For This I Will Not Appologize

They are growing so fast! My baby will be one in a few short weeks, and my oldest baby will be five in a few short months. I have a new appreciation for the expression 'time flies.' It certainly is an apt description of childhood. With this understanding firmly planted in my mind, I would like to share my Top 10 List of things I will never regret:

10. Having my children close in age, and giving them the gift of siblings, which I know from personal experience is one of the most special relationships on Earth.

9. Fighting to the death to protect them from harmful experiences and people, even if that means not pleasing everyone at all times (hard for me to do).

8. Kissing, hugging and holding them while they will still let me.

7. Telling them every single day how much I love them and what makes them special.

6. Holding, rocking, cuddling and loving my sweet babies. They grow too fast! I will hold them all day if they will let me.

5. Not saying 'no' to an activity for the sole reason that it creates extra work for me. To me, that is just me being lame. What is a little extra mess?

4. Staying home to be with them most every day, most all the time. Not the most glamorous job, but oh the kisses and I wuv you mommy's are totally worth it.

3. Learning their love languages and watching them light up as we love them the way they need to be loved

2. Laying in their bed when they are sick or scared. Cuddling, holding loving them when they need me the most. I actually cherish these times in the middle of the night. What an awesome honor to be the 'one' who provides so much comfort.

1. Not wishing away their littleness. I just can't chime in with those that say they couldn't wait for their kids to be out of that stage. I have never and never will wish it away. I know when I am old, and they are old, I will want these days back.

To Alexis, Micah, and Elijah:

Your Mommy loves you so much. Don't grow, o.k.? :)

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For the Record

Alas, with all the work and moving we have been doing in the last few months, I have been remiss in writing some milestones and thoughts for sweet baby E. So, here goes

November 2008, 11 months old

You are teething in full force! This month your teeth have given you quite a time. Earlier in November, you had 5 teeth making their way through your gums at the same time. This made for a unhappy little boy and a tired mommy. You wanted to be held most all of the day, and up a few times at night. Accompanying your swollen and painful gums was a horrible diaper rash exacerbated by lots of dirty diapers. The diaper rash then turned into an abscess on your bottom which had to be treated with a scalpel and very strong antibiotics. Poor baby! It was all I could do not to cry while the nurses held you down. You are a trooper, though and started feeling better right away. You are officially our latest walker following big sis at 9 months and big brother at 10 1/2 months. You can crawl at lightning speed and are standing on your own, just not ready to take the big leap. We still have not cured you of your screaming, which has reached a volume that can be heard in space. You have started saying a few words and pseudo words...'na na' (no no), 'was is' (what's this?) mama, dada, and Uh oh! Your sweet smile and blue eyes can light up a whole room. You have been giving kisses to everyone in the family and can do 'so big.' I can't believe you will be one in a few weeks. Where did my tiniest baby go? I will keep you small as long as I can.

Love, Mommy