Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginning’s End

Two Years Old

Today is my youngest son’s 2nd birthday. We’re taking advantage of the fact that he can’t tell time or read a calendar and having a regular jam packed Saturday. We’ll plan a terrific party in a couple of weeks when baseball and soccer seasons end and our weekends are not so crazy busy.

One Day Old

I can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic about the passing of this last “baby” birthday. Although anything is possible, most likely, we will not be adding any more little people to our family. This baby was most certainly a bonus, as we were assured by medical professionals that it would not be possible to conceive again and he made his appearance in our family when we were least expecting it.

Six Months Old

To say that he has been a delight would be an understatement. This child is pure joy from his head to his toe. It has been nothing short of bliss to be his mother and have him as a part of our family. He laughs at the drop of a hat and has unbelievable self confidence due to the fact that he has five people cheering on his every move.

One Year Old

Oh, and have I mentioned that he sings?!?!

As a present to me that will serve in my memory as a sort of bon voyage to babyhood, he crawled up into my lap and fell into a deep sleep at a baseball game today. As the youngest of four, he has been way too busy keeping up with the brothers to act like a baby, so it has been well over a year since I have been able to snuggle him close and rock him to sleep. Today, unexpectedly, he pulled his head close to my chest, deeply breathed in and out, and drifted into a blissful baby slumber.

Oh, that I could freeze that moment in time. I stroked his precious forehead as his eyes fluttered and then closed. I looked at every single one of his eyelashes and curled my fingers through his sweaty hair. I watched him breathe in and out and smelled his sticky sweet baby breath, knowing full well that this may be the very last time. Even when my arm began to fall asleep and I felt my leg get warm and wet, I still savored every minute.

Eighteen Months

Almost as quickly as he fell asleep, it seemed he was awake and back to his two year old antics. His busy body wiggled and squirmed to gain his freedom, as he scrambled over the bleachers and simultaneously stuffed cotton candy in his mouth.

Two Years Old

It is a great paradox of life that you must have an ending before you can have a beginning. Standing with one foot in each world, the baby world and the big kid world, makes my mind race with anticipation of the future and nostalgia for the past. The freedom of moving through life without a little one attached to me for the first time in a decade is simultaneously tragic and thrilling. Today, I am not sure how to take it all in. But as I say goodbye to one and hello to the other, I know with confidence that I am happy and blessed.

Happy Second Birthday Morgan!