A Look Back... and the Memories

2004
5 months old

- a feeding tube

- sneaky little fingers that always seemed to find that one little space between the tape on the cheek and the nose where tape wouldn't stick to keep the feeding tube in place... and the handful of trips to the ER to have it put back in until we learned how to re-insert it ourselves (and really not liking the re-insertion part)

- adorable bunny slippers



2004
5 months old


- not knowing much about a camera but having such a passion for photography
(in looking back, it's amazing to see how far I've come, and makes me look forward to learning and growing and continuing to improve)



2005
1 year 5 months

- big, beautiful almond eyes and peeking tongues



2005
1 year 5 months


- "ooooh!" faces and gobs of plastic Easter eggs (most of which I still have, yet continue to buy more on sale after the holiday each year because they're so ridiculously cheap I just can't pass them up)



2006
Rylee - 2 years 5 months
Jordyn - 11 years old


- spending Easter at my sister's house and having Rylee wear her hair in cute little pig tails (for about 4 minutes) and having Rylee cover Grandpa Lee's shirt with Easter stickers and having an egg hunt in their basement


(visualize an adorable picture of Rylee and Jordyn here from 2007)


- having little recollection of Easter because I was 9 months pregnant and my biggest concern was getting Carter OUT of me because I am not a beautiful, glowing pregnant woman but instead a very chubby, nauseated, exhausted woman who's body just doesn't "do pregnant" very well



2008
Rylee - 4 years 5 months
Carter - 1 year old


- two little bottom front teeth and spots of drool on shirts

- having an Easter egg hunt and then going into our camper on our front lawn to eat our treats because our kitchen was being remodeled and the house was a mess and the camper was basically where we lived during the days because one has no idea the importance of a kitchen until one is not available to you



2009
Rylee - 5 years 5 months
Carter - 2 years old


- having such a fun time taking pictures of the kids and having Jeremy stand behind me doing God knows what to get genuine smiles and giving Carter a Blues Clues book just so he would stay sitting down and finishing the photo shoot with the kids throwing plastic Easter eggs at me

- being thankful for an older daughter who is such a great sport and joins in the egg-hunting fun with her little brother and sister (though I do believe she secretly enjoys it, especially when her eggs are filled with dollar bills)



2010
Rylee - 6 years 5 months
Carter - 3 years old


- having a hunt in our backyard and watching Carter stand on his tip-toes to reach eggs on the top ledge of our new fence and listening to the kids' squeals when a candy-filled egg was discovered

- fake, half-hearted smiles just to appease mom so plastic eggs can be pulled apart and chocolate treats can be inhaled eaten.

* * * * *

Better go... I need to help the Easter Bunny set out "baskets full of Easter joy."

(And, though I love, love, LOVE this time of year... I have to say I'm not heartbroken that we will soon be putting away the stuffed pink Easter bunny with the spinning tail that sings "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" loudly or the yellow chicken that hops around singing "The Chicken Dance" or the Fisher Price Little People Easter Sing-Along CD that is nearly worn out from being played so much. I guess all good things must come to an end.)

Happy Spring everyone!