Growing Up

Dear Luke,

I feel like you are growing up too fast sometimes.  I can't believe how different you are than 4 1/2 months ago when we first brought you home from the hospital.  You've about doubled your birth weight, you love to "stand" on your legs, you make all sorts of facial expressions, and are full of laughter and things to say.  You no longer fit in the bathroom sink, but now take your baths in the guest bathtub.  You rarely cry when we lay you down to go to sleep, and when you do, it doesn't last very long.  You are simply the sweetest little baby and I cherish the time I have with you.  I often feel like I have a list full of things to take care of, like menu planning, grocery shopping, cleaning the bathrooms, perpetual laundry, phone calls, etc.  I'm often surprised at how long it takes me to get these kinds of things done.  I focus on you quite a bit when you're awake and try to capitalize on nap times to take care of tasks like these.  Not that I'm always entertaining you - I've realized I have to be sure you don't grow to expect constant attention - but I remind myself that I quit my job at HBU to take care of you, not take care of the house or other tasks that need to be done.  I love the quote, "Children are not a distraction from more important work.  They are the most important work."  Sometimes I wish I had longer blocks of time to knock out things I need to do at home or to run errands.  But then I stop and realize how fleeting these days with you are.  One day you will probably (hopefully) have a little sibling and my focus will be more divided.  One day you will go to kindergarten and I won't get to spend the weekdays with you.  Of course one day you won't even live here any more, but will be an adult and live in your own house!  So, I ask God to help me cherish the time I have with you now.  You are such a joy to be with and I want to remember the privilege it is to stay at home with you.  You've been waking up in the middle of the night around 5 am to eat for the past month after sleeping through the night so well for weeks before that.  Of course I'd like to find a way to help you sleep longer, but I also realize what a blessing it is to be able to provide what you need when you're upset.  If we were poor and you were hungry, cold, or sick, I wouldn't be able to necessarily give you what you need.  Some parents have all the money in the world, but their kids are sick in such a way that they can't fix what's wrong.  When you're older, I won't always be able to fix it, if a friend isn't being nice to you or you don't make a sports team you tried out for.  But now, I am usually able to do what you need to make you happy.  And I am SO GLAD I can do that for you.  I love you so much, my little buddy.

Love,
Mommy

P.S. Here's my phone wallpaper to help me remember how fast time is passing!