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The weeks are just zooming by. Was it really Aug that I went to the last MNO? Where did Sept and Oct go? My "baby" turns two next week. She was just born! My son starts Kindergarten next fall. I remember how he smelled the day we brought him home. Even my "little" sister is now 30. I just made the last car payment on our "new car". Is it really 5 years old? Yesterday morning, I was rushing around the house like a crazed woman wondering how I was going to get my toddler ready for school that morning, as we were working on finishing a puzzle before he went (he insisted), I was cooking both kids breakfast and dressing them, bathing them etc. I took a gulp of much needed coffee (too bad it was cold) and glanced out the window as I saw my dear, sweet neighbor peacefully walking to her mailbox (coffee in hand), take out the newspaper and glance at the front page as she stood there w/ her steaming coffee. For a minute I longed to be her. I cannot remember the last time I finished a cup of coffee (while it was still hot), or read the paper cover to cover and did the crossword puzzle. Every time she sees me she tells me that her "babies" are grown up, long gone, how she misses them dearly, she still hears their sequels and voices coming from the creek behind her house. I got tears in my eyes as I realized that I will blink and I will be her, missing my babies. Suddenly the coffee did not look as appealing and the paper less interesting. I had a bounce in my step as I enjoyed every struggle over a hair brush, tooth brush, lost shoe etc that morning. I vowed to stop and enjoy what is around me right now! There will be time later to read and relax. This crazy time will pass and I do not want to miss a minute of it, as I surely will miss it all in just a few quick years.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LEW,

I know how you feel. H started kindergarten this year. I wanted to get her into the Florida Virtual Academy, but there was a change in the law so we had to go to public due to lack of funds for private. I said I'll always pack her lunch and take her to school. The second or 3rd week, she started eating school lunch a couple of days. Then 2 weeks ago, she started taking the bus....

It seems like I was just strapping them into their carseats for the first trip home. I stopped working last year so I wouldn't miss anymore!

LEW, that is so inspiring and exactly how so many -- if not all -- of us feel. I look over at my baby walking around and can't believe he's a year old already. And my older son is starting to write and know his letters and numbers. It stops me in my steps sometimes.

I looked at Nate's Halloween blog and those pictures were just a year apart and she looks like a completely different kid one year later. And now she's going to be 4 soon and my baby is going to be 1. They do grow up too fast!

It just amazes me how fast it goes. We just today gave Zane's walker to a co-worker of hubby for his new little one. We already had to get Zane a new carseat as well, he outgrew the infant carrier type one a month ago but it is all ready to pass along to my niece who is due in January. I've sent up bags and bags of outgrown clothes from both kids for my nephew and his wife to use as their kids are about a year behind ours and it just kills me to pack them all up. I only kept the coming home outfits and made sure there were zillions of pics of the rest. Its almost time to get rid of the "new baby" toys too, and some look just like the day we bought them so its hard to think they were so loved and played with.

LEW - That was such a sweet story. Thank you so much for sharing. And I know excatly how you feel. I have been looking at pictures of my daughter around last Halloween and Christmas, and I just can't even believe how much she has changed. I seriously feel like it was just days ago we took those pictures, not almost a whole year!

When my daughter was young, people would always tell me how fast everything would go, but I just didn't understand then. Well, I understand now. My baby is not a baby anymore. She likes to do things on her own. She doesn't need me to help with her shoes. She doesn't need me to help her get on the big girl potty. It's definitely sad but so rewarding at the same time to see your little ones grow up to be such amazing children.

Beautiful, meaningful and heart-felt post, LEW. And a reminder to us all...slow down, enjoy and cherish the moments, each and every one. Thank you.