Time.

Without even noticing, the little piles of laundry have grown into larger ones. The socks are less and less tiny. Footie sleepers switch over to two pieces. 

You are so proud of first words but suddenly you realize that you ache for that sweet baby babble, too. An ever-expanding vocabulary replaces those precious mis-phrases that signify just how little our babies are. 

Each new tooth is celebrated, but yet you miss that gummy smile. You are so proud of first steps, but yet you miss the reliance and safety of carrying them everywhere. 

You rejoice at the relief of self-soothing, but there is a tiny piece of your heart that misses rocking them to sleep. They start taking naps in their own cribs rather than snuggled on your chest. The glorious sleep-through-the-night happens, but in the corner of your mind, you would give anything for one more midnight cuddle. 

Nursing sessions drop and bottles are replaced by sippy cups. One day you hand them a whole chicken nugget, and without even realizing it, your baby grows up a little. You stop tediously cutting food into tiny pieces and think that you are glad that phase is over. Until the reality sets in that this thing doesn’t move in reverse. 

You start to check the Owlet less frequently. Then you don’t check it. And then one day you don’t put it on them at all. 

They begin to dress themselves. They read the books to you at bedtime. They brush their own teeth. You celebrate and encourage the independence, but at the same time you wish for just a few more days of being so very needed. 

The clutter makes you crazy, but one day there are less toys to pick up. Stuffed animals switch over to basketballs and televisions. Skinned knees turn into broken hearts. Cocomelon turns into Paw Patrol, and then one day they are watching the same shows as you. 

Slow down and take it in. These days will be over before you know it. And in the midst of feeling a little like you have lost yourself, realize that just maybe you have truly been found.