Heather Bird Photography » Blog

Well, it’s official, we are a baseball family.   If you’ve been to my house, you may think this is an obvious statement.    A small sampling of our office decor:

Or if you know my husband, this may also seem like a moot point.   Ken was a pitcher in college, starts planning his Fantasy Baseball team each year in January and we’ve spent each one of his birthdays since I have met him at a baseball game of some sort.

But it terms of our family, not just Ken, it’s starting.    It may be a little early to call and I may be a bit biased, but Ricky is loving baseball.

Our little man scored the first run of his first game.   During the second game he ran to first base like a speed demon to tag a runner out.   And during the last game he hit a triple.

And while all these things are great and I am very proud, my favorite part of it all is that he loves it.   He gets excited to practice, he wants to know when his next game is and the recent surprise of new baseball pants went over way better than a hotwheel car or candy surprise.

He likes that his team is the Diamondbacks, “because that’s a rattlesnake, Mommy.”

And he is SO interested in who he is going to “verse” each week.    “Mom, we are versing the Giants this week!”    “Awe, Mom, I think we are versing the Redsox today” (he doesn’t really want to beat the Redsox since his uncle Scott loves the Redsox).

He and his friends use this verb often and I have yet to correct them, because I think it the cutest little phrase ever.   They are constantly saying things like, “Let’s verse Ashton with nerf guns.” or  “Ryan, I’m going to verse you on the Wii first, then I will verse Kyler.”   Ahh, I love it. 

He is into the game and is really starting to understand it.

So, we’ll see how it all goes, but I think he may just be a baseball player.
Love,
Heather

This post is long overdue, very long overdue.    I’m not sure why it has taken me so long to write it.  Perhaps I wanted to be able to fully express my gratitude to everyone who read my previous blog post in a way that would give it justice, but I’m still at a loss so I’ll just simply say, “Thank you.”   Thank you to everyone who read the post, thank you to everyone who commented on the post, thank you to everyone who emailed me and thank you to everyone who shared it.   It was a bit overwhelming and I truly didn’t expect the type of response that it received but I am very thankful for my friends, family, friends of friends and complete strangers who took the time to read my thoughts.

I’ve been busy with life.   I’ve been packing my days full with all of the things I mentioned in my last post:  running, planning parties, visiting with friends and enjoying my family.     My boy’s energy seems to have exponentially grown in the past few weeks and I am running like crazy to keep up with them… enjoying the race most days (however, I’d really go for a nap by all of them at the same time any day now ).   

And, I’ve been reading.   Yes, ME, reading a book other than The Hungry Caterpillar, Berenstein Bears, or Star Wars.   A book of my choice that I love and can hardly stand to put down.    It’s funny how things work.    The day I announced to the internet that I couldn’t remember the last time I finished a book this book arrived:

This book is written by my favorite blogger, an amazing mom, photographer and writer, Kelle Hampton.  I pre-ordered the book a few months before it was available and when it arrived I cracked the cover and read three chapters in one sitting.    I haven’t finished it yet but I’m close and I have enjoyed each and every page.

Kelle has a a wonderful, positive outlook on life and beautiful views on embracing and celebrating everyone and their differences.    I’m reading these last few chapters slowly because I’m not quite ready to be finished.

Anyway, a huge thank you again, not only for reading the last post but to all of you who return often to look at my pictures and read about my life.   I appreciate it more than you know.
Much love,
Heather

There is a post that has been flying around Facebook this week titled, “Your children want YOU!”.   As I stumbled across this link posted multiple times littered with comments saying, “I needed this today,”  and “Great post, spot on” I thought, “I will love that article” and made a note to read it.     And then I read it.    The message is from a mom who was feeling like she wasn’t good enough because of all of the things featured on blogs, and Pinterest and Facebook and magazines that she couldn’t live up to.    She was constantly comparing herself to those mother’s that she perceived to be perfect.   And she ended with saying that we should remember that our kids need us, not all of these perfect things that are displayed all over the place.

When I first read the blog post I walked away from the computer with the exact feeling she was trying to prevent us from having… that I didn’t live up to the mom that I should be.     You see, her examples hit home with me.  The first being  the idea that moms are “convinced that everyone else has magnetic, alphabetized spice containers.”    Well you know what?    I love having organized cabinets, drawers and cupboards.   In fact I have an organized snack rack (albeit, not alphabetized) hanging inside my pantry.

Her next example was, “thematically accessorized” parties.    It’s no news flash that I love planning and creating themed parties.   Another example was that she didn’t make grilled cheese in the shape of ice cream cones.    Well, I spent last Saturday morning cutting turkey and cheese into star shapes for star-shaped lunchables.   And so on.     Towards the end of the article she mentioned that her mother, “didn’t lift weights or run marathons.”    Here I am fresh from the gym where I lifted weights and am training for, yet another, half marathon.

