Small Moments

Usually, when getting the tootie dressed in and out of her jammies, she can usually do it as they are two piece pajamas. However, we have this one piece that zips up the leg and requires a little more dexterity to get in and out of them. Up till now, Ava has resigned herself to having me get her in and out of them but earlier this week Ava said "I can do it!".

She is saying this phrase more and more. What is hilarious is often she'll ask to do something which is so rudimentary instead of having me do it easily for her. For example I'll give her a piece of cheese from the fridge and she'll declare "No, I can do it!" and after giving her the cheese, she'll put it back in the fridge, close the door, open the door and then get it herself. Sheesh.

This must be what independence looks like. A person cannot do something by themselves and then they can. The small moments happen slowly too. In the upstairs we have a collection of Ava's old things such as her diaper bag, activity station, training potty and numerous other toys. We did some spring cleaning and decided to cull them out of her collection.

It seems just like the other day that we were using them. The diaper bag was invaluable last summer on our travels, she was using the training potty last fall, and her rocking caterpillar was her favorite toy-for a while. I recall after changing what seemed like a thousand diapers that I couldn't wait for her to be toilet trained, and now she is. I can't remember the last time I changed a poopie diaper and part of me misses it.

As one of my co-workers just had a baby boy, I am reminded of when we were in the hospital just bringing her into the world. I remember it as vividly as it was yesterday. I remember the color my shirt, the color of Ava's poop, and the color of the first time she threw up down my chest. Since then, she has become a toddler and I ask myself, "Where has the time gone?" Yes, she has accrued 10 stamps in her passport, yes, her favorite food has changed from avacados to hot dogs, and yes, she has new teeth coming in. But she'll always be my little baby, and my big girl at the same time.

These changes are too many to mention and happen on a timeline that you can't possibly see until they're gone and behind you and you realize those moments were such a wonderful time in your life; if only you had realized how good you had it. All one can do is take in the present, enjoy every day, and so we can say "back then, times were great."