I can’t believe it has been 2 years since little Anna Laura joined our family.  When I first found out I was expecting, I was completely shocked and admittedly a little scared.  It had been 17 years since I had my last child, and for some reason my body didn’t handle pregnancy very well.  My son was born 6 weeks premature and with my other daughter I was on bed rest for 4 months.  So I was quite anxious about what was in store for this pregnancy.  But, I had an excellent doctor and she helped bring our precious baby girl into the world healthy and on time.

At first, I wondered if I would remember anything about having a newborn, but it wasn’t long before we found a natural rhythm and things were running smoothly.  However, there was one thing that I had forgotten:  how much I had missed that newborn smell and the preciousness (if that’s a word) of holding a little one in my arms again.  Oh, how I had missed that.  And before I knew it, it was gone again.  I can’t believe how fast time flies…

Now, Anna is an active, independent, and curious toddler.  And I absolutely LOVE it!  I find myself wanting to go into her room and wake her early from her naps, just so I can snuggle her.  I love listening to her as she has conversations with her stuffed animals.  I love hearing her little feet as they pitter patter across the floor.  I love looking into her eyes and wondering who she will become when grows up.  And I love watching her explore the world around her.  I just love being a mom.

Looking back over the past 21 years I realize that my mothering skills have come a long way.  I don’t take things for granted like I did back then.  I was a young, inexperienced, busy mother who dearly loved my kids, but was too distracted by life to truly appreciate them.  Today, I intentionally lay everything else aside so I can see the little things that I missed before.  Yes, there are times I still get frustrated. I’m only human.  But I try to catch myself and turn those frustrations into memories, embracing each moment realizing that they are gone in a flash.

So, my wish for you, whether you are a new mom or a seasoned veteran, is this:  Be careful.

Be careful how you spend your time.  Be careful what you trade a memory for.  Is that TV program really more important than reading a book with your little one?  Work is important, but is it worth not seeing him take his first steps?  Friends are great, and needed, but are you putting them ahead of your children?  Don’t make the mistake of wishing you would’ve done things differently.  Regret is a heavy burden to carry.  Love your little ones now, while there’s still time.

Now I’m off to snuggle with mine.   

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