The First of Many

There are a lot of transitions that happen when you have a baby.

You go from a couple to a family

You go from sleeping as much as you want, to propping your eyelids open with toothpicks

You make it through the hellish newborn days to transition to the fun sitter/crawler/cruiser days

All along this journey you celebrate all the little milestones- the first time they sleep more than 2 hours in a row, the first smile, the first unsupported sit, the first crawl, the first pull-up to a standing position, the first cruise around the furniture.

And then comes a day when you realize that your baby is really growing up… and rapidly becoming less and less of a baby with each passing day.

This happened yesterday.

We got a letter from Austin’s daycare that he is ready to be transitioned into the Wobbler room.

Austin is bigger than all the other infants in his room, and days away from walking (I know, scary right????  He’s already taking one or two wobbly little steps- slow down kid!!!), so he is quickly outgrowing the learning experiences in his Infant Room.

There was just something so definite, so “your baby isn't a baby anymore” when I was reading his welcome letter from the Wobbler room. He’s going to need shoes, because they go outside every day that its nice. He’ll learn how to use eating utensils, and how to nap on more of a schedule. He’ll take part in more structured learning experiences centered around different developmental subjects.

It just seemed like…. well…. REAL SCHOOL.

Different subjects? Lunch all together where the food isn't smeared in their hair? Outside recess??

And I lost it. I sat down. I cried. I wanted my baby to stop growing up so fast.

Neal told me it was ok, and this was “the first of many” transitions in Austin’s life and each one was going to be exciting.

I told him that’s true, but I’ll still cry over every single one. That’s what Moms do.

We cry when they get a big-kid bed.

We cry when they go to Kindergarten.

We cry when they graduate High School.

We cry when they go to college.

We cry when they get married.

The road ahead is paved with a lot of change, and transitions, and new experiences… and I am truly excited to see what kind of man Austin is going to grow up to be (hopefully a man as good as his Daddy)…

But the road is also paved in a lot of tears.

Bring on the Kleenex.

All ready for the road ahead!