From Baby to Toddler: An Epic Journey

It's official. My littlest one has entered into her toddler years. I won't go on and on about how fast time has flown by, how it seems she was born just yesterday, or how much she's changed in the blink of an eye but, I will share a bit about our journey to this new milestone. Before I begin I would like everyone to know a little something. I am fortunate.

One year ago my life changed forever. I had my third baby. I'm not bold enough to attempt to have three children under the age of five running around the house and so I waited. I waited until my oldest was nine and my second was six before venturing into the world of a parent who has more children than hands. Then as I sat on the hospital bed nearly a week overdue I felt that she couldn't have come soon enough.

When she entered into the world she made sure that everyone could hear her. Her cries were long and loud echoing through the halls of the hospital bringing smiles of sympathy from the doctor and nurses taking care of the two of us. I didn't need their sympathy however I was too busy crying tears of my own, overjoyed by the fact that I had a tiny person to take care of, again. I often hear Moms of one spew out concerns over not being able to love another child as much as their first. The simple answer to them is that your heart grows with each child.

With the way we stared at her small rounded face you would have thought that she was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As her parent I'd have to say that she is actually one of three, at least in my world. The reaction of my children to their new baby sister was nothing short of amazing. I still stare at the pictures of their proud smiling faces as each one took their turn holding her. They fell in love with her as soon as they met her face to face. Fascinated by this new tiny little baby my second child, once the baby, has grown and matured into a loving older sister. While she has had her moments of jealousy, and I believe each child can admit to having a little towards their siblings, her love and patience with her new baby sister far outshine those moments. Having a third baby has actually helped me to appreciate my oldest two daughters even more.

When my youngest baby was first born I couldn't wait for her to reach each new milestone. I remember lying on the floor beside her and cheering her on as she struggled to overcome the difficulty of learning to roll over. Next it was sitting up and before I knew it she was crawling. I suddenly realized what it was I was doing. I was wishing for my baby to grow up. While I never actually uttered those words my actions spoke for themselves. Had I not learned my lessons after my first two? I taught myself to slow it down, enjoy all of the little moments I had with my baby, cherish her every smile, her every laugh. I don't worry about competing with other Moms over whose baby does what first. After all, the most important thing we can do towards the success of our children is to love them. Sometimes it's the little moments which are much more important. One afternoon I sat in my rocking chair breastfeeding, the sunlight cast its long rays over my shoulder and landing softly on baby, and I sighed. I'll never forget that moment in time. It's those moments which make the first year of a baby's life special.

A new baby is always a wondrous part of life admired by strangers for their tiny little noses and sleepy baby grins. It's quite a sight to see how we all started out so small, some of us still growing and others with stunted growth. It makes you realize that we all started out with an equal opportunity which eventually becomes distorted or enhanced by society and our parents. My tiny one would be given the opportunity for growth and I would be the one supplying the Miracle Gro. And it worked. She's now a one year old with stubbornness unlike no other along with a smile to steal your heart. The combination of these two things makes for great success in the future. In fact she's just mastered walking and has now graduated to running, though not without falling. However each time she is knocked down she isn't hesitant to stand back up and try again. It's no wonder why we admire babies.