Wilbanks World

Good Night Moon

2012-02-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

Officially Official

2012-02-01T19:38:00.000-05:00

Check it out!

www.threeseventeenphotography.com

2012-01-30T10:51:00.000-05:00

Just when I think she can't possibly be more scrumptious...

she is...

Spectacularly Craptastic

2012-01-27T19:09:00.001-05:00

I'm not going to lie.

It's been a spectacularly crappy couple of weeks. Like super duper, put my head in a blender, craptastic.

Broken dryer followed closely by broken refrigerator in a still-broken economy and down real estate market.

Teething baby adjusting to new food schedule. Food schedule that has changed to keep the screaming contained only to "my teeth hurt" squealing instead of "my teeth hurt AND I'm always hungry" wailing. So, less squealing and wailing and more pooping.

Hrrrmmmm.

The never-ending saga of two year old tantrums and power struggles and "Stop saying those words to me, Mommy".

And then today...

After buying a refrigerator to match the new dryer of last week, I was spending some snuggly time on the couch with my ~~screaming, gassy, irritable,~~ precious daughter. In a moment of peace, I put her down and went into the kitchen to pour myself a ~~pint of beer~~ glass of water.

No sooner had the thought "I wonder if Daddy put up the gate at the top of the HARDWOOD stairs?" entered my mind, I turned around to watch aforementioned baby catapault her way down to the landing below.

By the way, Daddy did not put the gate back up.

HOLY CRAP.

(No worries though...only a bruised nose and lesson learned. She's still alive and kicking ~~and screaming and pooping~~.)

But, really?!?!

Mother of the Year here needs a time out.

You know that moment, as a parent, when you think, "What the h-e-double hockey sticks have I gotten myself into? Where are the days of designer clothes and perfectly highlighted hair? When did I become the person who is cruising down the highway rocking out to Old McDonald, while ALONE in the car? Am I ever going to look at my husband again without the monster in the back of my head whispering, He's the one who did this to you, you know. And look at him. So well rested after a hard day at the office. You should cyanide his dinner. But then you'd have to take care of the children alone. Ha, ha. Good luck with that."

(Calm down. I was just kidding about that last part.)

(Kinda.)

Well, as I held my still screaming/gassy/irritable/now bruised baby, I did what any rational person would do. I logged on to my Facebook to tell the world of my woes in a don't judge me, artifically chipper and humorous post.

And I happened upon one of my favorite photographers. Who happened to be having an outstandingly delicious giveaway. Like a 75% off her Photoshop actions that I have been coveting, yet not purchasing because all of my household appliances are waging war against me, for months.

So, of course, I entered. Because I NeVEr win anything. EVER.

What was the worst that could happen?

Oh yeah, my computer could blow up. Who am I kidding?!

I push post and then, suddenly, voila! I'm a winner!!!! Couldn't believe it. 75% off of whatever I want in her shop. That's photographer candy right there people. Pure sugar goodness for my starving artist's soul.

(Thank you, Amy McMaster. You saved my sanity today. I heart you and your actions and your photography. Olive Juice Shoppe rocks.)

Soooooooo...since I haven't been able to photograph anything or anyone in two weeks (stab me in the eye with a hot skewer right now), I went back to the very first set of photos I took with my DSLR.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. (Ok, fine. It was only like 9 months ago. Just go with it.) I was elated and giddy about finally having a camera and lens that could let me get onto paper what I had in my head.

So, I handed off my 2 year old and my brand new baby to the grandparents and stood in the sweltering heat at Jacob's baseball game and clicked away to my heart's content. That gawky teen girl from the high school annual staff, who still lives ,wept tears of joy. The little girl inside, who used to harrass the school librarian for the latest edition of LIFE every week, clapped with glee.

After every click, I felt it.

That thing that says, "This is it. This is what you want to do."

So, in honor of my wonderful win today....here are those first few images, now processed with my shiny new actions.

It's the sugar on top of the spectacluarly craptastic.

Oh yeah. One more thing.

I get it. I know I'm incredibly blessed and it's actually a glorious, beautiful life I lead. Full of children and family and friends and love and grace and mercy. But sometimes, you just gotta exhale to be able to see it.

Thanks for listening.

Possibilites

2012-01-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

A new baby

is like the beginning of all things,

wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.

Crime & Punishment

2012-01-06T10:42:00.001-05:00

The crime,

location,

and

evidence.

Culprits

sentenced to

an early nap.

Inevitably

2012-01-05T11:18:00.000-05:00

The biggest problem with children...

Inevitably, they all grow up.

