JACK JACK

Filed under: baby caamano,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits,samantha,top o' the hill — admin at 11:59 am on Thursday, July 25, 2019

Jack has a Christmas birthday – and winter in PA is usually NOT the best time to take outdoor portraits!!

So – we had a half-birthday shoot!!

Jack will be FIVE this Christmas! FIVE!? Gah. How is that possible.

Last year he was diagnosed with Autism. He had a pretty severe speech delay.

And now. NOW. I can’t get together with my sister and him without crying.

He talks SO MUCH. He understands SO MUCH. He asks SO MANY QUESTIONS.

Did you know that finding a therapy that works for YOU and YOUR child is THE KEY!!

Go with your gut – and sometimes you have to go with the gut of the people that love you and want the best for you.

Sometimes a diagnosis is TERRIFYING. The thought of a diagnosis is crippling.

And sometimes a diagnosis is THE KEY.

Jack is kind. Jack is empathetic. Jack is FULL of questions. And a while ago – he wasn’t.

And my sister cried because he wasn’t talking. And now we cry because he doesn’t STOP talking!!

This is where his mom & dad said YES – FOREVER!!

MY FAVORITE!!

NOPE – THAT one is my favorite!!

And one of us together – because I don’t think I have ANY of us together!!

I think he looks more like me than my sister – if he looks anything like anyone except his dad – because he’s his clone!

JACKIE BOY – we love you so much and are SO PROUD of all you’ve done and all that you WILL do!

FARM LIFE

Filed under: animals,baby caamano,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,my town,top o' the hill — admin at 12:29 pm on Wednesday, July 24, 2019

My sister came to visit in July – so we all stayed at the farm together!!

I posted a blog recently where Enoch helped my mom make food for Ebony and feed her. Jack hadn’t been able to help yet – so Enoch had to step aside – which was HARD for him.

You know what else is hard!? Navigating boundaries and relationships with your siblings when you all have kids and parent differently!

My sister lives 3 hours away and my brother about 6 – we live about 45 minutes from my parents. We see them quite often.

And when we are all visiting together – I have a hard time. Because I want to see my family and I want my kids to experience their cousins. BUT I also want my niece and nephews to experience G & Pa without my kids there monopolizing ALL the time and attention!!

SO – Enoch had a little bit of a hard time handing it over to Jack – because we are a selfish race!

AND – he ended up doing really well with the sharing! After his initial whining of course.

Jack is 13 months younger than Enoch – but they’re about the same size – the Trout genes are strong!!

THOSE GUYS – Jack only calls him Enochguy and Enoch usually calls him Jackieboy!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!! Makes me laugh every single time!!

That’s Red and her gorgeous little guy – Brownie!!

I hope we have a few more years with Red!!

Jack with his little arm around G – I know that everyone loves their mom – but our mom is AMAZING!!!

THAT FACE!!! Like I said – EVERY CHILD should grow up on a farm!!

That guy – look at how GROWN UP he is looking!!

THAT SHOT – I see teenage Enoch in that face!!

ALSO – if you need a cat – if you want a cat – DO YOU WANT A CAT!? My parents might have a few you could take!!

Do you drop off your pregnant cats at farms – PLEASE don’t.

We are NOT bringing a kitten home – but if we did – it would be that one!!

*C* FAMILY

Filed under: baby caamano,family,farmlife,holiday,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family — admin at 12:59 pm on Monday, December 10, 2018

It’s rare that my sister AND her hubby get to come home – so we grabbed a few shots of their little family!!

Jack Jack – I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! Samm & Xavier – I love you guys too!!

TROUT FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,family,farmlife,holiday,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family — admin at 11:14 am on Thursday, December 6, 2018

We didn’t think my brother would make it home for the holidays this year – but he did! His wife stayed in Ohio and worked but he brought the kiddos out for Thanksgiving!

