It's flying

We recently took a family trip to the beach. My kids absolutely love the beach! If the sun is up great. If it's not, that's okay too. So there I sat shivering in my two jackets, watching my wave princesses frolic around in their bikini's loving every second of being there. My husband and middle darling took a walk while the baby, Gabby, and I stayed at our temporary beach home a.k.a. the towels. I watched my oldest run down to the waters edge and come back up smiling and laughing holding the biggest bucket of water she could carry. But when I blinked there was my 18 month old running up the beach towards me. My mind clearly pictured the red and blue bathing suit, the golden ringlets dancing in the sun, and those cheeks bobbing up and down while she ran. I remember thinking I had never seen something so gosh darn cute in my entire life.

Now where did the time go? I realize that my baby is only six years old, but how did that happen? I remember when she was a baby how I wished for those milestones to click off. Wishing for her to walk. Wishing for the potty training stage to end - and boy, did she make me wait for that. Wishing for her to stop drinking from the bottle and just drink real milk. Basically I wished for her to grow up. Now all I can do is try to catch my breath and not be totally overwhelmed by how fast the growing up process is happening. I will admit that some days I love how mature and old she is getting. I feel like we have real conversations. I get glimpses of how we'll be some day enjoying a glass of wine together and laughing. Like my Mom and I. But then there are the other days when I would pay to go back and slow it down and enjoy it.

I guess this reminiscing is what makes me enjoy my final baby even more. The oldest I was rushing, the middle I was too tired to enjoy, but my baby is my final chance. She is the last shot I get at trying to soak up the babyness. Now I know, everyone tells you to enjoy it. But isn't the real reason everyone says that is because they didn't actually do it. Do you ever hear someone say, "boy I really slowed down and just enjoyed my kids being kids". Yeah well I wouldn't believe it even if I heard that. But...mark my words I'm going to enjoy this one. And just try to hold onto those few memories I have of my other two actually being babies.

Oh and I'll be sure to tell new parents to enjoy it because it goes fast. But I think I'll add in the line "because I didn't".