They say it goes quickly - this childhood thing. They say to enjoy these days now because soon enough they will grow up. They tell me to cherish these baby and toddler moments before they're swiftly asking for money to go to the mall, and then I'm turning over the keys to their very first car, which will keep us up all night worrying. They say that soon enough, they will be off and away.
And I believe it all. I can feel it already how deeply proud, yet saddened I will be of every milestone they hit that brings them further and further away from their childhood.
"The days are long...but the years are short," they warn me. And it hits me so hard to hear it. Yes, our lives are chaotic and at times I feel like a single mom trucking through two 2 and under while pregnant and feeling ALL. OVER. THE. PLACE.
Yes, I sometimes complain about the day to day craziness that seems to consume my life. And yes, at least once a month or so I can't help but think of how I wish we lived nearby family so that these little ones I love so much could go spend a day with grandparents or aunts and uncles to give me/us a moment. I think about what I'd do with that moment. Maybe get my hair done, run into Publix without having to grab the racecar cart and load it with kids til I can't fit any groceries and then have to stop by the cookie counter before having our trusty ol' bagger boy schlep us out to the car with a second cartful. Or maybe I'd go to a coffee shop to edit some photos and get some work done so that I could get to bed before 2am, or even just sit home and clean up without having 546 toys being taken right back out in that very moment. And then I'd shower longer than 4.5 minutes and actually use my Birchbox products that I swear I'll have time to enjoy every month when it hits my doorstep. Yup, I think about all of that.
But then it hits me. And I slowly break down the quote in my head...The days are long. Yes, they are. But the years, they are damn short. A little too short. I've looked forward to these years and well, I absolutely love that this is where I am at right now. A 2.5 year old, a newly 10 month old and a baby on the way. Still years away from them driving and moving out and leaving our comfy ol' nest. Still able to do what "they" say - enjoying these moments while they're little and cherishing every adventure, giggle and incredible toddler story. We look at them together and just smile, and at times we even tear up over how incredibly happy they make our lives.
These long days are exactly the kind of days I want to last forever. So for now, I'm thanking every stranger, grandparent, cashier and Target aisle passer-by that warns me about just how quickly it goes. I see them admire my babies and the memories it brings back for them of when their kids were little. I'm taking each reminder and savoring it, learning from it, and remembering that while these days seem to last for-ev-er, it's a damn amazing feeling of for-ev-er that I wouldn't want any other way. One day I'll look back and think, "Man, I thought I had so much time left with them when they were little," and I am fully aware of that. So today, this super long day, I am just loving every moment with these babies!
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Here are just a few of the moments I've been enjoying over the last week or so...
--Breakfast as a family. Nope, it's not homemade, not healthy, nor are we sitting around a table..but just a casual sit-on-the-counter, talk, laugh, and eat together rare kinda breakfast.
--The words of a 2 year old.."Mommy, is this decaf coffee?" -"Um, yes baby, as a matter of fact it is!" -"Okay good, can I have some then?"
...Seriously? Why does she even know what decaf coffee is?!
--The way this little pumpkin eats everything I give her. Unlike someoneeee I know. [cough] Her big sis [cough]
--Summery days
--Fearless gymnastics days
--Watching Hocus Pocus (a little early in the year!) while eating ice cream cones with E on a summer evening as Daddy works and A sleeps.
--The fact that this extra long day full of baby love and packing and Daddy working til the middle of the night and Grizz being rowdy is all smooth sailing in my mind because vacation is just calling my name!!!
Any guesses where we are headed?
On a Mexican Fiesta, baby! Kids and sunglasses and Mexican-inspired fashions in tote. Woohoo!!
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Please excuse how all-over-the-place this post may be.
Tonight, I'll leave you with this..
The 20 week belly pic! Today marks halfway through my pregnancy -- halfway to meeting our little man!!
This also means we are exactly 20 weeks away from Christmas Day, ladies and gents!
Baby boy is the size of a mango! He is kicking up a storm and weighing in at approximately 10 oz., 6.5" long.
Big sis E tells everyone we meet that her baby brother will be here around Christmas and she asks to hold him everyday. Soon enough, baby girl, soon enough! A still has a few more months of being my itty bitty baby!
20 weeks and feeling great, so here's to the next 20 weeks before we meet our baby boy!
The days may be long..but the years are short! Happy Weekend, everyone :)