Milestones

I am really bad about writing in my kids' baby books.  Like really bad.  For example, when I found out I was pregnant this time I decided to go out and buy a baby book for the little guy.  Maybe a journal because after all, this would be my last pregnancy and I should really document it, cherishing every last moment.

 I spent a good deal of time browsing all of the options available at Barnes & Noble.  There were so, so many.  I realized pretty quickly that no matter what my intentions were, there was no way I would be able to keep up on a journal.  As I paged through each book, all different styles, I decided that journals are for first time moms.  Or maybe moms with nannies.  Or moms who love love love to journal  But there was no way I had the time to dedicate myself to writing down every change, emotion, feeling or worry about this pregnancy.   And even if I could, it wouldn't be fair to Paige and Quinn whose pregnancies I didn't document so well.  So, I selected a nice simple baby book that would give me space for the ultra sound pictures, a few notes about our excitement and name choices as well as birth information and all of his "firsts".  You know, first tooth, first steps, first foods, etc.  Which brings me back to my whole point. 

You see, after purchasing this book I went home and pulled the books of my first two babies to reminisce over their infancy and realized that both books were pretty bare with the exception of their birth information, hospital bracelets, ultrasound photos and a stack of stickers from the clinic noting their height and weight at each baby well check.  Not a whole lot of "firsts" in either book.  Uh-oh.  Well, I decided right away that something needed to be done about that. 

I spent the better part of a day that weekend going through the stacks of papers and tangible items that had accumulated in our closet over the past 5 years for the kids.  Many were art projects, a ton of random photos and then miscellaneous items that I wanted to add to their baby books.  I then told my self that I would have all baby books complete before this new baby was born because how could I focus on a new book with 2 still sitting there waiting for my attention.  Sigh. 

In addition to the baby books, I had also created photo books of Paige's entire first year and second year of life.  And believe it or not the last book actually ends with a picture of Paige and I just after my water broke with Quinn.  My intention was to start the next book with Quinn at his birth but it never happened.  I started it once, and then our computer crashed.  The whole idea of starting over and sorting through thousands of pictures overwhelmed me.  Quinn will be four when the baby is born, well a few weeks shy of four but you get the idea. This mama has some projects to do!!!

I am almost in my 3rd trimester.  I just counted and I officially have 103 days until my due date which is plenty of time in theory to get it together and wrap up these projects.  I worry that everything you hear about the 2nd and 3rd child is true, how with each child there is less and less emphasis put on these details.  I think that is so sad but I do see how easily it happens.  Life is busy, and time slips away and pretty soon it doesn't seem to matter so much anymore. 

But the thing is it does matter.  A lot.  To all three of our children who will one day be planning their first baby.  Their husband or wife will ask to see baby pictures, or those of their childhood to envision their soon-to-be family.  And they will not be empty handed.  All three of my babies will have as many memories as I can muster at their request.   This I promise.

So even though this isn't the best way to document some of my kids' firsts.  I am going to try to jot them down here as they happen.  Just so that they are recorded...cause one day they just might ask me.  One of the reason's I started this blog in the first place is for that purpose alone, to record memories of their lives. 

Here are a few big ones which happened very recently!

May 2013 (age 6 years 10 months): 

Paige learned to ride a bike without her training wheels.  And she did it in 2 days.  Seriously.  She is a natural athlete and now just a few weeks later she is a pro, you would think she has been riding for years.  We tried once last Summer and she wasn't ready.  This year she asked to try again and she nailed it!!!

June 2013 (age 3 years 8 months):

Quinn pooped on the potty!!!!  He had been potty trained for about 6 weeks prior, even staying dry through the night but we just couldn't get him to go on the potty for anything.  We even promised him a big boy bike once he had gone but we had no luck.  I guess this is just another thing that they do when they are ready.  And I couldn't be more excited!  I tell you, I was getting a bit nervous that he wouldn't be completely out of diapers when the baby was born. 

So anyway, here I am. Putting it out there.  I have 103 days and a whole lot to do.  And please feel free to ask me every now and again, "Hey!  How are those baby books coming along?!".