Flashback friday

  We had meatballs this week and Ava gave me a look that gave me a flashback to about 6 years ago.  I had to stop what I was doing and take some pics.  I didn't capture the look, but I captured the essence of mealtime with Ava.  (Let me also tell you, this is mildly messy for her.  Not all of you will let your child feed themselves at one year old, but this is how I roll...)

 

  This is sweet baby Hannah, just 10 days after her first birthday and days before we took her to Maui.  I remember distinctly sitting at the table with her and thinking, you are finally one!!  I want to go back and squeeze this girl so bad!

 

  Seeing little Hannah makes me think about what we talked about at my mom's group today.  (For the record, mom's groups are a must!!)  We were talking about our days at home with the kids and though very hard sometimes, we don't want to wish these crazy, tantrum-filled, whiny, needy, and not to mention exhausting days away.  We will lose out on the not fun parts, but we will also miss out on the most adorable, innocent and fun-loving part of their life.  One day we will look back and only wish we could be cleaning up after a little one and wishing for a little bit more energy in an all too quiet house.  I just don't want to hurry any of this along and regret it later.  When Hannah was still a toddler, I definitely wanted her to get bigger faster.

 

  After spending time with lots of moms, you can kind of tell who has preschool-age and under kids and those who do not.  Moms with preschoolers can't drop their kid off at preschool fast enough and are thrilled with their much needed break!!  It's when the kids turn school-age that the perspective changes and all moms mourn their children growing up and having to go to school, and at least for me, wish they could be home more.  Since I have graduated to be a school-age mom, I feel that I am enjoying my littles and their toddler-ness fully.  Which makes me feel a bit sad that I was trying to escape it some with my older two.  I guess that's the beauty of motherhood, it refines you and grows you in ways that you would never be able to without kids.  It is also a process, you keep learning as you go, and thank the Lord for his grace when you haven't learned yet what would be helpful to have known.  The good thing is, that even though I cannot squeeze 1 year old Hannah, I can squeeze 6 year old Hannah and enjoy her as she is now.  I can also squeeze 4 year old Calvin, 3 year old Joel, and 1 year old Ava, right now in the exact stage they are at and enjoy them fully.

 

Have a great weekend!