Growing Pains
Friday, June 12, 2009 at 10:40PM 
My children are growing up so quickly. Long ago I laid Eliana down on this changing pad and her body took up half of it when I changed her tiny newborn diapers. Now it is a recliner. Not only that, but my first baby that we brought home from the hospital just yesterday is now big enough to make a changing pad into a recliner, strap her baby little sister in it, and read to her. How are these things possible?
I have been going through clothes in an effort to get rid of stuff we don't need (and give it away to folks who can use it); I had piles of Eliana's baby clothes on our bed. Things like this...
That is so small.
My mom and dad gave this to me before Eliana was born. We lost two babies before she came along. The story of her beginnings is one for another post, maybe...it's a miracle. And she was totally worth the wait. And the weight. (Mom, I'm keeping this one.)
This used to be so big on her! She'll always be the little sister though, no matter how old she is.
This is also a keeper...she came home wearing this.
She might be able to get her left leg in there now. These are the things I'm keeping, but I have two garbage bags full of clothes to give away. There are other little girls who need sweet, teeny, pink outfits with bunnies and fruit and stripes this summer. The only thing Eliana needs this summer, really, is her bathing suit. She has been obsessed with her swimsuits for a while now. She wants to live at the pool. 
Let's try this again...
When all else fails, get creative...make it a purse...
She learns so much from Michaela and Christian...she always wants to do whatever they are doing. They got into the Legos the other day; I said,"Show me what you're doing."
So she showed me...
Sandwiched in between these two girls we find Christian. He, too, refuses to heed my instructions. "Stop getting bigger!" I say; I shake my finger at them, but no matter how stern I am they keep on growing. One of his favorite things to do is read to Eliana before she goes to sleep. This works out well, because one of her favorite things to do is sit next to Christian in her bed and listen to him read. 
I just sighed because the kid who used to be my baby is now reading to another kid who used to be my baby. Next thing you know she's going to be reading! Will this madness never end? And no, to the funny jokester who is amending my sentence to read,"She's going to be reading to the new baby!" I'm done having babies who insist on growing up...it's too hard.
I have these thoughts, these "How can my little ones be so big?" thoughts, and I know my mom must think the same things about me. "How can my baby girl have these three kids?!" I know she loves being a grandma, but it's got to be weird. An older generation watches a younger generation, teaches them, raises them. This is life. It is bittersweet. Mothering is filled with heartache, a longing for those treasured moments snuggling with a newborn or watching older siblings with the new babies. But it is filled with so much joy. I'm happy to find that things often come full circle...
The onesies she wore when she first came home from the hospital don't fit anymore, but they still bring a smile to my face.
life together, some thoughts in Uncategorized
Reader Comments (3)
Loved how many pictures were in this post! They are so precious! And so are you...:)
Oh, so sweet. I know. Why do these kids have to grow. It's not fair. I guess this is what we did to our parents. I just don't want to see it. It goes way too fast.
Oh dear. I'm reading this while I wait for waffles to cook and now it looks like I'm tearful over breakfast food.
I've always said that I would have another one if it would stay 9 months old.
BTW, I have to say it again - you have gorgeous children!