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I love watching home videos, especially now that my kids are getting a little bit older. In fact, it's a favorite past time for the whole family to sit together and watch home movies. The kids giggle and laugh at how cute and little they used to be. For me, it wasn't that long ago.

When my oldest son Douglas was about six months old, we bought a used video camera. It was a gift to me from my husband on our baby's first Christmas. We had such a great time capturing the moment and from then on, we made sure every one of Douglas' milestones was caught on tape.

May 20, 1994: We are taping Douglas right before his second birthday.

"How old are you, Douglas?" I ask.
"Wunahaf"
"When's your birthday?"
"June secon," he replies.
"Are we going to have a new baby soon?"
"Yeah."

May 25, 1994: Douglas is going to bed and his dad is taping the bedtime story.

I finish the story and ask, "Douglas, how old are you?"
"Wunahaf."
"When's your birthday?"
"June secon."
"Are we going to have a new baby soon?"
"Yeah."

June 1, 1994: The day before Douglas's birthday.

"Douglas, how old are you going to be?"
"Two!" he says enthusiastically.
"When's your birthday?"
"Morrow!"

And of course we videotaped his birthday party, the opening of the gifts, the blowing out of the candles, waving goodbye to the guests and the birthday bedtime story.

Not too long after that, Douglas's baby sister Alyssa was born. We taped her first days. We taped Douglas holding her. We taped her first laugh and we caught every milestone.

Two years later K.C. was born.

December 25, 1996: We suddenly realize this is the first time K.C. has been video taped.

"Douglas, move out of the way, you're blocking the shot," I tell him. He darts in and out in front of the camera. "Alyssa, don't open that....."

July 23, 1997. K.C.'s first steps. We missed the sitting up and crawling, but fortunately we remembered the big one.

Now we have four children and needless to say, Rebekah is rarely taped. And when she is, she's got three co-stars that are dying for the spotlight. Usually by the time I get the camera out she's finished her song or dance or whatever it was that inspired me to get the thing out in the first place. So I end up taping four kids doing somersaults and cartwheels on the front lawn.

Years from now that will be the best video we watch.

©Shannon Jarvies