Chubby Cheeks and Thighs

I love Wyatt’s cheeks. I love his chubby thighs. I love his belly. I could really cover him in kisses 24/7 and usually I do when I’m holding him. I’m just trying to take in every moment with him as he rapidly grows from our baby to our little boy; even the hard moments.  I can feel myself getting better at appreciating EVERY moment. When he is fussy and just wants to be held and I’m exhausted and really need to pick up around the house or wash the dishes, I stop myself and lean down and pick him up. And I kiss those cheeks and squeeze him tight to take my focus off of frustrated and exhausted to so grateful that I get to hold my baby boy. 

It is amazing to watch him grow. The other night we watched him move from the couch to the floor perfectly on his own. We had maybe helped him do this a handful of times before but it was so neat to watch him on his own. You could see the thought process. And I was so proud of him. Such a simple task to us obviously but so amazing to watch someone learn it and do it. And that’s just one example of all the stuff we watch our babies and kids learn to do on their own.

I read a blog post a while ago (don’t remember which one it was) that talked about how we always remember the “firsts” but never really the “lasts.” The last time you rocked them to sleep, the last time you picked them up when they were fussy, the last time you helped feed them. I’m sure I won’t remember exactly either but what I do want to do is treasure those moments as they happen because they could be the last ones.

One of my favorite things to do is rock Wyatt just before bed and pray over him and softly put him down to sleep in his crib. He doesn’t need to be rocked. He is a wonderful sleeper and would go down just fine on his own. But I need those few moments to pray over him, to kiss him, to hold him tightly, to embrace the few minutes he holds his stuffed animal monkey, Sam, with his head leaned up against my chest, quickly falling asleep. I know this won’t last much longer. There will be a new season soon, I’m sure, of us saying prayers with him as he lies in his toddler bed, but I love our current routine and I want to soak up every moment of it.

I work full time and while I do wish I had more time with him, I think it also helps me appreciate the precious time I do have with him and my husband. I anxiously await going to pick him up at daycare at the end of my work day and coming home with him to Hogan. I love the time we have at night as a family. And I get so excited on those weekends now where we really don’t have anything planned; where we can just hang out and play with Wyatt and have quality time together as a family. 

It’s the little things that I’m learning to 

just 

plain 

love 

and

enjoy

right now.