They say childhood passes in the blink of an eye; one minute you are rocking a newborn in the middle of the night, the next you are waiting anxiously by the door at midnight for that baby to come home. Time flies and it’s true. When I wake up, my mind still feels like I’m 21 with the world of endless possibilities waiting at my feet. But the reality is I’m no longer twenty, and I’m a few years into thirty. I don’t feel it but it’s happened, and I don’t feel the days with my babies moving quickly, but they have. In four short years my first baby has gone from a sleepless newborn to a bounding, exploring, curious ever chatting four-year old. What’s even more startling is my new baby is walking! How can that be? Babies don’t walk! But there she is trotting down the hallway, determined as can be in her little baby steps. It’s so very bittersweet as a mother to see these changes, to know that time is marching on and taking your babies with it as they grow.

Got to slide down all by himself

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In a blink of the eye…you no longer want to be spoon fed and insist on always using your own hands to eat now.

In a blink of the eye…you are riding in the same car seat as your big brother now.

In a blink of the eye...you squirm when being held as there are more interesting things to explore down below.

In a blink of the eye...you need shoes because you are walking and no longer need to be carried everywhere.

In a blink of the eye…you correct me when I call you baby and insist you are a big boy, the big brother not the baby.

In a blink of the eye…you have dropped the Y off your name and no long spell it or sign it anymore.

In a blink of the eye…you can dress yourself without any help from me.

In a blink of the eye…your high chair is getting too small for you and we need to switch you to a booster chair at the table.

In a blink of the eye…you are reading along with me instead of being read to.

In a blink of the eye…you have your first sleepover at grandma’s and don’t even bat an eye when we leave.

In a blink of the eye…you are telling me that one day you are going to be a grown up and there won’t be any babies in our house anymore.

In a blink of the eye…you are running away from me instead of towards me.

But then you get hurt and still want me to kiss it better. When I shut off your lights for bed, you instantly rest your head against me and snuggle in as we rock together. You cry out in the middle of the night and need me to hold you.

And in those small fleeting moments I feel time stand still.

First time outside in shoes