Yummy

2012-01-04T11:27:00.001-05:00

Story

2012-01-03T10:18:00.000-05:00

"Sissy!

Come over here and let me

read you

story..."

Faces

2011-12-31T13:08:00.000-05:00

Family faces

are

magic mirrors.

Looking at the people

who belong to us,

we see

the past, the present, and the future.

Gail Lumet Buckley

Old

2011-12-29T08:55:00.000-05:00

We don't stop playing

because

we grow old.

We grow old

because

we stop playing.

George Bernard Shaw

Dog's Life

2011-12-28T10:22:00.000-05:00

It's

dog's

life...

Great

2011-12-26T21:00:00.000-05:00

"The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart."

--Mencius

Wish

2011-12-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

We wish

you a

Merry Christmas...

We wish

you a

Merry Christmas...

We wish

you a

Merry

Christmas!

And

very

Happy New Year!

The Wilbanks Family

Thomas, Niki, Jacob, Will & Finley

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Eyes

2011-12-22T11:57:00.000-05:00

One of the best things about being a parent?

Getting to experience Christmas through the eyes of your children...

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T13:03:00.000-05:00

Will:

"Sissy! You need sit back! Mommy takin' our pic-tuh."

Jacob: "MOM!! They won't be still!"

Finley:

"Gaaa! Mamaa!" *drool*

(Translation: "Mommy, is this over yet? I'm bored...")

Me: "Ok, no stunning Christmas card picture this year. Stop yelling at each other and go play."

P.S.

Merry Christmas from the Wilbanks!

Hope

2011-12-20T20:11:00.000-05:00

Hope...

It all began with a baby.

Beautiful Light

2011-12-16T11:12:00.000-05:00

Softly

2011-12-10T11:51:00.000-05:00

Telling my whole life

with his words....

Killing me softly with his song...

Credit: Killing Me Softly by Roberta Flack

Bling

2011-12-09T09:52:00.000-05:00

It's all about

the bling...

Cake

2011-12-07T09:48:00.000-05:00

Some days

you do

get to have

your cake

and eat it too.

Mine!

2011-11-29T21:56:00.000-05:00

"It's

toy!!"

*sigh*

Better a' duex

2011-11-29T13:47:00.000-05:00

Better

2011-11-28T12:12:00.000-05:00

Better is

one day

in your courts,

than

a thousand elsewhere.

Psalm 84:10

Mom. Mom! Mommy!!!!

2011-11-25T10:24:00.000-05:00

Mom. Mom! Mommy!!!!

M-O-MM-Y!

Brother's touching me!

Baby Bear

2011-11-21T09:25:00.001-05:00

Look who came to see us!

Baby bear

and all his brothers, too!

Family

2011-11-18T10:33:00.000-05:00

"It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons."

~Johann Schiller

Infinitely More

2011-11-17T11:22:00.002-05:00

Please keep the Via family in your prayers as they have hit a major stumbling block in their adoption! The visa for their daughter has been denied by the US Embassy and they are potentially facing some hard choices in the days to come.

Uganda Adoption Blog

Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

Ephesians 3:20

I Love You

2011-11-15T22:46:00.003-05:00

Just when I think my oldest boy has grown up too fast...

He was headed out the door tonight and I called out my usual, 'I love you', expecting his usual tween grunt and under the breath, 'You too.'

Instead I got 'I love you more.'

And fighting back tears, I called out, 'I love you the most.'

His response, 'I love you best.'

And my, 'I loved you first.'

You see, this used to be our ritual goodbye.

Before going off to school, headed out to Nonnie's or just sometimes because it needed to be said.

Today, for a split second, it was there again.

My little boy and his beautiful little heart.

Not that I would want to change a thing really. I couldn't be more proud of my young man and his loving and gentle spirit, quickly and surely growing into what I prayed for and hoped him to be.

But my heart?

Today it is better for having seen a glimpse of the little boy that he was.

Stay Tuned

2011-11-15T12:37:00.000-05:00

Please stay tuned...

Wilbanks World is currently

experiencing technical difficulties.

But don't worry.

We've got our best people on it.

Sit with Me

2011-11-10T21:08:00.000-05:00

"Mommy!"

"I need my gwasses

and my 'puter."

"I watch my dog

and you sit a-side me, ok?"

You bet, my boy. I wouldn't be anywhere else.

My Heart

2011-11-09T19:49:00.000-05:00

Out of Sight

2011-11-08T17:23:00.000-05:00

Brother says,

"Out of sight

out

of mind".

