They tried to warn me.

It's hard to hear the warnings of other mothers when your little ones are... well... little. Everyone says it goes quickly, and that you should store each and every moment up in a bottle, because soon you will be missing it sorely. When you're entrenched in diapers and crying and late nights and Baby Stuff, it's hard to take that warning seriously. But you know what? It's true.

While on the phone with my mother the other night, the subject of Alex's birthday came up, which is in March. Mom asked if she was going to be three. My first instinct was to say, No, Of course not, She'll be 2 months old. But then... Three. She'll be THREE. I couldn't believe it.

Sometimes I look at her and I still see this:

But then she'll do something or say something, and it's like I get sucked back to Present Day, and she's standing there smiling at me, saying "Good Job Mama! It's Beautiful!" because I put a block on our tower just so.


So I look to the other side of the room, and for a second, my Sweet Little Eli is laying there looking at me with his sweet little baby face.


But then he'll break out his best monkey impression and couple it with a dance that is just bizarre, all the while laughing because he KNOWS he's funny.


I just can't believe it.

As much as it breaks my heart knowing that someday Paul and I will look at each other, and our quiet empty house, knowing that they've all flown the coop (although, to be honest, alot of the time this sounds pretty fantastic), I enjoy watching them grow up. They are evolving into little people. And so different from one another. I always thought Eli would be my quiet, shy one. But he's not. He's just quiet because he knows he can get away with more that way. I am sure he looks at his sister and just shakes his head sometimes, because she'll go into Trouble screaming loudly and flailing her arms. He just sneaks into Trouble, and stays there quietly doing mischief until he's found. And if I raise my voice with Alex, she'll stop and most times break into sobs that can only be soothed with lots of cuddling. Eli, on the other hand, will just smile and do whatever it is he is doing wrong as many times as he can before I can reach him.

Life is pushing us steadily forward, and I think from now on, I am going to try and keep a better record of it, because there is only so much you can keep in your head before it gets replaced with "How To Change A Diaper In A Bathroom With No Changing Table" or "How To Effectively Get Pee Out Of Your Couch Cushion". Here's to trying.