Waking the Baby Beast

If ever you wanted to see just how starkly different my boys are, be here when they are all waking up in the morning (or from nap time). 

Cannon literally bounds out of bed the minute his eyes open. Seriously, I don't think he's blinked once before his feet hit the floor. He LOVES the morning and is always raring to go. He has five things on his mind and a list of activities he wants to do before I've even thought about breakfast. 

Cason is our slow stirrer. He rustles, burrows in the covers and then just lays in bed waking up. He would sleep later if Cannon didn't wake him with the energy of a thousand suns. He comes into the kitchen every morning blinking away the light, still groggy and half asleep. 

Colt, well, he is just Colt. He wakes up loud and angry at the world. If I don't arrive in his room before he's finished his first wail then the whole house knows I have failed him miserably as a mother. As soon as his brothers and I walk him he's glad to see us, but then does not fail to let me know if I take two seconds too long to lift him out of his crib. Look at the passion just radiating from that little furrowed brow. 

Life with these three is such a wild ride and I have a feeling it's only going to get crazier as more of their little personalities emerge.

Just a little Colt

Colty Colt is making this face to show you all of his little teeth that have been busy popping through lately.

If you can't tell, these photos are from Colt's weekly photos (which are taking place, but are way behind in hitting the blog) on his weekly yard of fabric. Some weeks this is the only time I've picked up the camera to capture my beautiful third son, so often I just get up close and personal to freeze all of his curls, his slowly changing eyes and his sweet and crazy facial expressions. 

The Cuteness of Colt

There was a day that Colt woke up from his nap earlier than his brothers and I stopped everything to photograph his slowly changing eyes, his curls and his fierce little opinion.

A boy and his food

Want to see what Stiller boys think about food? I'll show you how they feel about eating:

How excited is that child to be sitting at the table and eating? 

Can you see all those little razor sharp teeth? They are coming through his gums in droves. 

And because I can't pick just one favorite here are way too many photos of this cutie pie.

Colty Colt

You give your child the shortest name ever and what happens? It get lengthens into a nickname by your middle child. And it's just so cute it sticks. But it's okay because he has the most piercing eyes, the cutest button nose and those sharpest two teeth known to babies and you just want to gobble him to pieces. 

Colt and Daddy

Each Stiller baby gets less and less time one-on-one with Daddy. I think it's the nature of having multiple children, especially close together. When three little people all need you at the same time you have to divide and conquer.

When Cannon was born, Danny would come home from work and play with him on the floor, almost every day. When Cason was born, Danny would still come home from work and play with Cannon, because I needed a break and nursing the baby was something only I could do. Adding a third boy didn't change things too much. It's easier for me to wear Colt while Danny corrals the big boys, nurse Colt while Danny preps lunch for Cannon and Cason or put Colt to bed while Daddy gets teeth brushed. 

One day Colt will keep up with his big brothers just fine and he'll get just as much play time with Daddy. Until then I'll photograph the beard tickles and giggles every chance Colt gets to hang out with Daddy.

Ready to Motor

Colt is trying so hard to crawl. He's ready to motor and move and keep up with his big brothers. He will twist and reach and scoot and rock until he has spun in circles trying to get somewhere. 

Soon, baby boy. Way too soon you'll be running and jumping and wrestling with your brothers. Stay little and playing at my feet for just one more day, okay?

The Best Time to Go to the Dallas Arboretum

We love play dates. We love meeting friends at parks, splash pads, museums and homes. Cannon asks every morning where we're going and who we're going to see that day. I look forward to a little conversation with another mom who understands my crazy days. 

But sometimes we go places alone, just me and the boys, and it's a beautiful time. I actually play with them, we talk, and I get to watch them explore, be adventurous and discover life. 

We went to the Dallas Arboretum the day before school got out for the summer and it was by far the best trip to the Arboretum EVER! No one (but a few senior citizens) were there, so we had the place to ourselves. The boys ran to their hearts content and I didn't have to worry about loosing them in a crowd. Colt and I sat on the picnic blanket soaking up the sunshine and watching Cannon and Cason charge up the hill and then roll down. It was pretty much the perfect morning. 

Colt Jumps

When Cannon was a baby I would sit with him and just photograph his one million facial expressions. Poor, third child Colt. I rarely take the time to just sit and stare at him. But look at him! How could I not ignore dinner for 10 minutes to capture those curls, those cheeks, those bright eyes, that crazy scrunchy face, his sweet smile and those squishable, kissable rolls of chub?

Colt & Mommy Time

In the busyness of my days, in the overwhelming task of keeping three small children alive, I've lost my love of photographing the every day of our life. When I have a moment that's not picking up after messy kids, I usually collapse in a heap on the couch. But on this day, when Colt woke up from his afternoon nap before Cannon and Cason, I felt like I want to preserve his little expressions, the way he's content simply examining blocks and the rolls of his arms and the dimples of his chubby little legs. Colt proved to love having mommy and her camera all to himself.