No Words

2011-11-08T09:25:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you don't need any words...

to say what you mean.

I'm a Big Kid Now

2011-11-06T20:50:00.000-05:00

Fall Fun

2011-11-03T20:34:00.000-04:00

Up All Night

2011-11-02T19:43:00.000-04:00

And now we know why.

Two pearly whites.

At the same time.

Oh my.

Of the Heart

2011-11-01T21:15:00.000-04:00

Words

are the

voice

of the

heart.

Confucius

Buttercup

2011-10-28T06:31:00.002-04:00

Some days you just have to

rock your

inner buttercup.

Pure Joy

2011-10-27T07:06:00.000-04:00

Nothing

2011-10-26T06:09:00.002-04:00

Nothing

like the world's biggest

banana

to make

a boy's

day.

First

2011-10-25T07:18:00.001-04:00

It was definitely a first for me.

I can say that I've never seen a cow get a wash and dry before.

Again

2011-10-24T07:39:00.001-04:00

So, like a forgotten fire,

a childhood

can always flare up in us

again.

Gaston Bachelard

Eyes

2011-10-22T22:05:00.000-04:00

If I could see the world

through the

eyes of a child,

what a

wonderful world it would be...

If I Could See the World by Patsy Cline, 1958

Before and After

2011-10-21T06:57:00.001-04:00

Perfection

2011-10-20T01:02:00.003-04:00

Yep...

It's still true.

Black and white

is my favorite.

This boy?

One of my

favorite

subjects.

Mix and stir?

Perfection

Brother

2011-10-19T01:12:00.001-04:00

"We came into the world like brother and brother; and now let's go hand in hand, not one before another."

William Shakespeare

Goodbye

2011-10-18T10:04:00.000-04:00

We say goodbye

until next spring....

Forget

2011-10-17T07:08:00.000-04:00

I keep thinking

that

I don't

want to

forget

a single

thing.

Favorite

2011-10-16T08:54:00.000-04:00

My new favorite fall accessory....

what was life before baby tights?

Talent

2011-10-15T10:06:00.001-04:00

It is

happy

talent

to know

how

to play.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hands & Feet

2011-10-14T00:14:00.011-04:00

Brothers

and

sisters

are as close

hands

and

feet.

Vietnamese Proverb

Most Importantly

2011-10-13T03:26:00.002-04:00

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance.

They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort and lessons in life.

And, most importantly,

cookies.

Rudolph Guliani

Home

2011-10-12T11:44:00.000-04:00

Where we love

is home,

home that our feet

may leave,

but not

our hearts.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Beginning

2011-10-08T17:07:00.000-04:00

I think

this

is the

beginning

of something

good...

The Hometown Parade

2011-10-07T15:03:00.000-04:00

There's no place like home...

2011-10-06T15:52:00.000-04:00

The more

you read,

the more things

you will know.

The more

that you learn,

the more

places you'll go.

"I Can Read With My Eyes Shut", Dr. Suess

Run

2011-10-05T01:46:00.007-04:00

Of course, I tend to think my own little chicks

are the cutest

babies in the world.

But this kid

is definitely giving them

a run for their money.

Stay

2011-10-04T11:26:00.000-04:00

They say that some people come into your life only for a season and some come to stay.

It only took a few cups of coffee and some girl talk to close an eleven year gap ...

and to make me incredibly grateful for the ones who stick.

Friends are the family that your heart chooses.

And my heart is really full.

Stay tuned...

2011-10-03T22:00:00.000-04:00

Please stay tuned...

for our regularly scheduled program.

I can't even begin to describe the photo gold that's coming! Right now, I'm digging my way out of a week's worth of housework and laundry that was put off while I was out of town.

But, believe me.

It's worth the wait.

Indian Summer

2011-10-01T21:29:00.000-04:00

Nothing can steal your heart away

Quicker than Indian Summer days,

When the sun is warm and the shadows are cool,

the lake water stands like a bright blue pool.

The warm sands beg you to bare your feet

The balmy air is meadow sweet.

Leaves are falling from colorful trees,

Nature has moved in, merely to tease.

She comes with her warm days, just to betray...

For winter is only a breath away.

Credit: Sallie Hinds, 2005

Busy

2011-09-25T07:31:00.000-04:00

Is it nothing

to be happy?

Nothing

to skip, play

and run

around all day?

Never in his life

will he be so busy again.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

Daddy

2011-09-24T07:28:00.001-04:00

Daddy's

little

girl...

Happy Birthday to the best Daddy a girl could have!

