Last night, I woke in the middle of the night. Well, I can’t really say “woke” because the truth is that I was in the groggy foggy somewhere in between. That “somewhere” and “nowhere” -ville. I should first explain to you that I’m a co-sleeper, so baby is always curled up right along side me (well almost always ) and I wouldn’t have it any other way either. I think co-sleeping is perfect – that is until they get bigger, and you want them out of your bed! Anyway, last night as I drifted through somewhere and nowhere-ville, in the dark of the night, and as I was passing through, I glanced over and saw the little form of the little person beside me in the dim room…only this little form looked more like my toddler (well referring to my 4-yr old, and yes she still creeps in the room and crawls into bed with us in the middle of the night which makes 4 of us in the bed!). So, naturally I glance beside her, looking for her baby brother…nope he’s not there. I feel around the bed. I pat. In front of her. Behind me. He’s lost! Groping. Panic takes hold. I sit up, wide-eyed. Where is my baby?! I wipe the sleepies out completely now, and enter into the right now-right here place. Looking again, I realize the toddler who I thought I saw, is actually my baby. Wow he’s getting big! He’s long (or I mean, tall).
He’s not a baby anymore…waaaahhhh!
This little episode prompted me to think about the signs which indicate he’s not a baby anymore…
1. Yes of course – when you mistake your baby for a toddler…whoops!
2. It just doesn’t sound right to talk about how “long” they are when referring to growth. We must transition to words like “tall” and “height”…because they are not worms any longer. They stand upright.
3. When breastfeeding becomes a very high risk activity.
4. When you lean in to kiss those little toes and feet all over, and you get a…what is that…could it be…feet-smell?
5. Which brings me to…morning breath. Wow, that’s always a shocker. Luckily my “baby” boy has yet to enter this phase, but it’s coming…it always does.
6. When you no longer sing the funny stinky rhyming songs through the poopy diaper changes. Rather, you just want to hurry and get him changed.
7. When your attempt to make “goo goo” noises, coos, and cutesy faces is met with…a right hook to the jaw. He doesn’t like that as much as he used to.

I am positive that more will come to mind as the day wears on!

As a side note, the word “poopy” is underlined on my draft here, with a squiggly red line. We all know what that means. It indicates I’ve misspelled the word. I am sure that’s how you spell poopy, but technically it may not actually be a word. Funny thing is I just have to check, because I have a curiosity about me that won’t quit. Just want to see what google says. Google returns urban dictionary’s definition as the first result. OK and that is funny. (now you’re gonna go google poopy, aren’t ya?)

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…even when times are tough and money is tight…even when my house is a wreck and it seems no one wants to help clean…even when it’s hard to get out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to get my special needs teen ready for his school day…even if I am tired and did not sleep much…even then…I have such a beautiful life!  Regardless of what challenges I may face today, I have the blessing of being able to look at my children and see their smiling faces beaming back at me.  I get pure joy from seeing their carefree dancing, reckless goofiness, and hearing silly innocent remarks.  I receive these gifts daily, frequently…

Just yesterday, I grabbed a short video of a typical happy moment at my house.  My baby boy giggling at his big sister…like she has to be the best thing in the world!  I shared the video on my fb page and one comment said, “what a life!  you get to spend time with those adorable happy kids of yours every day!”  And it is so true.  Seriously, who could *really* have a BAD day when these moments come so frequently?  Thankful for my blessings.

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