They grow up so fast!

Our youngest, Eli, is 7 months old.  Such a teeny tiny little bundle, right?  HAHA He's huge!, At nearly 30 pounds, he believes he's as big as his older brothers and sisters, as did the one before him, and the one before her....

Eli is sitting up, and making attempts at crawling positions.  I am so proud to watch him through these, albeit small, amazingly important milestones.  At the same time, it saddens me.  Knowing where the crawling lead, and so on, they grow up too fast.

I try to spend as much time with my kids as I am able.... and yet, it's never enough. 

Our oldest, Kamron, is nearing 16.  Such a young and innocent age, right?  Absolutely, and yet, he's so grown up.

Having been through childhood and the teen years, we know that they view every day as a year.  Somehow, their every year, is like a day to us.  Too soon.

They have to grow and learn and choose for themselves.  We don't have to like it, but we do have to accept it.

Our kids have their days... the days where I think for a fleeting second, "I cannot wait until you're out on your own"... and then my brain and heart cringe at the thought.

Our generation is not the first to venture here.  We won't be the last. 

As they see time slowly ticking away until they can be "grown up", we realize that every day, every minute, is a precious gift.  A gift that we should cherish to the best of our abilities.

LOL so, I have been SO frusterated for the past week over the mess in my house.  Otterpops, you know what I mean?  Wrappers left all over the house.  Melted popsicle in my floors... I even lost a flip-flop walking through the kitchen! LOL

This morning, I decided not to be frusterated.  How much did we LOVE those things?  It's mid summer here in Yuma, and it has been SO HOT!  What kind of human being (much less mother) would I be if I denied them this? Especially considering that I won't get to do so in say... 5 years.  Not a long time in the grand scheme of life.

Anyways.  I am mostly rambling today, but I did want to share my sudden insight.  My house may be a wreck sometimes.  I may have to shampoo my carpets once or twice a week.  I may have a never-ending pile of laundry and dishes to attend to.  But in a blink of an eye, that will all be gone.  Along with my babies.

Don't forget what's really important in life.  Nothing overrides family.  Nothing.