Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Oh, How the Years Go By!

When we were preparing the nursery for our youngest daughter, I found this great mirror that I asked my husband to hang low to the floor so that she could crawl over and see herself in it. (Was she not the cutest little fuzzy-headed thing?) Lately, I've been thinking that it's probably time for us to raise it up a little higher for her.

Well, one of the perks of having family coming to stay with us for the holidays, is that we start to get little things checked off our "to do" list. My husband started on his list yesterday, and one of the things he did was raise the little mirror...

Needless to say, I was NOT prepared for how choked up I would get when I went into her room last night and saw the mirror in it's new place on the wall!! My baby is growing up too quickly! Is there a name for the phenomenon where time virtually stands still when I am sitting at my desk at work, and yet my children are growing up at the speed of light?

My sister-in-law, Jess, mentioned the other day that my husband's sister had 8MM home movies from my mother-in-law's childhood put onto dvd for her birthday. Jess said that they watched them at Mom's birthday party (in Long Island) and Jess was feeling sad that she had put off getting a video camera for so long. She said that what she used to think of as the high cost of the camera, was not nearly so valuable as the years that she has missed video-taping her two children. I was lucky enough to get a video camera before our first daughter was born, and I have quite a bit of video, but I am vowing to be even better this next year -- when we go to visit family out of town, or when we are at a family party -- I am vowing to TAKE THE CAMERA OUT OF THE CAR! You heard it here first -- my first New Year's resolution!! (I think I'll start it early -- at Christmas, when the family is in town from Long Island!)

Are there any little signs that make you take stock, and realize how quickly the years go by?

5 comments:

Christine said...

It's funny how the strangest things can set you off. I had such angst over getting rid of the baby swing.... And really, it's not like you can keep a swing as a memento.

I love both of those pics of your little girlie! I also love how sweet and cuddly she is with me lately! I can get my baby fix with her at least for a little while longer!

The Fine Art of Motherhood said...

I know exactly what you mean about the swing -- with me it was the bouncy chair that you bought for my girlie! I still have it, but I want to give it to someone who can use it -- there's a woman that we serve at work that I may pass it on to. Anyway, I'm VERY attached to it, I think because most of the "big" stuff that she had was a hand-me-down from her sister -- this is something that someone (you) bought just for her! I have LOTS of cute pictures of her in it though, so I need to be happy with that, and not keep it forever in the basement...

Did you notice the new song that I added for this post? I almost changed the player so that it would play automatically, but I didn't want to drive you crazy (as you are one of my 3 readers)! ;)

Glad my girlie can still help with your fix! She's a great snuggler!

Christine said...

Yeah, I reasoned that by the time I was actually READY to get rid of it that it would be too old for it to be useful for anyone. So I sold it on craigs list to a guy whose wife was pregnant with their 4th child!

Um, sorry, no I did not hear it-I generally don't add music to anything while I'm reading something. That whole I can't walk and chew gum thing.

I will go back and listen though.

Teamcarbone said...

So true! I've been feeling the same way these days as I'm preparing for our 2nd Christmas as a family. We to get our tree and it was a totally different experience from last year, better but sad in a way.

I'll have to check out the song too...

The Fine Art of Motherhood said...

It's a tough thing -- it's exciting to see all of the changes in your kids, and watch their personalities develop, and get to have more interaction with them as little people, but ugh -- it can be heartwrenching at times! I guess we just soak up all the memories that we can and enjoy each new experience with them!