On Wednesday night – Thanksgiving Eve – Jared & Fitzy were in Cleveland for a BASKETBALL game!! They stayed at the Westin and had a GREAT time!

BUT – my controlling momma heart was kind of FREAKING OUT a little!! I wasn’t able to really breathe until they pulled in the driveway! WHEW!!

They got in a little after 2 on Thanksgiving and grabbed a plate of food and then opened Christmas presents!!

COUSINS!!!

Enoch 5 – Fitzgerald (who is asking to change his name to just Fitzy) 7 – Rowyn 7 (soon to be 8) – Jack 3 (so close to 4) – Judah 6 – QUITE THE CREW!

That’s only the 23rd gun to add to their collection!!

Rowyn wants to be an ARTIST!! BRING ON THE PAINTS & CANVAS!!

Judah – have you been noticing his faces!! They are the best!

Jack calls me Daniel – and Samm loves it! It IS pretty adorable!

SO MUCH CHRISTMAS!!

My sister is OBSESSED with the poop emoji – so my dad got her a special gift – PASS THE POOP!!

And every year we have to line the kiddos up and get the NEW picture – they are growing TOO FAST!!

We had a GREAT Thanksgiving with our families!!

JACK JACK

Filed under: baby caamano,family,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,portraits,samantha — admin at 12:18 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2018

My sister came home for a long weekend in October.

We had an eventful Saturday – making glass pumpkins – going out for pizza AND Iron Kettle Pumpkin Farm!

Her hubbie wasn’t able to get away from work – but we needed some new pictures of Jack!

He’s gonna be FOUR after Christmas – CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! FOUR! I seriously feel like I was JUST driving to NJ to be there for his birth.

I love that one!

His one front tooth is longer than the other – significantly longer – it’s ADORABLE! I LOVE IT!!

That Fitzy guy & Jack – they are kindred spirits!

Jack recently started speech therapy – he has quite the speech delay. Fitzy was in physical therapy when he was about 16 months old because he wasn’t walking yet. Jack walked late too.

My sister. She is calmer – gentler – more patient – much more chill than I am. Less selfish. She doesn’t have an agenda she “needs” to complete everyday.

She has literally soaked up every single moment of motherhood that she could.

Anyway – back to the speech therapy. She also made an appointment to get him into a child development specialist – with a RIDICULOUSLY long waiting period. MONTHS & MONTHS.

She had that appointment on Halloween – or right near it. She called me – and said – she said that Jack is on the Autism spectrum.

I listened – which is hard for me – something I am constantly working on. I asked how she was. Good. He’s a great kid. He’s gentle. Calm. Chill.

We had talked about it a while ago – years ago. The way he handles things – that’s the best way I can describe it. He’s so specific.

We’ve watched Jack while Samm & Xavier went out to dinner – once. He knows his trains. He is pleasant and sweet. Gentle and loving. The only time there’s any issue – when he has to share something or when something doesn’t go the way he wants – which is pretty normal – and not just for toddlers!

Fitzy is VERY specific about times. Being late – unacceptable. He lined his toys up. Sorted them. OVER & OVER & OVER again. Jack lines all the things up – always.

Enoch gets VERY obsessed about sorting his basketball cards. He was VERY obsessed with Red – she’s a bully – she pushes the other cows around.

Jack is considered very high functioning on the spectrum. I told my sister – I can’t say I’m sorry to you. Because there’s nothing wrong with him. He’s not broken. He doesn’t need to be fixed.

Some things are going to be harder – YES. BUT SO MANY THINGS ARE HARDER ALREADY. Life is pain. But there is so much beauty from pain.

He IS amazing. He WILL be amazing. And his mom and dad ARE AMAZING!! And remember – AMAZING means so many different things. We have to change OUR thinking.

WE ARE FAMILY

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,family,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,my town,samantha — admin at 11:39 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2018

The boys LOVE G & Pa – and they REALLY love it when Jack can be there too!

That last week in JULY was heavenly for them!

