Last night Amanda and Jason came over for dinner with the girls. I was able to take a few pictures of the babies in the midst of our visit:
This is my
little niece,
Naomi Isabella.
I love her bright
blue eyes and her
little ponytail.
“Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.
Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.
Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.
Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.”
“Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.”
If we make happy memories for our children now, we will make them happy twenty years hence by their remembrance of it. Thus for all their lives do we link ourselves to those we love.
Maggie Stewart
If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in. Rachel Carson
Sometimes they are just too quick!
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
Annie Dillard
Happy Birthday to my “first baby”, my little brother Isaac. I love you and I can’t believe you are 20! Seems like just yesterday I was holding you in my lap and singing you songs. I thought everything you did was amazing. My first diary is filled with the cute things you used to say and do.
I remember. . . .
hugging mom when she was expecting YOU.
how exciting it was waiting for you to be born.
the night you were born. Mom told me herself on the phone.
the first time I saw you: I couldn’t say a word– you were so tiny and perfect.
propping you up in a cardboard box and surrounding you with my stuffed animals.
singing to you.
the first time you laughed. I was upset because I missed it. I wrote all about it in my diary.
when you used to run off with my deoderant and pretend to water the plants with it.
how you used to pull all my books off my bookshelf.
when we watched the wizard of oz and all the questions you asked me about midgets.
when you used to love barney. then thomas. then rugrats. then spongebob. then video games.
when mom told me you had a girlfriend. I didn’t like it one bit. (don’t worry, i’m okay now)
seeing you graduate from H.S. -even though i was weeks from having a baby, i had to be there.
when you went to college. I remember the grief I heard in mom’s voice when the house was empty.
I smile when you are home on weekends and mom has to get off the phone so she can “make Isaac pancakes”. . . .and I think I will understand the feeling someday. Gotta make pancakes while you still can.
David with his Uncle Isaac
Good to be Home 
She’s so cute. I love those blue eyes, too. They’re so bright. It will be fun to see her and Lorelei playing together someday.
Too adorable the pictures make me want to give them a hug
My goodness, how I love those BEAUTIFUL eyes; that little ponytail brings back sweet memories of one of my granddaughters when she was little. I really like the black and white photo and even the pic of just the little ones’ feet speaks volumes. Thanks for sharing.
Very sweet pictures! I just love babies! Thank you for sharing your pictures!
The pictures are of course cute…how can they not be of kids like that. I really appreciated the quotes. They mean a lot to me. Thanks Shan!
Cute pics and wonderful memories of Issac!
When you recounted your memories of your “baby” brother, it reminds me of my brother too. I’m 8 years older than him. I was his “second mother” as they used to say, lol. He’s 21 and I *still* think it’s weird that he has a girlfriend (they’ve been going out for about 3 years now!). I think it was when he was born that I realized that I was meant to be a mom. I couldn’t wait to have my own babies. No wonder I was married and pregnant at 19! Anyhoo…
Lovely pics, as always. 🙂 Your blog is shaping up to be one of my fave stops on Xanga, beside my own of course, lol.
I liked the quotes and the letter to your nephew is sweet. It makes me think of Joanna’s oldest. It breaks my heart every year he gets older!
Sweet ❤
What a doll! 🙂 I love the pics of the two littles together. The memories you have of your younger brother are precious. BlessingsMelody
Shan, you have a great memory. I don’t really remember much of Mom being pregnant for Fuzz. I think that you come up with the coolest stuff on your blog. I can’t wait until MY B-Day now!! LOL.
cute kids =] wonderful pics as always 🙂
Thanks for sharing your memories of your brother..it brought tears to my eyes….I am the youngest but I think it made me think of the way my oldest daughter will feel about Bradley someday =]
Have a great day
Too adorable. I think about how Morgan and Madison will feel about their baby brother, Cole. I could really see your love for your brother and how much you care for him. Very sweet and heart warming. I am sure he is blessed to have a sister like you.
Lovely post.
I wish I had felt the same way about my brother when he was born! 😦 We’re only 3 years apart, and we fought like crazy. We’re cool now, but I haven’t seen him since last Christmas…
Again, great pictures Shanda, and your little girl with the teeth out is so cute. I love seeing your family. Love, Beverly
Man, those babies are adorable…hee.. cutiepatooties.
Man, ok…now I can see who Amanda looks like LOL I always look at the two of you and don’t really see the resemblance, but seeing your brother now, I can see how he and she look alike. Hee 🙂