Slam.    What I read was, “you must not be giving your kids YOU if you do all of these things.”   And I felt guilty.    I honestly felt guilty all afternoon for enjoying a Pinterest project and almost didn’t run home from Ricky’s baseball practice because my kids probably needed me to ride in the car with them on the five minute drive home.    But during that run, (one of the most enjoyable runs I’ve had in awhile)  I reflected on what my kids really need from me.

What my kids need from me, is not necessarily what your kids need from you.    I have a friend who is learning how to sew and is becoming an amazing seamstress.    She gets ideas from pinterest and in turn posts her projects to her blog and to pinterest.   And she is an amazing mom.    I would venture to say that her kids need her to spend the time sewing because it makes her happy.   And maybe that helps to make her a better mom?   I have another friend who does all kinds of educational projects with her kids all of the time.    It’s something she is good at and something that makes her happy.   And she is an amazing mom.    I have another friend who works full-time and never misses a school performance, soccer game or cuddling with her kids even though her schedule is so crazy busy.    She works full-time because she loves her job and is good at it and she, too, is an amazing mom.

Benny needs me to lay with him and snuggle him every morning.   I need the snuggle time too.    He needs me to build with blocks and do puzzles.   When he gets hurt or is sad he needs to be held.

Nolan needs me to rock him, just him, for a long time each night.  Rocking and winding down in their dark room is one of my favorite parts of the day.   He also needs me to pretend that he is a scary monster that is going to get me.   He tells me multiple times each day, “I hold you,” when he needs a minute with his mommy.

Ricky needs me to do creative projects with him.   He needs me to watch him practice baseball.    He needs me to read an extra book at night and snuggle longer than normal, sometimes.   I also need this time with my oldest boy.

There are some days when my boys and I both need a spontaneous trip to the duck pond, just because.  Just because I’ve worked all day or just because we’ve had a busy afternoon.

But, my boys also need me to go for a run, write a blog post, catch up on Facebook, have a night out with my friends or a night out with their Daddy alone.   These things make me ME.   In addition to spending time with my boys, these things also make me happy and in turn make me a better mom.

When I returned from my run, I re-read the article and realized that I had missed the whole point.    She was saying exactly what I had figured out on my run… my boys want ME.   All of me.    The runner, the organizer, the snuggler.      Her point was not to compare yourself to other mothers and I had done just THAT.    Maybe you hate to run, perhaps sorting m&ms to color coordinate with your next party will make you go crazy and possibly bags of chips will come flying off your pantry shelf when you pry open the door.

I know moms that are gourmet cooks.  I am a terrible cook.    I know moms that read books (plural!) every single month.   I don’t know the last time I finished a book.     I know moms that have cleaning routines that rival Mr. Clean.   My floors are never quite clean and I constantly have piles of laundry waiting to be done.     I know moms and kids who are dressed and showered and are beautiful before the sun comes up.   My boys know a mommy in pajamas and with no make-up on more so than not.    The point is, and her point was… your kids and your spouse need YOU.  They need you to be who you are and most importantly need you to not dwell on who you are not.   We all have things that we do well and things we would like to do better.    We are all doing the best we can and doing the things that work for us and our families.   No one is perfect despite what Pinterest or Facebook or their blogs may tell you.   We’re just all working towards the most perfect version of ourselves.

Do I spend too much time on Facebook?  Absolutely.   Do I compare myself to others on Pinterest?  Sometimes.    Do I wish I could be like the moms that author my favorite blogs?  Yes.    Thanks for the reminder April Perry (author of the blog post) of what is really important.

And finally,
and I will preface this last comment with saying that I am the least political person you’ll probably ever meet (it’s a wonder I married my husband and that I am the daughter of my opinionated father ), in light of the recent political Mommy Wars, whether we work full-time because we want to or because we have to, and whether we stay at home because we want to or because we have to, we all deserve respect.    We deserve it from others and we need to give it to ourselves.   Trust that you’re doing what is best for you and for your children.   And if you’re not, you’ll do something different because we’re mothers and we are constantly adapting and changing to do what is best for our families.

Love, Heather

On Monday the boys, some friends and I headed to Sandy to visit the Living Planet Aquarium.   My friend, Suzie, suggested that we go and I agreed figuring the twins were now old enough to really enjoy it.    It’s been awhile since we had visited and it turns out 2 1/2 is a perfect age.   Ricky and his friend, Ryan also enjoyed seeing all the animals and creatures.

Here are a few shots of our fun afternoon… some of which aren’t the greatest shots because of the darkness, but still fun.

The jellyfish are always some of my favorites to see.

And the stingrays (where they can actually pet and feed them) are the one of the kid’s favorite spots always.

We’ll be back again soon and are anxious for the new aquarium to be built.
Love,
Heather