Two quick things for today:

Thing the first: JB recently got a Macbook, after years (YEARS) of kvetching about how superior PCs were, and now of course he’s in love with having a laptop that actually, you know, works. One of the nicest things about us both having computers that don’t suck is that we can easily do videochats without the million and one technical problems that always came up before. So I got to chat with Riley last night and receive video kisses, which was awesome.

chatscreen.png

Thing the second: I made a little movie to commemorate Riley turning three years old. Which, uh, happened in August, but I figure as long as I got it done before the end of 2008 I still get the medal.

What? There’s no medal? Well, fuck. Here it is anyway:


Riley: 3 years from Linda Lee on Vimeo.

Made in iMovie, and featuring the saptastic tunes of Ben Folds (“The Luckiest”).

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Lori
Lori
15 years ago

Weeping. Copious weeping. That was so pretty.

Valria
15 years ago

ditto on the weeping

Trina
Trina
15 years ago

That was so awesome! It has inspired me to do something similar. :)

Amy
Amy
15 years ago

Amazingly beautiful! What a wonderful memory to share and for him to look back on. And yes, you DO win the medal!!!

Eric's Mommy
Eric's Mommy
15 years ago

Wow Linda, that was beautiful.

Emily
Emily
15 years ago

Perfection. Absolute perfection.

diane
diane
15 years ago

Hard to see through the tears….so I had to watch it again and, yup. it was as wonderful as I thought the first time. Your boys are so lucky to have you for a mama.

Amy
Amy
15 years ago

So beautiful! It made me cry!

Sarah Miller
15 years ago

How, how, HOW is it possible to get that sapped up about a kid I’ve got no attachment to and have never ever met? Gah!

thejunebug
thejunebug
15 years ago

Aww, Linda, that made me teary. *sniffle* I can’t believe he’s three years old! (WELL OKAY, three years and almost 3 months, but still.)

Clueless But Hopeful Mama

I want MY medal for resisting the weeping until the bitter (OH MY GOD SO SWEET WHERE ARE MY TISSUES AH EFF-IT HERE’S MY SLEEVE) end.

And I’m pregnant. TOTALLY medal worthy. (Both of us.)

warcrygirl
15 years ago

Man I love the pictures you take! I wish I had my Nikon when mine were little. Beautiful vid!

beach
beach
15 years ago

beautiful…..I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes watching this….again….beautiful!!!

kirida
15 years ago

Did you use the new iMovie for this? I can’t seem to get it. The old version was so much friendlier for luddites like me!

Deanna
Deanna
15 years ago

So beautiful! So well done! So much cuteness…

Crystal
15 years ago

That was beautiful. If I send you our pictures and videos, can you make me one? :)

The only thing I miss was the emo-pirate. But I guess that was after he turned 3, so I forgive you.

Great job…

Maureen
Maureen
15 years ago

Wow, that was incredible. I can’t believe Riley is 3, just like I can’t believe my own baby is 14. Now I need to go find the kleenex.

Joanne
15 years ago

Hoo Boy! I started crying *before* I pressed play. I just started reading you when Riley was born. My baby was born in June of the same year and he was SO BAD and it seemed like Riley was SO GOOD. I remember one time you went to a hotel? I thought how can she take that little baby to a hotel? We would get kicked out! I have really enjoyed these last three years, living vicariously through you having a good baby who now talks normally and is on point developmentally. It makes me wistful and jealous, a little, but mostly so happy to see the adorable BOY that Riley has become. I hope this doesn’t sound too crazy!

kathleen
kathleen
15 years ago

oh jesus— heart and uterus exploding. my boyfriend thanks you in advance for my next ‘kids, soon? please?’ conversation.

Jules
Jules
15 years ago

Really enjoyed this. I never had thought about “The Luckiest” in this context (always was a first dance at a wedding type of song for me), but it TOTALLY works.

Your family is lovely.

sara moon
sara moon
15 years ago

oh god. big lump in throat. beautiful, linda.

Marie Green
15 years ago

That was really beautiful Linda. Thanks for sharing so much with all of us.

SJ
SJ
15 years ago

So sweet, what a great video. Thanks for sharing your beautiful family with us!

wm
wm
15 years ago

What a wonderful gift to prepare for him. I think he’ll treasure it someday.

Jennifer
Jennifer
15 years ago

Oh gosh, speechless here. He looks like such a GROWN boy in that last photo too. Fantastic time progression.

You really are talented at this stuff!

p.s. snickering about JB getting a Macbook.

kali
15 years ago

The funny thing is how many of those pictures I remember seeing just like it was yesterday… I can’t even imagine much more intense that must be for you.
(and ps- I TOTALLY almost bought that foam sword this summer!)

