We had dinner with my cousin, his partner, and their two-month-old a few months ago.
“Baby, come back here,” I said to my daughter Leone as she toddled away.
Both my cousin, who was cuddling his tiny son, and his partner, who was talking politics with the older girls, laughed.
“I guess you think of her as a baby, huh?” Jesse said.
Compared to my cousin’s baby, our daughter, who turns 19 months old tomorrow, is as big as a sumo wrestler.
When my husband holds her I notice wistfully how long her legs have grown.
She’s so much bigger than she was but she’s still so little.
They don’t stay little for long.
They grow up so much quicker than you expect during those endless days of changing diapers, breastfeeding, and sleepless nights.
In a flash, they go from being babies to toddlers to preschoolers to … college.
It doesn’t matter how old she is, though.
Even when she’s 50 years old, she’ll still be our baby.
Are you impatient for your babies to tackle the next stage or do you wish you could slow time down? Is it just me or do we all have mixed feelings about our children growing up?
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Published: June 3, 2011
Updated: January 12, 2023
Christine says
With my fourth and last, who is the same age as yours, I view everything, every stage, with a mixed feeling of nostalgia, wistfulness, and relief. I am trying to soak up every moment she is still so little, but also feeling very much like I am looking forward to the next stage, when I think things will get a bit easier for me and for all of us as a family, without a baby’s needs to attend to. And – no matter how big she gets – she’ll always be my baby.
The photos of Leone are adorable! She has such personality.
YourPlusSizePregnancy says
It definitely goes too fast. My oldest is now 19 and she’s still my baby.
Alexandra says
That whole period passes in a blur. It’s fortunate that we have the memories. And, photos inspire more.
Vera Marie Badertscher says
She’s a go-go-girl, isn’t she. Oh how fast it flies by!
Living Large says
Our daughter sends us photos of our 7 month old granddaughter and I wish she could have stayed that tiny little thing in my daughters hands – at least until we get to meet her! But they all grow. You’re right, though, yours will always be your babies. My mother called me that until the day she died.
Sheryl says
They grow up way too fast. But it doesn’t matter. My 20-something sons are still my babies.
Claudine M Jalajas says
Some stages I HATED. Potty training; for example. It’s a strange thing. At the time I was knee-deep in babies I liked the small milestones and was content with babies and imagined that THIS was my favorite stage and I was not looking forward to older kids. Now that my baby is 5 1/2, I look back and think, “I could NOT do toddlers again..” But my 5 1/2 year old is my baby. And so is my 8 yr old… and sometimes my 13 yr old. 😉
However, now that I’m on this side of things I enjoy this stage too. They’re still young enough to be sweet, and mushy, and adorable but they’re old enough to buckle their own seat belts. I can leave a room without anyone crying (usually). They play on their own (mostly). I can sit on my patio while they just run around and I don’t have to be RIGHT there with them. So, for now, this is my favorite stage. 😉
Kristen says
My kids were always early walkers–at nine months. That always made me sad when they started talking those first steps. I almost wanted to discourage them from trying. Almost.
Kris @ Attainable Sustainable says
For a long time – while my kids were elementary age – I was wistful for that baby stage, and missing it. Now that they’re teens, I can hardly believe they were ever that small. And I have to say, as much as I (mostly) loved their baby stage, it sure is nice to have two self-contained people in the house!
Roxanne says
Well, since I’m only a dog mom … not a baby mama … I cannot say for sure, but with pups, I do miss the some elements of puppyhood and not others. There is something great about having adult dogs who know the rules and don’t require minute-to-minute attention and supervision.
Jane Boursaw says
It varies. I’m really glad they’re past the baby stage. Being a work-oriented driven mom, I feel like I never did well when they needed all of our attention – though my husband is a great hands-on dad and did as much, if not more, than me with them.
Now they’re teenagers, and I really love this stage (well, except for the occasional teen angst), so in one way, I’m kind of dreading them growing up and going off to college or work. On the other hand, it’ll be interesting for hubby and me to have more free time to pursue new challenges and adventures (we just have to figure out what those are!).
Alisa Bowman says
I remember being in the pediatrician’s office once and someone referred to a 2 year old as “the baby.” At the time my daughter was an infant, so I was like, “The baby?” Then my daughter eventually turned 2 and I was like, “Oooooh, I so get it now.” I guess technically they are only “babies” during the first year, but i thought of mine as a baby until she was out of diapers.
Jennifer Fink says
Def. mixed feelings. My youngest is five and had his preschool graduation today. It occurred to me, while watching him on the stage, that I will never again see a cute little boy of min graduate from preschool. Of course I don’t want to hold them back — but I sure will miss the sweetness when it’s gone! I know that there are other advantages to having older kids, but in my opinion, it’s pretty hard to beat the pure love of a small child!
Jeanine Barone says
Though I don’t have any kids, most of my friends do and it’s amazing seeing to see how fast they grow, especially when I don’t see them for a period of time.
The Writer's [Inner] Journey says
Even when they are teens they change so quickly. I sometimes cannot believe how quickly the time goes!