My Baby's Growing Up!

Last night, Ari amazed us by putting his pacifier in his own mouth—repeatedly. How’d he learn to that? It really is astonishing how quickly babies grow. A few weeks ago, we were feeding him and he wrapped his hands around the bottle. He’s still not coordinated enough to feed himself, but it’s so exciting as a parent to see your baby take these little steps. Yael’s Mom sent us a touching poem by Anna Quindlen that reminds me to try to savor these times. Some day they’ll be nothing more than a dusty memory. Here's an excerpt:

But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less. Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and what was simply life. When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I'd done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be. The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense, matter-of-fact and I was sometimes over the top. And look how it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity. That's what the books never told me. I was bound and determined to learn from the experts. It just took me a while to figure out who the experts were.

Download anna_quindlen_on_being_a_mom.doc

Comments

[Jen Aist]

What a beautiful web site! What a wonderful gift of memories for Ari as he grows older.
Can I hand out that poem to the Cuddler's moms? I love it!
And what kind of camera are you guys shooting with?? I'm jealous!!
Talk to you soon, Jen

[varo1]

I came across this blog , becuase I am feeling sad my youngest is going to be in a big girl bed, probably tomorrow. It is nice to see others share the same feelings and I appreciate your feelings

[coach outlet]

We have often repeated that the truth, because the error was also repeated in the propaganda, and not individual people but a large number of people publicity.Are you felt that it is right? I do not really think that, but can keep personal opinions!