Nate’s favorite food?  Onions.  Me?  I don’t feel like I can commit to anything, but if I had to, as of now, it would be: salsa.

Mackay is weird.  There, I said it.  In Utah, we found  a swarm of ants.  I told her that Utah ants don’t bite like Texas ants do.  And somehow that gave her license to make friends.  She picked one up.  And LOVED it.  Actually, loved ON it.  She let it climb all over her, named her ant, and took it inside to show her grandma.  Mackay found Grandma in the laundry room, who was completely disgusted by the thought of having an ant inside her house.  And then somehow they turned from her “friends” to her “favorite cousins.”  She asked if she could take one home with her.  She even began naming them all.  And when my mom put poison out for them to eat, Mackay pled with her not to kill her favorite cousins.  My mom showed no sympathy.  We have survived, and my daughter has friends, I promise.

I’m out of mousse and eye shadow.  And have been for a while.  Instead of going out and buying new, I’ve reverted to digging underneath my bathroom sink for the hair products that just “didn’t work” and have been using pink on my eyes instead of the usual brown.  (Color is in, right?)  The real problem is that since we have brought on the second child, I am a one-stop-shop kind of gal.  If it’s not at Wal-mart, I’m not getting it.  Taking kids in and out of car seats multiple times a day is just not worth it.  But I will buy my designer cosmetics before I buy from Wal-mart.  Just sayin’.

Celebrity status and popularity is such an interesting concept.  Who defines it anyway?  And how weird is it that someone who is SO BIG in one atmosphere may be a no-one in another.  Jasmine Star, Jesh de Rox, Jerry Ghionis.  If I saw any of these people in real life, I would probably faint.  And you have no idea who I’m talking about.

Someday I’ll be a celebrity to more people than just my mom.  Who am I kidding?  She doesn’t even read my blog.  (She doesn’t know how to type it into the address bar.)  And I know I can write that because she won’t be reading.

Traveling home from Utah last weekend went okay.  For one leg of the trip I was alone with the kids.  I survived, though if I had to do the entire trip myself I probably would have been in tears.  But I think I handled the wrestling and bloody finger with grace.  Oh, by the way, I hate flying.  At least I didn’t throw up.  At least Mackay didn’t throw up.  And at least Zack didn’t throw up.  Let’s count it as a success.  If you want to hear more about throw up let me know.  It might make you cry…and laugh through the tears.

My daughter has started saying, “Wowza”, which made me realize that I say that.  I’m going to try to stop saying that.

I’m going to start a diet.  Yes, I said it on the internet.  That means no more oreos, and I am limiting my McFlurry’s to once a week.  Pathetic, I know.  But I dream about them.

I can’t wait for Wednesdays blog post.  I had the opportunity to do a “just for me” shoot while in Utah, and can’t wait to share.  I’m going to try to do more “just for me” shooting.  To keep my heart happy and the creative juices flowing.

Vacation.  I’m going on vacation.  Okay, it’s actually “vacation”, since my week away will be packed with photoshoots.  (In a good way.)  So while I will be working my tail off, I am taking a break from you, internet.  And I get a partial break from my children, too, since there will be plenty of them to go around to grandma and grandpa and uncles galore.  I’m excited for that part them most.  Oh, and a break from the 100+ degree heat.  That will be heaven sent, too.  Wish us good luck on our flight today with a 1 year old.  *cringe*

Dear Zack,

A year ago today you were born.  In less than ideal circumstances, you were five weeks early.  But you were born healthy and strong, and a whopping 6 lbs 1 oz.  The week you were in the hospital I would visit you twice every day.  Although you were connected to all sorts of wires, those moments when I could come and just hold you I cherished.  How quiet and serene it was when you were in my arms, leaving the chaos of the world outside.  In those times when we were alone I would pray with you.  For you.  And when I would cry I felt like you could comfort me.  Your sweet spirit in your tiny body knew that everything was going to be okay. 

And today that world seems so far away, though I can still remember it so clearly, and feel those emotions again so vividly.  I’m glad we decided to name you Zack.  (It was either that or Bennett.)  Once I saw the cowlick you have on your forehead, I knew you weren’t going to be as proper as a “Bennett”.

My life is so full today with you in it.  Our family is more complete now that you’re here.  I love watching the ways you love our family.  When you were just a newborn, and you would cry while we were driving around in the car, all you needed to calm down was for Mackay to sing to you.  “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” was her song of choice, and you quieted down immediately.  Now that you’re mobile, you are happiest when you are near her.  Your first steps were walking towards her.