That picture on top – PURE JOY!

LOOK AT THAT BIG GUY! These babies – they need to SLOW IT DOWN!

G was NOT home when she said she would be – so we had to call her. And I love that my sister has our mom in her phone as MY MOM!

BABY KITTENS!!

DO YOU SEE HIS FACE!! He wants a kitty or a puppy SO VERY BAD!

I mean – LOOK AT THAT FACE!

SO SAD!

Enoch was WORKING OUT HARD!!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

My dad and my brother – they have a special bond too! And if you look at my dad’s pictures from high school – you’d think it was my brother!

I’m so thankful for the time our kids get to spend together – even if it’s only once or twice a year!

That shot MIGHT be my favorite shot of the five of them together! You can’t even see Fitzy’s face – but you can still tell that he’s smiling!

That smile on little *J*’s face – AHH! And *R* – she LOVES her cousins! You can just SEE IT!

G – she’s the ABSOLUTE BEST!

I got my brother and sister-in-law a big print of this photo for Christmas!

*J* needed his THREE year pictures – THREE!!

My sister – she’s been trying to get that Enoch-guy to love her for his WHOLE LIFE! Sometimes he does!

G and her little *J* – AND BLACK & WHITE! THE BEST!

*J* LOVES calling the cows in! AND he loves his G!!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,love,my family,portraits,samantha,top o' the hill — admin at 11:58 am on Thursday, February 8, 2018

My sister AND my brother came home for Thanksgiving!

We weren’t ALL able to be together at the same time – Samm’s husband got home when mine had to leave – but I still wanted to take ALL the pictures!

*R* is 3 months older than Fitzy – her birthday was yesterday actually – they have a special bond!

*J* did NOT like the camera on someone else – so he snuck RIGHT IN!

*J* – he’s such a silly guy!

*R* and Sammy have a special bond too!

GOSH – I JUST LOVE BLACK & WHITE!

That sweet face!! Again – FOCUS IS OVERRATED!

As usual – I took WAY TOO MANY PHOTOS – well – is there such a thing?! No. NEVER!

SO – stay tuned for the rest of our Thanksgiving fun!

IRON KETTLE PUMPKIN FARM

Filed under: baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,holiday,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family,my town,samantha — admin at 1:02 pm on Thursday, December 28, 2017

We went to the Iron Kettle Pumpkin Farm while my sister was home!

When we were little – we made the trip every year with our cousins!

Those guys – they’re ADORABLE!!

You might notice that Fitzy didn’t come with us – he would rather stay home with his G!

We were told that the donuts did NOT have milk in them – but later – we found out they did – super sad.

Thankfully – Enoch’s allergy is not life-threatening – gives him a tummy-ache for a few days – BUT – lesson learned – ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS check the label and sometimes even then – it might not be right!

Just in case you think that every outing is sunshine and rainbows – it’s really not! This one is a runner!

THAT CRAZY FACE!

That little guy and that GIANT cookie!

Sometimes – I get really sad that our guys can’t grow up together – BUT – these moments – they make me happy!

FARMLIFE

Filed under: babes,baby barden,baby caamano,bardenisms,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,my family — admin at 11:54 am on Tuesday, December 26, 2017

We painted some pumpkins while Sam and Jack were home!

And the sunrise – cus – you know – my littlest needs the bare minimum amount of sleep ANY human does to survive.

5 AM. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Doesn’t matter what we do to change that.

Keep him up later – still 5 AM AND a really really hard day the next day.

Tire him out more – this kid is non-stop from 5 AM to 7 PM – doesn’t matter.

And if ONE MORE PERSON says – God must have given you the non-sleepers because He knew you would handle it with such grace and beauty.

NO. NO GRACE AND BEAUTY HERE. CRYING. LOTS OF TEARS. AND CRYING. AND EXHAUSTION.

This guy – with his FRESH haircut! And his cows – his FAVORITE cows!

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