dakota). And by family trip, I mean my entire family. We went to celebrate my Grandparent's 60th Anniversary and renewal ceremony at Chapel In the Hills. While in the hills, of course you have to go see Mount Rushmore - even though I've been there countless times. No matter how many times I've seen it though, it's powerful and breathtaking each time. I especially loved this picture that I took of Amara with Jon looking at the mountain. I thought it so fitting that a little girl and her hero were looking up at traditional US heroes. I think this will always be one of my favorite pictures.



Dominic's picture was taken at home in Cincinnati, also in May of 2007. He was 11 months old and cruising all over the house. He had the strength to walk, but wasn't quite there yet. He was so eager to discover the world, and I just thought this series of pictures captured that. He has always had a curious little mind -- how do things fit together? how does this work? Ironically, he didn't start walking until September of 2007 -- a full 4 months after these photos were taken. It was literally the day after he had tubes put in his ears. All the fluid was making him unable to balance, and thus unable to walk. He started talking that same day in September. And not just a little bit -- he quickly went from a handful of single words to full sentences. Poor kid needed those tubes, that's for sure!

Don't know why the sentimentality today. I think a night of snuggling with my kiddos did me good. The opportunities to snuggle will continue to get fewer and farther between as they grow up. For now, I'm glad they still love to hug me close.