There’s no denying my love for babies; their sweet smell, chubby cheeks, chunky thighs, and adorable babbling. The way their face lights up when they see a parent. The way they snuggle on your chest and fall asleep instantly. Their toothless smiles and precious giggles are contagious. The curiosity and awe on their face when they discover and explore the world.
I love it all and tried to capture every adorable moment on camera so that I would never forget the beauty of the first year of my children’s lives. I realized quickly that it is true what they say, it’s over in the blink of an eye.
As my last baby turns 11 months old I find myself both excited for his upcoming first birthday, while also feeling sad and longing for those early months back, before he was constantly on the move and getting into everything. When he would sleep in my arms for hours so calm and still.
Don’t get me wrong, I love watching him grow and try to keep up with his siblings. But I know that toddlerhood is right around the corner and with that comes another set of challenges and chaos.
He can already speed crawl and is so close to walking. Pretty soon he won’t have time to snuggle with his boring mom because he will have more exciting things on his agenda. Playing in the dirt, chasing the dog, finger painting, and pulling everything out of the cabinets will be his new favorite hobbies. Learning to run, building with blocks, hiding in forts with his siblings, this will be our new normal.
But as with every new chapter in life we have to mourn the chapter we are about to close. The one that was filled with all the joys a new baby brings. I’ve discovered all the final first milestones you experience with your last baby sting just a little extra. It’s all so surreal.
I find myself procrastinating when it comes to putting away all the baby items. So I’m holding on to the swing, bassinet, and baby clothes. I’m just not ready to re-home these items that bring back so many beautiful memories. I will give myself grace during this time. I will let myself feel the sadness and hold onto these last few weeks of babyhood.
At the same time, I can’t wait to celebrate my son’s first birthday and all that comes with being one, especially the highly anticipated smash cake. Then it’s time to brace myself for having a wild toddler and all the great adventures that will bring.
