Time

I once read that our days are slow, but the years are quick. Since having a child, this speaks volumes to me.

Today, I was backing up old photos from last year and came across our bluebonnet shoot. I remember this day very well - it was one of those very slow days where I was itching for bedtime to come...anything to grant me a small break from the day. I really didn't want to go out to take bluebonnet pictures, but the season was almost over and I knew if I didn't do it then, I never would. Will wouldn't look at the camera for anything and I left the field feeling very frustrated. I edited a couple photos to put on Facebook and the rest sat in hard drive purgatory for the rest of the year without a second glance.

Until today, nearly a year later. I can't believe how many treasures there are in these photos. Now that the frustrations of that day and nearly a year have passed quickly, I cherish these. My boy looks so little in these. So much more baby in him than there is today. Instead of seeing the frustrating day in these, I see a little boy who is growing big very, very quickly. And time has allowed me to love these pictures instead of feeling the pressure to get that perfect portrait of him.

Pick up your camera today. It doesn't matter if that picture is perfect. It doesn't matter if your child is perfect. You will be thankful for these images someday, when time has gone by too quickly and you're left with only the memories of today.

Conversation

Will still had his paci in his mouth from his nap when Greg got home (yes, Mommy bends the rules, shhhh) and so Greg was telling him that the needed to take it out...

Greg: You know, Will, the girls aren't going to like you if you have a paci. They only like big boys and big boys don't have pacis.

Will: stands there for a moment pondering this. But no, daddy! Everybody likes babies and babies have pacis in their mouth.

Touche.

I have a feeling he's going to be hard to argue with in 10 years!

Dear Will,

Tonight, for the very first time ever, you went to sleep in your very own big boy bed. You, of course, were absolutely thrilled with the idea of having a bed with no rails. You grabbed your 3 bajillion blankets (okay, there are only 4 of them), Traveler and Baby Traveler and jumped right in. You are so big. So almost three. And while I'm joyous that you're big and I love everything about you being almost three, I just wish I could make it all slow down for a few minutes.

I remember very clearly what a gut-wrenching decision it was to move you from your Pack 'n Play safe next to my bed into your crib...how I closed the door to your room that night after laying you down, waiting for you to cry out for your mommy. You didn't, and so I was the one crying outside your door...because my tiny little baby couldn't possibly be ready for a crib, right? So this time, the decision to move you to a toddler bed was done more on a whim. But even still, after Daddy and I tucked you in tonight and you snuggled down, cozy and warm in your tiny little bed I had a moment of sadness. Where did the days go when I nursed my tiny little baby to sleep? These almost-three years have gone by so quickly, though the days have seemed so long at times.

I am so proud of the little person you are becoming. You are kind and polite. You have a wonderful sense of humor. You are just mischievous enough. You are loud and you voice your opinions (even when they're not popular). You sing unashamed. You love to hear about "baby Jesus." You hug tight and don't pull away. I hope beyond belief that time doesn't change these sweet little things about you.

Good-night, my sweet, sweet baby. Mommy loves you very, very much.