This week, for a moment, time stood still. I sat in the backyard with the kids, in an effort to take the noise out of the house because Zach was trying to take a nap and their energy filled the place. I sat and watched Zora chase Zane, and the two of them giggling together in their game. The sun was warm, the wind was roaring in the Cottonwood trees, drowning out the sounds of the city. In our fenced yard, only a hint of the breeze snuck through to ruffle our hair.
After a while, Zora made her way to me and clamored up into my arms, and lay her head on my shoulder. As I snuggled with her, watching Zane gallop around the yard in happy contentment, I started to feel her her warmth and notice her breathing, steady, and deep, slowing after her exertion. I was suddenly hit with how much she had grown. As I look at her toddler legs, complete with the bumps and scrapes of her adventurous spirit, sprawled out over me, I remember that it was not long ago that she seemed to be all lung. So small that it seemed every part of her breathed. Then I had the growing realization that for the first time, she was just snuggling with me. She wasn’t clamoring to nurse, she was content just to be held and snuggled and it was enough. In my arms, in that moment, she grew up just a bit. My baby girl is growing up.
My son is growing up too. First, physically, he is growing. Two weeks ago he still fit into size 4 pants. On Monday we were surprised to discover he had outgrown his 5T pants, and went through several pants trying to find some that fit. His shirts look noticeably smaller too. I guess both of my kids need winter clothes now. Yikes!
And then today, much to our surprise, Zane ran up to Zach and announced “toothy!”. Zach turned to see what he meant, and he stood there holding one of his teeth. It was one that had a cap on it, and he had a bloody spot in his mouth showing where it had come from. Well, we weren’t sure exactly how the tooth came out, and he said the empty spot hurt. Since the tooth was not the “next” one we were expecting him to lose, we called the dentist, who said to come right in. We didn’t know if our day was going to involve a trip to the hospital to have him sedated to dig out roots, or if it was just a normal baby tooth lost. Much to our relief, it was the latter. The really great news is that Zane participated in the dental appointment like a reasonably typical kid, allowing the dentist to look in his mouth, and even letting him take x-rays. That part made me feel a little teary from absolute joy. A few short months ago we still had to do “just a quick glance” because he wasn’t able to cooperate well enough for the standard x-rays and such. My beautiful boy is growing up too.
I am the luckiest mom ever.