Nikki
15 years ago

Just lovely. Thank you for sharing.

Emily
Emily
15 years ago

Beautiful. Don’t know if it’s my hormones or the fact that I now have one of my own, but I have happy tears streaming down my face. I love it. Your family is absolutely beautiful.

TUWABVB
15 years ago

That was so beautiful!! Thank you for sharing. I’m amazed at how his face changed so much, but yet stayed the same also. His features are so wonderfully distinctive.

Victoria
15 years ago

awwwwww

Jennie C.
15 years ago

Saptastic and SO BEAUTIFUL. I love the photos of airborne Riley and cake-licker Riley.

I brought the cake to my nephew’s 3rd birthday this weekend and when he saw me come in the door with it he shrieked in delight, ran to his chair and cleared a spot with a violent sweep of his arms. Cups went flying and he was READY. It was SO adorable.

fuzzy
fuzzy
15 years ago

airborne’s my favorite, too. And my husband and I just got Mac laptops, and crud, are we ever in love. And I (or he) must do something like that for our kids. I’m currently struggling with packing a year’s worth of photos into my free Oprah photobook online, and it is a pain– but seeing this made me realize why it’s worth all this time.

Kate
15 years ago

So sweet. I’m gonna have to do one of those montages for my kids. And make myself cry.

biscuit
15 years ago

THANK GOD for the picture at the end of Riley blowing bubbles in Dylan’s face because I needed a laugh to fight back the tears.

LOVE Ben Folds.

A+, wonderful momma!

Anais
Anais
15 years ago

More weeping in this corner!!! That was lovely.

Kristi
15 years ago

I love your videos – whenever I watch one I always think, damn I should do that!

I’ve been trying to convert my husband to the Apple side for a couple of years now – and he’s just about to cave. I keep trying to tell him it’s for his own good, really. He just doesn’t realize it yet!

Pete
Pete
15 years ago

Very nice.

Angelynn
Angelynn
15 years ago

That was a wonderful video. You all seem so happy, content, and loved. I really enjoy reading your posts. I have 2 boys, 1 and 3 and am in love with every moment. You’re inspiring. Thank you!

Donna
Donna
15 years ago

Three. Already. I can’t believe it. Seems like just yesterday you disappeared and JB finally posted that you had to go in and have an emergency C section. Three years. Damn.

And also, my laptop is taking a dump even as we speak and going into the geek squad tommorrow. When the virus protection expires, BELIEVE it and renew. Duh.
Signed: Getting new credit cards passwords and my life is jacked now.

kim
kim
15 years ago

just beautiful. you are in the wrong business. your work should include you making these amazing videos for others.

Suzanne
15 years ago

The amazing thing about this world of blogs is that while I don’t know you, I feel as though I’ve known you forever. The proof…totally weeping at this video, encapsulated in your sweet world (don’t worry…not a psycho crazy…just, well, you know!). You have some very lucky little men in your life and one day Riley will be showing this to his children thinking dang I was a lucky kid!

Michelle
Michelle
15 years ago

Totally crying over here … great song choice!

Angie
Angie
15 years ago

Medal? You should get a mother of the year award for making something so wonderful to honor your little boy. He is a beautiful little boy and has been amazing to watch grow! Thank you for sharing him with all of us over the last 3 years. You are for sure doing something right as a mother. Hold your head high and be proud of the mother you have become.

Mel
Mel
15 years ago

OK now I am going to have to wait to watch this video until after I am home and have tucked the kiddies into bed. No need for co-workers to see me weeping away, or the kiddies for that matter.

Did have to comment though on the Mac vs PC thing! My hubbie is a graphic artist and believe it or not has been a hard core PC supporter forever…until last year his best friend and fellow geek got a Mac. Well it took him about 18 months and he finally caved and got one. Now it is litterally attached to his hip. He is such a geek that he video conferences me from the basement instead of walking up the stairs! Yeh Yeh and I still married him!

Annika
Annika
15 years ago

Riley is so lucky to be in your family. God dammit, I’m sitting at my desk sobbing. That was beautiful.

Bumbling
15 years ago

Great video Linda, I too have been reading your blogs since Riley was born and I can’t believe how big he is.

**Giggly aside** – LOL you just made a bunch of strangers cry, you are ALL POWERFUL!

Amity
Amity
15 years ago

Awesome! That song is amazing. :)

Lisa
Lisa
15 years ago

I just put my dang mascara on! Sheesh…

That was so, so nice. Don’t you just love being a mama?

Samantha
15 years ago

I almost couldn’t watch the whole thing as the tears started to shed.
Thanks, thanks for making me cry at work as you have tons of times before.

And here’s your medal!

jenn
jenn
15 years ago

awesome….but no photos of “suspicious face”???