Motherhood Memories

Though this blog is often my venting zone about parenting, anyone who is close to me knows that I am DYING that my kids are growing up so fast. I want to hold on to every moment. I have been keeping a journal of the specific things I will miss, so that I never forget that they happened. Last year, I shared the entries about birth to 12 months, and so many people commented how much they enjoyed reading them because they could echo every one. With Morgan's 2nd birthday next week, I thought I would share my next set of entries for 12 months-24 months.. However, since there are many new readers to my blog, I included both in this post. You can skim down to the second half if you read the post last year. Hope you enjoy!

What I Will Miss About Having a Newborn
(0-3months)

I will miss that when you pick them up under their arms,
their knees stay up, folded at their tummy.

I will miss that while waking up, they stretch with all their might, hands above
their head, but their little fists only reach to about their ears.

I will miss the way they smell so amazing after a bath.

I will miss them fitting perfectly on my chest for their naps.

I will miss their little fists, staying so tightly clenched, pulled in tightly
to their chest.

I will miss that in the times you need them to wake them up most,
they can seem to sleep soundly, despite all your harassment. And
how their head falls softly to the side, after giving up their fight to wake.

I will miss that they would willingly, stay in my arms all day,
latched to my breast in perfect contentment.

I will miss taking a bath with Heaven’s most fresh creation.

I will miss softly running my fingers over that extra, soft skin
my babies have on the back of their shoulders.

I will miss that reflexive smile that Heavenly Father put in place,
that gives a new mom hope for days of communication to come.

I will they way my babies hold my finger while nursing, because of the
newborn reflex to grasp.

I will miss taking small naps with them, when they are so young
nothing can wake them up.

I will miss that even though I am up with them at 3am,
at least I know where they are at 3am.

What I will Miss About Having an Infant
(3-6months)

I will miss watching them see EVERYTHING for the first time.

I will miss how I can be busy doing a million things, but when I look over at
my little one, they have been watching me the whole time.

I will miss those evenings that when getting fussy,
my babies will try to cry, but find them selves smiling at the same time.
Bottom lip out, then a smile, and then the bottom lip again.

I will miss those days when they have first found their voice,
and start cooing, and squealing at the delight of it.

I will miss those precious moments of changing a diaper,
that are filled with kisses, tickles, and talks of love.

I will miss that despite long bouts of crying, the moment I pick
my baby up, everything is right again in their world.

I will miss that while nursing and making eye contact, my little ones
have a hard time sucking and smiling at the same time…..
But they always try.

I will miss that when being very upset and hungry, and I put them to
breast to feed, they will still moan and grunt a little, until the milk lets down.

I love that when my babies get excited and happy, they frantically kick
their legs. Can you imagine if we did that as grown ups?

I will miss that even after it took me an hour to get them to sleep,
I start to miss them if they sleep too long.

I will miss running my finger of their smooth skin, untouched from the
world. So amazingly soft.


What I Will Miss About Having an Infant?
(6-12months)

I will miss going to get my baby after a long, afternoon nap,
and feeling the warmth of their rosy cheek on my lips as I kiss them.

I will miss how I could smell and kiss on their feet for hours.

I will miss all the squeals, giggles and hums of my babies learning to express themselves for the first time.

I will miss watching them get up on all fours and rock back in forth,
like they are getting ready to take off.

I will miss the purest look of joy in their eyes and face as
Mom or Dad comes home from being away.

I will miss watching them, watch their older siblings in amazement.

I will miss how when being carried, my babies softly pat the back of my shoulder.

What I will miss about have a 1 year old:

I will miss how their faces changes when they hear the sound of the baby wipe package. They just know something cold is coming!

I love how they have learned how to squeeze you during a hug.

I love how you can bribe with food, always.
Okay, that still works for me at 29.

I will miss how “grown up” they look when you turn them around in a big kid car seat.

I will miss the slobbery, wet kisses they give you all over your face.

I will miss when they are just learning to say “Mama!”

I will miss hearing them start to crack themselves up.

I will miss hearing them laugh in the back of the car at something their older sibling is doing.

I will miss looking down at my feet and seeing them reaching up to me with their little arms.

I will miss all the jabber of unrecognizable words.

I will miss seeing little fingers coming from under the shower or bedroom door.

I will miss bear hugs around my knee caps.

I will miss the pitter-patter of little feet running across the kitchen floor.

I will miss how when they run, they lead with their tummy first.

I will miss watching them learn to jump. So much effort and excited, but BARELY clearing the floor.

I will miss how as they learn manners, after you give them something, they say,
“Kank-you, Elcome” all together.

I will miss how after you say a long sentence to them, what they repeat is the last word.

I will miss that at the end of a long day, they finally settle into your lap with a bottle, exhausted after a day of destroying and learning.

I will miss going into their rooms after they have fallen asleep and just staring at the amazing, precious gift God has given me.