One of the most surprising aspects of motherhood is the way time seems to slip between my fingers at lightening speed. Granted, the old saying “the days are long but the years are short” is incredibly true: some days feel like an eternity yet every passing year seems to fly by at record speed. As we celebrated our Charlotte-girl turning two this past weekend, I honestly couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that my baby girl has grown into this hilarious little person.
This age is so fun. The funny things she says {particularly when she is trying something new, “I’m too little!” or when I do something that she disagrees with, “Mom! Why did you do that?!“}, the way she throws herself on the floor in dramatic fashion when upset, the way she has to give her brothers a hug and a kiss each morning before they leave for school and shouts after them, “I love you Ben! I love you Nate! Have a good day!” and the way she climbs onto my lap and cuddles when she is sleepy.
We celebrated all weekend long. Two years is a big deal and she deserved extra cake and ice cream and dances with daddy at sunset.
I know all too well that I will look back on these days through the lens of nostalgia soon enough. I will smile knowing how our girl has filled our home with joy and laughter and sweetness.
Isn’t that what makes motherhood so sweet? Scoring a front-row seat to watch these little ones grow into the future versions of themselves right before your eyes. You know these years under your roof and in your care are precious and few. You try your best and you pour out as much of yourself and your love as you can. You want to fill their cups to overflowing so they can go out into this great big world and leave their mark.
Even on the days when it feels mundane and ordinary and repetitious, you know your job is so incredibly important. You’re in charge of shaping the hearts of these little people whose names are carved on the hand of the Creator of the universe. You get to love on them and change diapers and prepare meals and wash laundry, all the while praying they will be ready to go out and do the good works prepared for them before the beginning of time. What an incredible privilege that is. I hope to never take it for granted.
Happy second birthday to my beloved Charlotte. You have rocked our world in the best possible way – we couldn’t have dreamt of a more perfect little person to be our daughter. You are sweet and sassy and independent and silly and smart and adorable. Daddy and I love you to the moon and back times infinity. All my love, Momma