Home

2011-09-23T21:35:00.001-04:00

My home

not a

place,

it is

people.

Credit: Lois McMaster Bujold

Forever

2011-09-23T06:02:00.008-04:00

A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"

But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words (ok, not really). Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!

But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

The boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was (almost) a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo!

But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever,

I'll like you for always,

As long as I'm living

my baby you'll be.

to be continued....

(Verses by: Robert Munsch in I'll Love You Forever, 1986)

Yes, my dear son, I will love you forever and as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be. You are my first baby - the baby that officially made me a mommy - and it only seems yesterday that you were my fuzzy duck snuggled up and staring at me with big blue eyes, refusing to go to sleep because you wanted to rock. Suddenly, here we are, already at your twelfth birthday. I can hardly believe it!

I love you with my whole heart, a heart made bigger and better by your place in it.

Happy, happy birthday to you.

Love, Mommy

Please

2011-09-22T07:02:00.000-04:00

Can someone

pLeAse

tell that other

kid to pipe down?!

pLeASe.

Missing

2011-09-21T10:08:00.001-04:00

This is what I've been missing.

Eight o'clock games

and a little fuzzy duck

that wakes with chickens

doesn't mix.

So this mama hen and my littlest chick have been home while the boys get to have all the fun.

Boo.

Keep Calm

2011-09-20T08:24:00.001-04:00

Keep calm

and carry on...

Smiling Eyes

2011-09-19T16:38:00.003-04:00

What's behind

those smiling eyes?

Friends

2011-09-18T16:05:00.000-04:00

A day spent

with friends

is the

best

kind

of day.

Practicing

2011-09-17T14:44:00.000-04:00

Don't call me an

armchair ~~quarterback~~ catcher.

I'm just practicing

to be

just like

my 'brudder'.

Ms. Twinkle Toes

2011-09-14T21:37:00.000-04:00

Dreams

2011-09-14T09:27:00.000-04:00

What

a boy's

dreams

are made of.

No Words

2011-09-13T14:25:00.000-04:00

Some moments

don't

need

words.

Happy Birthday!

2011-09-13T03:00:00.003-04:00

Happy birthday

to you...

Happy birthday

to you...

Happy birthday

dear Grandma!

H-a-a-a-a-py Birthday

t-o-o-o-o-o-o

yo-u-u!

(and many more!)

Hands

2011-09-12T08:06:00.002-04:00

From

cold

dead

hands...

Note: No real guns were used in this potrayal. But I'm proud to live in a country where one day he'll have the liberty to own a real one.

Where were you?

2011-09-11T08:46:00.001-04:00

Where were you?

I was in a classroom full of very special little boys and girls who were oblivious to the big world around them.

I was teaching spelling. I was tired and frustrated with busy little feet and chatter and tiny tempers.

My classroom door opened and one look at my co-worker's face told me something was wrong.

Really wrong. Then she told me.

The only thing I knew was that there were two planes that hit two buildings in New York. Given that our school only had internet in the office and I didn't own a cellphone, I just continued - head reeling, heart racing, anxious.

Teaching spelling, then math, then recess.

She was there again. My co-worker, in my doorway, this time holding back tears.

What else?!

She told me about Washington. And then, she took my hand.

She told me about Pennsylvania and the room literally swirled around me.

You see, my two year old son was in Pennsylvania. I didn't know where that plane had gone down or where my child was. All I knew that he was with his dad and they were planning on driving back home that day.

I dialed the phone at least 20 times before I got through. All the circuits were busy and by the time I heard a hello, I was literally on the school office floor, cradling the phone in my lap, sobbing.

I knew in my head that the likelihood of their being near any of that horror was slim. But my mother's heart couldn't bear not knowing that he was safe and whole and on the way back to me.

And I knew in my mother's heart that there were other mothers, at that same moment, who were desperately trying to get through to sons and daughters who would never answer and would never come back home.

When I heard that little voice on the phone, I couldn't speak. My little boy, excitedly telling me about his trip to Pappy's and all the trucks that were whizzing past his daddy's car and how they were going to stop for a cheeseburger, didn't know that the whole world had turned upside down around him.

Then he was home.  All smiles and kisses and stories. As I stood in my front yard and tried to hide my tears while I hugged his warm little body as closely to me as I could, I again couldn't shake the knowledge that I was holding my baby and there were countless mothers around this country that had empty arms and shattered hearts.

I breathed a sigh of relief and tried to shake off a little of the horror of that day. My precious blonde boy with the big green eyes was safe and whole and home, even while the world around us whirled and shook in the face of unspeakable evil.

