oh so very young

August 23, 2013

Our little acorn grew into a baby and then a toddler and now sometimes I think she’s fifteen, hands on her hips, shouting out orders. On Monday she will start preschool, right next door. The boys will begin school at their new school and for part of the day it will be me, just me, catching up on life and writing and other work.

Tonight I tucked Elsie Jane in, several times. She was over-tired from a long day and couldn’t get to sleep. Her pink owl blanket was never quite right, according to her. It barely fits to cover her feet now and she calls Mama Mama Mama my bankie off! Before long it won’t go over her feet at all to cover them and I’m guessing this will frustrate her. Growth can do that, huh?

I’m not ready! 

Hopefully a new bigger blanket will do, until it doesn’t.

Earlier today, we went to visit friends. Kim has a new baby and Elsie is enamored. This time, Kim offered to have Elsie hold baby Zachary and she beamed and said, “Yeah! Baby…eat…mine…boob!”

Um. No.

But she got to sit with baby Zachary and his Mama, on the couch and learn about holding a baby’s head just right…

 

KimZachElsie

 

I don’t want to miss anything, but of course it’s impossible to catch it all and even if I could, how would it fit? How could I possibly not explode? There is so much goodness here and so much so much, and so it will be good to start our new routine. Although leaving Asher in a kindergarten room is tearing me up. How can it be? I just don’t know.

I had a conversation with someone recently about whether or not raising kids goes fast or slow. She insisted SLOW and I said Oh, I think it goes so fast. But there are times it absolutely does not. And even so, the owl blanket isn’t going to cover Elsie much longer and I’m pretty sure she’s still very very small.

 

{ 14 comments }

Kim August 23, 2013 at 8:44 pm

The days are long but the years are fast.

I have loads of blankets. I bet I could find one that will fit Miss EJ. I also love knowing she’ll be a wet nurse for me if I need it :)
Kim recently posted..10 Years Gone

Bridget August 23, 2013 at 8:55 pm

Love this. Every single bit of it. The words. The picture. The people. Hold that baby often for me. I so wish I were there!
Bridget recently posted..Why Everyone Should Homeschool

Lorie August 23, 2013 at 9:07 pm

I agree with Kim! The days are long, but the years are fast!

Your daughter was so adorable today! Fun to meet you both!
Lorie recently posted..Show & Tell Saturday – 8/17/13

Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting August 23, 2013 at 10:15 pm

It goes absolutely too fast. I have a couple of baby blankets that would serve as washcloths now for my olders. I just blinked, and my youngest gives fist bumps and kisses to animals, while showing her preferences with her pointer finger and sassy girl attitude. Wasn’t it just yesterday she puckered her newborn lips?

Lynda M O August 23, 2013 at 11:43 pm

The expression on Elsie’s face is priceless. Thank you for sharing it with us. Zachary looks so adorable, I could eat that baby up; the eight-month old I take care of has just learned to nuzzle my neck and make growly noises like I have been doing to him for five months. I nearly cried with joy at it. Yet, already he crawls and expresses preferences… wow.
Lynda M O recently posted..Changes are Afoot

Kathy August 24, 2013 at 7:36 am

As Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project says: “The days are long but the years are short.”

Leigh Ann August 24, 2013 at 9:16 am

I almost teared up at meet the teacher night. And then that night I checked on my sleeping girls, then went and bawled and bawled in bed. This is a hard step.
Leigh Ann recently posted..Embrace it

Elaine A. August 24, 2013 at 6:03 pm

I love reading your posts about her and posts like this because I feel like we are living similar lives except you are just a tad behind me. And yes, the time goes so fast that it is just a “tad”. ;)
Elaine A. recently posted..A picture, a thousand words, you know the saying

sister sister August 26, 2013 at 10:32 am

This is the first post I’ve read on your site. I just found it, but I’ll definitely be back.

A tip for the blankie: If you, or someone you know, can sew you could pick a fabric with your daughters favorite color/character at the moment and add a strip either at the bottom of the blanket or a border all the way around. I did this for my oldest son’s blanket that he was so attached to. As he outgrew it I would just add another 5 or 6 inches to it. Through the years it grew with him. We still have it (he’s 24), and it’s cool to look back at what was a little blankie but now has several additions. It also reminds me of the different phases he went through like “power rangers” because one of his strips has power rangers designs. Also there are a few ‘patches” tacked onto the blanket from a favorite outfit. :)

Heather August 26, 2013 at 10:58 am

This is BRILLIANT. I love it. Thank you so much!!!

H

Jackie August 26, 2013 at 1:36 pm

The years go by so very fast. Treasure each and every moment because before too long she’ll be almost 18 and graduating from high school (which is exactly where I’m at this year with my oldest).
Jackie recently posted..No idea is original

Barb August 28, 2013 at 3:10 pm

This sentence might be one of the most perfect descriptions of parenthood:
I don’t want to miss anything, but of course it’s impossible to catch it all and even if I could, how would it fit?
Barb recently posted..What I see Wednesday: my Lake

Annette G December 20, 2014 at 12:43 am

Heather, Nice Awareness Blog on PTLS!

I am 41 and have had excruciating pain since my tubal in 2010. I think it is PTLAS because I started having lower back pain, side and abdominal pain, along with heavy periods almost instantly. Not to mention chronic fatigue. My “cure” a glass or two of wine after dinner or 1pill of Ibuprofen 800mg if that doesn’t work so I take Nyquil to fall asleep and that usually mends the pain for that day.

Lisa Gibson June 19, 2016 at 1:27 pm

I experience the same thing. I figured it would be temporary but it has been 15 years and it does not seem to ease up as I get older. I hope it doesn’t affect menopause.. I am actually looking forward to it. I’m 37.

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