No Longer a Baby.... (But Always "MY" Baby!)

Ramsey's "baby days" are gone and he's now a toddler.  His growth epitomizes the definition of "bittersweet".

Our little Doodlebug is a healthy young child, learning new things everyday and evolving both mentally and physically.  He's inquisitive and smart, mobile and active, loving and sweet, playful and joyous.   He's a little gentleman.  Those are just a few (among the myriad) of the wonderful aspects of his toddlerhood.

But, the days of burping him, nursing him, and seeing all of his "baby firsts" are gone.  Those are now memories - moments that I will never have again, but will cherish deeply, forever.   Each day now is still another new adventure as we watch him grow and flourish.  What's to come next?!?  :-)

I recently saw this poem as a post on a friend's Facebook page.  It's too bad we can't ever "rewind" or "stop time", if only for a few minutes.

The Last Time

From the moment you hold your baby in your arms,
you will never be the same.
You might long for the person you were before,
When you have freedom and time,
And nothing in particular to worry about.

You will know tiredness like you never knew it before,
And days will run into days that are exactly the same,
Full of feedings and burping,
Nappy changes and crying,
Whining and fighting,
Naps or a lack of naps,
It might seem like a never-ending cycle.
But don’t forget …

There is a last time for everything.
There will come a time when you will feed
your baby for the very last time.
They will fall asleep on you after a long day
And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child.
One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down,
And never pick them up that way again.

You will scrub their hair in the bath one night
And from that day on they will want to bathe alone.
They will hold your hand to cross the road,
Then never reach for it again.
They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles,
And it will be the last night you ever wake to this.
One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus”
and do all the actions,
Then never sing them that song again.

They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate,
The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone.
You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face.
They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time.

The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time
Until there are no more times.
And even then, it will take you a while to realize.
So while you are living in these times,
remember there are only so many of them
and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them.
For one last time.
-Author Unknown-

This post wasn't meant to be sad and weepy.  I do miss the true "baby days" (I had no idea having a little teeny tiny baby would be THAT awesome!), but I look forward to his continued development.  And, I look forward to him blossoming into a truly fantastic kid... teenager... and young man... just like his Big Brubby Connor.

Boys... you're the greatest!  You've completed my life in so many ways.  When you're fathers (I hope to be a grandmother someday!), you'll understand and know the true beauty and joy.

LOVE AND HUGS

Mommy