The "Little" Things

I know you've read, probably several times, me mention how I'm looking forward to when the kids are a little older and a little more independent. Well I was thinking last night as I was trying to fall asleep - there are many things I miss from when they were little.

1. Rocking them to sleep. I really miss that little body laying on mine - watching them breathe and twitch as they sleep. Getting so hot and sweaty, but not daring to move because I don't want to wake them.



2. Immobility. There is definitely something to be said for being able to set your child somewhere and know they won't be gone when you get back. The phrase "stay right here" takes on a whole new meaning when your child discovers they can move! Just the other week Bella made it out the door before Kadin & I and I couldn't find her anywhere. She wasn't in the car, wasn't on the swing set - I found her sitting on the front lawn. She told me she was waiting for me in the grass.



3. Talking. I'm grateful that my kids can talk, but every parent will tell you that once they start - they don't stop. Every dinner we sit and listen to Kadin & Bella go back and forth with each other. Oh, those days when they would just coo and babble and didn't say things like "my fart smells like a stinky vagina". Yes - Kadin actually said that.



4. When "play" meant reading a book or peek-a-boo. I remember making Kadin laugh by simply hiding my head under a blanket. Now I'm asked to play things like Power Rangers and Transformers where everyone kills each other and every game involves imagination and pretend. When they were little they never really cared if you were playing with them - they would just sit and watch you living - taking in every little thing you did. Now I hear the phrase "play with me" more times a day than I can count.



5. Bottle feedings. NOT the middle in the night ones, but just the thought of not having to worry about what they are going to eat because they only had one choice! It's hard planning meals sometimes because we make things that we know the kids will never eat. Take our dinner tonight for example - we had beef roast with mashed potatoes, broccoli and rolls. Both kids didn't touch the potatoes or broccoli so all they had was rolls and a small amount of roast. My motherly brain of course is thinking - how do they even grow when they only eat a few bites of dinner???

I know I can't stop my kids from growing up - I think I just need to appreciate every moment since you can never go back.