And you think your dad is pretty cool.  As soon as you hear the front door open, when he is coming home from work, you will stop whatever you are doing to speedily crawl to him.  Every morning you seek out his face, and smile ear to ear when he looks back at you.  I love the way you love us.

A little about your personality: You. are. a. boy.  You are happiest when you are climbing up or out of things.  I can’t keep you in a shopping cart, and wherever there is a step stool you are already on top of it.  You love food.  Not your own food, but whatever everyone else is eating.  We bond in this thick summer Texas heat eating ice cream.  I’ve never seen you become full of ice cream.  Tonight we gave you a birthday cake to eat.  You were not shy.  Cake was flying.

Our life right now: We live in Dallas, TX.  Your dad works for Southwest Airlines.  Which means you’ve been on more airplane rides that we can count.  I get to stay home with you and your sister.  As well as being your mom, I also get to be a photographer.  Our life can be a bit crazy sometimes, but I believe we are truly happy.  The President of the United States is Barrack Obama.  Our country is trying to recover from a severe recession, where many people have lost their jobs and can’t find work.  We are fighting two wars.  Where there is despair and trials, we are still feeling blessed and full of hope.  You in this world contributes to that hope and optimism.

I love you more than you know, and feel so blessed knowing that you are part of our family.  I’m lucky that I get to be your mom.  I am completely enthralled by you.  Every chance I get I am squeezing you tight or kissing your cheeks.  I love the way you will cuddle with me when you are tired, and the smile you greet me with when you wake up.  Your laugh is contagious and addicting.  I will never get enough of your smile.

For everything you are, and everything you will grow to be, I love you.

-Mom

Nate says we need to start thinking about Halloween costumes for this year.  I suggested we could all dress up like Lady Gaga in some of her many different outfits.  He didn’t like my idea.

Zack is getting sprayed with bug spray before he goes to bed now.  One morning he woke up with 12 new bites.  And every day there are a few more.  I keep putting off his one year pictures to wait for all the blemishes on his face to disappear to cut back on editing time.  But they just keep increasing.  Count five mosquito bites on his face, a scratch on his nose, and rug burn on his forehead.

Mackay insists she can paint her own fingernails.

Does anyone know what to do for a child who maintains that 5:00am is a logical time to get up?

I don’t really like Facebook.  It feeds into an already too narcissistic generation.  And I don’t think you should log on when you are mad.  Because you will inevitably post something on your wall, that you will inevitably regret, and you will inevitably look stupid.

My sister-in-law is getting married.  And I would challenge that I am even more excited than the bride.  (Okay, that is no way near true.)  But I do really like weddings.

Mackay’s best friend moved to San Antonio.  So without a doubt she will bring it up in random conversation with strangers.  They will ask, “So what’s your name?” And she will say, “And Caroline moved to where Jenn lives.”  The stranger will look up at me with a confused look on their face.  It’s happened so often I’ve stopped explaining and just smile back.

We were at Bed, Bath, and Beyond a while ago.  Looking for curtains, but stopped in the bedding section.  Mackay spotted a little person.  She tried to get our attention, but we were busy discussing “standard sham” vs. “euro sham”.  When we finally decided on “standard” (though I’m going back to also get “euro”), Mackay was very insistent that she needed to show us something.  When we walked all around to no avail we asked her what she wanted to show us.  She said, “There was a girl that was little like me and she walked like this.”  (She then proceeded to walk with a bit of a limp.)  My first thought was, “How could you be so insensitive!”  But then I remembered she’s only 3.  I’m glad we never found the woman again, because I’m not sure how that conversation would have gone.

Zack started walking this past week.  And then stopped.  And then started again.  Today is a “no thank you” to walking day.

Does anyone else have really good ideas, they just have a hard time implementing them?  That’s me.  I’ve got lists after lists of all my great goals and ambitions.  And I sincerely hope that my personality changes in a way that I actually do them.  Like, I really hope that the fabric I bought this past weekend actually gets turned into curtains for the children’s bedroom.  For the sanity of my husband, I really, really do.

My daily work-out at the gym has turned into a nice, comfortable walking pace while I read a book.  The children get to be in the child care area for up to 2 hours.  That means 2 hours of uninterrupted “me” time.

And I prefer the word “encouraging” to the word “nagging.”