That day?

I was in a classroom, grieving and shaken and scared.  Angry, confused, and unsure.

Today?

I am a mother blessed with two more children and still living in a big, scary world.  Happy, content, hopeful, joyous.

The difference?

Today I know that no matter the course of today or whatever happens in the days that come ahead, even if that evil explodes right in the middle of my life, that I am beloved and cherished by a big and mighty God.

That doesn't change the big, scary world.

But it does change my heart.

(Image courtesy of Google)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those that are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Brudder

2011-09-10T10:44:00.000-04:00

"Brudder (Brother)!"

"I want do home-wuk wit you."

Sent

2011-09-09T09:14:00.003-04:00

When life

sends you

junk mail...

make body art.

Black & White

2011-09-08T14:27:00.000-04:00

Baseball

not

always

black & white.

2011-09-08T11:10:00.000-04:00

S-o-o-o-o...

how yo-u-u-u doin'?

Golden Light

2011-09-07T21:59:00.000-04:00

Delicious

2011-09-07T09:49:00.000-04:00

They're

just delicious.

Love

2011-09-06T10:48:00.001-04:00

The other sports

are just

sports.

Baseball

a love.

Bryant Gumbel, 1981

Karaoke

2011-09-05T13:59:00.000-04:00

Karaoke

isn't

just

for

grown-ups.

Fading

2011-09-04T22:26:00.000-04:00

Summer

is fading away.

A Garden

2011-09-03T13:18:00.000-04:00

There is a garden

in every childhood,

an enchanted place

where colors are brighter,

the air softer,

and the morning more fragrant

than ever again.

Elizabeth Lawrence

My New Best Friend

2011-09-03T11:44:00.001-04:00

Ok...this is Will's oldest best friend.

Monkey's been around for a while.

But I have some new best friends.

Photoshop and Stephanie Rose.

Match made in heaven.

Good Night Moon

2011-09-01T10:50:00.000-04:00

Good night moon, Good night room,

Good night cow jumping over the moon...

Credit:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

At the Old Ballgame

2011-08-31T08:51:00.001-04:00

Take me out to the ballgame,

Take me out to the crowd.

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack,

I don't care if I never get back.

Let me r-o-o-t, root, root for the home team,

If they don't win it's a shame.

For it's one...two...three strikes, you're out

at the ol-l-l-l-d ball game!

Credit: Jack Norworth (1927)

Stick with the Pig

2011-08-30T15:51:00.000-04:00

You can keep

your bear hug.

I'll stick

with

my pig.

My heart

2011-08-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

When you're a mommy

you often see your own heart walking around outside of your body.

Sunday

2011-08-28T21:27:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like

the sweetness

of Sunday morning.

Rock me like a hurricane...

2011-08-27T20:08:00.002-04:00

also known as Happy Birthday to Me...

also known as Longest.Post.Ever.

For my birthday this year

(29! Again. It's like magic.)

we ordered a hurricane.

She huffed and she puffed, but our house she didn't blow down.

We assessed the situation.

Each

and every one.

Called a family meeting

and determined

the best course of action.

Hunker down together.

Until together becomes too much.

Then make Mommy a cake-a-cup

with everyone pitching in.

Mix and pour.

Stir and bake.

Make dinner.

Which was delightful.

And then...

entertain their little inner photogs.

(You know what they say about apples and trees?

I have the most beautiful, shiny, precious little apples.)

Mission accomplished.

Happy.birthday.to.me.

School Days

2011-08-25T08:52:00.002-04:00

As we sent our big boy

(who is much too cool to pause for silliness like first day of school pictures)

off to the 7th grade....

(ReaLLy?! 7th grade???? When??? How???)

I found our little boy...

eager to follow

in the big boy's shoes.

"Mommy, I weady to go school too."

Soon enough, little one. Soon enough.

Gwasses

2011-08-23T11:20:00.000-04:00

"Mommy!!!

Take a pic-tuh

of me

and my gwasses!"

Mommy..Mommy...Mommy....

2011-08-22T14:48:00.000-04:00

Will: "Mommy. Mommy! Mommy!!!"

Me: "Yes?"

Will: "I cweend-ed up."

Me: *chuckle*

Point of View

2011-08-21T18:30:00.001-04:00

It's all

in your

point of view.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

She likes it!

2011-08-19T18:36:00.000-04:00

I think

she

likes it.

*I can't think of anything more appropriate for our 200th post*

Some days

2011-08-19T08:52:00.000-04:00

Some days

the best you can do

is just to

walk it off.