Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The First and Last

FIRSTS and LASTS

As parents we often celebrate the many firsts in our children's lives. They are Huge, Important, Monumental and life changing. I'm talking about the first cry, first steps, first day of Kindergarten, first lost tooth. My kids are young so I will stop there as I can't bare the many many more firsts we have coming. I have the most well documented firsts for my children, but what about their lasts? They often happen and we don't even realize. As my baby's 2nd birthday is approaching I realize this next year will be a year of lasts for her. With potty training & Binky disappearance coming, I'm not especially sad but in a way I am because it just means she's growing up too fast.

I love the way she wraps her arms around my neck when I get home, even if I've been gone only a little while. It always cracks me up how when she hears Ben in the kitchen after the big girls have gone to bed, she runs yelling "popcorn". She is usually right and she always gets some. She will watch and listen for the school bus so she can hide in the front closet and scare B & A. And somehow they are always scared. I love rocking her to sleep while she pats her blanket looking for a tie to twirl in her fingers. I love how she says "sorry" after an intentional hit to her sisters head with a brush. I am going to miss all the babyish sweet things she does but I am so excited for this next year too. Maybe that's why we celebrate the firsts more than the lasts it gives us something to work towards and look forward to.