Where did my BABY go?

I don’t know, it just hit me last night.  Caroline seems like such a “big girl.“  What happened to the baby girl I brought home from the hospital?  She was just a little peanut and needed me for everything. Now Caroline marches around the house like she owns the place.  She dances around the living room like a maniac.  You know the tune to jeopardy?  It’s her favorite.  She can anticipate it and gets in place for her big dance performance.  It’s quite the show!

I know this all happened gradually, of course, but it just seems like out of nowhere, my baby turned into a little girl.  She’s beautiful.  I love her.  I wouldn’t change a thing, but I do miss my baby every now and then.  Right now, as I write, I’m looking down at Caroline’s baby picture and I’m stunned at how tiny she was in my arms.  Her little ears, lips and button nose…ahhhh.  Now from the minute she wakes up she’s running around with so many discoveries to make.  She is one action packed little girl.  Again, “little girl.“

Do you know what I mean here?  Everyone says to enjoy the time, because it flies by.  I think I was too sleep deprived those first few months to enjoy anything and now the first year is a blur.  I guess it’s all about living in the present and soaking up every moment.  Let’s make a pact to do it.

Happy Friday!

Ellie

Boy do I know what you are going through.  It will happen more and more as Caroline gets older.  Mine are 8 and soon to be 6.  The 8 year old now gets her own bowl of ice cream for herself and little sister.  I’ve pretty much given up trying to pick out something for her to wear, she may consult me on some things.  Then there is the soon to be 6 year old.  When she lost her first tooth back around Christmas time I was close to tears.  It all of sudden hit me that she is no longer my baby.  I looked at her in a different light. 

Oh and how can I forget the time the 8 year old asked me when she was going to get her first bra.  Thank goodness she is a couple of years away from that but it will be here soon enough! Lord, give me strength!!

So unfortunately it will snow ball from here.  Good luck!!

I know exactly what you mean and Im not a parent.
I was leaving the family I have been with for over 2 years, They have four kids but when I started the little girl was one and a half. Now she is almost four. Before I left yesterday and she knew I was going she was laying in my lap like she use to when I would sing her a song and put her down for a nap. As I was holding her I started to get a tear in my eye and remembered when she was little she would fall asleep in my arms when I sang. They do grow up very fast..

I remember the moment I realized my baby had turned into a big girl. It was Christmas Eve a few years ago and she was about 15 months. She was awake at 8pm, eating pieces of pizza and watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. I was like, wow, this is a little girl, not a baby!  You never forget that moment.

Wow! Joey just turned TWO!(as he hold up a finger on each hand and tells everyone TWO) There isnt a day that goes by that I think my baby is turning into a little boy! He really just started talking and insists on doing things himself - no help. He’s quite the little independant man! Whenever I try to help him do something, like walk down the steps, he says ‘GO!‘ and and pushes me away.
And now he wants to pick out what he wants to eat! Usually it consists of the jar of peanut butter and getting himself a spoon!

I agree with all of you… kids grow up so fast.  My oldest child will be starting First Grade next week.  That means all day, every day, he will be in school.  WHAT?!  How did that happen?  It doesn’t seem possible that my little boy is starting school.

When are we going to go on our fun little day trips and our long drives around town as he eats chicken nuggets and apple dippers???  : )  And now our family vacations are pretty much reserved for the couple of weeks around Christmas or the months of summer when everyone else is on vacation.  But now my 3 year old and I will have more special one on one time, just like my oldest and I did before she was born.

I always remember my parents saying that the time flies by as a parent, I completely agree.

I know exactly how you are feeling.  With Cameron being close to the same age as Caroline we kinda experience all of this around the same time which is nice to have.  Cameron is now buckling himself into his booster seat and when I try to help he gets upset with me.  He also likes to get his own snacks out of the bag and I use to do all of that for him.  I was just telling my husband yesterday that his ears, hands, feet and nose have grown so much from when he was born.  I love him at this age because he talks so much and it makes me laugh ALL of the time, but after 19 months you look back and keep thinking to yourself where that little baby disappeared to.  I know that I enjoyed every single moment of him being little,  but there are still times I think to myself that I don’t ever want to forget the first time of holding him, kissing his cheek, giving him a bath, showing him off to my friends, his first set of shots and how I balled my head off and well the list goes on.  I take so many pictures and take videos and I feel like I must capture EVERY moment with him.  I could literally take 30 pictures in 5 minutes…yep, I am so obsessed (lol).  I guess I just don’t want to miss a thing and someday soon he will be saying to me “Oh, Mom could you please stop taking pictures”  Yep, I think I can wait on that day….until now I will just continue to enjoy every single day with my “somewhat little boy”.

As a dad, I know this too. My Aiden is 3 now, and I always tell him when I hold him that he used to fit in the cradle of my one arm. I stay home during the days and work 3rd shift, and I remember when he needed me for everything. Now he acts so independent, I sometimes sit and watch him and miss my baby. But at the same time, these aren’t the last of the best years, so hang in there and enjoy the ride.

Ellie, have you thought ( or maybe you already have) about doing a special on SAH Dad’s or dads that work 3rd shift to be home with the kids? I see a lot more of it now, and as one of those proud dads who get prolly 3 hours of sleep a day, I’d like to see some coverage of this.
Thanks and keep up the good work. Aiden and I watch as much as we can.

Jeff

Take lots of video & pictures to save these moments!  Those videos become so much fun to watch as children grow older.  Just last night on a break from watching the Olympics we watched “baby videos” (first cereal, learning to walk, unloading my kitchen cabinets) of my now 12 & 10 year old daughters.  At the ages they are now where there are different expressions of love, fewer snuggles and hugs, it was fun for us all to see how much doting, attention and love they received when they were tiny.  And, how much they relied on their mom & dad then, compared to how much they do on their own now!  It was a small shock to see how much my husband and I had changed, too!