Just over a week and already Bridget has a nickname.
Margot.
Half because I'm stumbling around in a post partum fog that seems heavier and more dense than I remember.
Half because I'm ambivalent that my littlest one is now a big sister.
Just a week ago she was my baby - her little baldish head, her deliciously chubby legs, her tiny voice squeaking out requests to be held.
Now her head seems huge, her legs sturdy, and her voice, loud and clear.
She was the third wheel of sorts - the one who the other two had to tread lightly around, excuse for lack of sharing abilities, and treat with baby gloves.
Lately, she's the one being told to take it easy, play nicely, and be gentle.
"Hi Baby!" she yells to Bridget, careening down the hill on her scooter.
"Bye Baby," I whisper back, watching her as she catches up with her brother and sister and rides away.
Totally crying. My baby is only 14 months old and I'm expecting Little Brother in a couple of weeks.
My little guy is leaving behind his babyhood so quietly, quickly, and gracefully that most days I don't notice it.
But I know I will as soon as I bring Little Brother home.
Posted by: Stacey | November 03, 2010 at 12:15 AM
Gaaaaaah. *sniffle*
Posted by: Her Bad Mother | November 01, 2010 at 09:09 PM
This makes me tear up so much. I have been having such a hard time with my younger one- she is nearly 21 months, and I keep saying to my husband, she just looks so big lately! They grow so fast, and the more they can do, the more they leave behind those baby days..
Posted by: Ashley @ AboutOne | October 30, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Oh, my heart.
Posted by: marty | October 30, 2010 at 01:02 PM
My 'baby' turns 2 tomorrow. I've been on the verge of crying all day. Thanks for pushing me right over the edge.
Posted by: Sherry | October 29, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Sure, make me cry. How'd they get so big??
Posted by: Karen Chatters | October 29, 2010 at 08:00 PM
That made me want to cry. You are such a beautiful mother and woman.
Posted by: Amanda | October 29, 2010 at 06:28 PM
Sweet (sniff)! My 'baby' is four and a quarter (very important quarter as many of his classmates turn 5) and keeps asking for a brother. Fingers crossed I can finally comply and see how ginormous he will look next to it.
Posted by: Julie | October 29, 2010 at 03:02 PM
That brought tears to my eyes. Our little babies grow up so fast.
Posted by: Barefoot Liz | October 29, 2010 at 01:26 PM
So beautiful! And, yes, the "baby" looks like such a big kid as soon as a newbie comes home. Amazing.
Posted by: Fairly Odd Mother | October 29, 2010 at 01:01 PM
*sniff* My "baby" turning 3 this month has me feeling kind of weird, too.
Posted by: Sarah | October 29, 2010 at 01:00 PM
My Goose will be 22 months next week... and hit the big number 2 in January... I can't believe she's growing so fast...
this was a beautiful post... and were I not at my desk at work, I'd most likely be bawling right now... as it is I'm just sniffling and trying to pretend I have something in my eye...
Posted by: Rusti | October 29, 2010 at 12:35 PM
So beautiful. My daughter looked about 5x bigger when she walked into the hospital room after I had my son. And she hasn't stopped since.
Posted by: amy | October 29, 2010 at 10:15 AM
*Sniff* I'm glad I didn't read this yesterday. I would have burst into tears. Uncontrollable tears. They will all ALWAYS be your babies.
Posted by: Angela | October 29, 2010 at 09:37 AM
I can relate to you so much on wanting to keep them little chubby lovelies. I know some women who can't wait for them to grow up-so not me. If only we could feel a bit better during that post pardum faze. Can you imagine how much fun it would be with a little baby minus the exhaustion and weird hormones it's really bad I still remember. I see it written all over the faces of the mother's carryng there tiny newborns in their car seats.
Posted by: Jodi | October 29, 2010 at 09:20 AM
Damn it, I was good until that last line... I'm not crying, I am not crying! The huz and I are trying for #2, and I look at my daughter now, not just as my 'littlest love', but as a future big sister... *sniff*... not crying...
Posted by: Valerie_PiperMommy | October 29, 2010 at 09:04 AM
beautiful. thanks. my baby turned 11 yesterday and makes me smile to remember when...
Posted by: KMayer | October 29, 2010 at 08:11 AM
This post made me tear up and smile at the same time. We have 2 and are working toward a 3rd and part of me is sad to see my baby transition to toddlerhood.
Posted by: Angela@beggingtheanswer | October 29, 2010 at 07:51 AM
When I came home with the new one, I was shocked at the size of the a$$ on my almost 3yr old and insisted that potty training was going to happen.
Posted by: My Kids Mom | October 29, 2010 at 07:43 AM
Big-siblinghood ages a person, don't you know? :) I could not get over how huge my four year-olds hands looked when she came to see me and her baby sister in the hospital. That little one is a brand new two, and I'm slowly easing into thinking of her as something other than my baby. But I kind of liked having a baby around, so it will probably be a slow transition! Lovely post, btw! And a sweet photo!
Posted by: laura | October 29, 2010 at 06:41 AM
My 'baby' girl (15mths) grew soooo BIG when her brother was born. I can still remember leaving my baby to go to hospital and have my son, and having a little girl come into visit. She also wouldn't have anything to do with me because Daddy had taken her home and put her to bed and when she woke up, Gran was there and Mummy and Daddy weren't. But Daddy came home and Mummy didn't.
It is still so clear 15.5 years later.....
Posted by: Michelle | October 29, 2010 at 06:12 AM
*sniff* That was beautiful! You are a very lucky (and loving) mom!
Posted by: Margaret | October 29, 2010 at 06:11 AM
Aw. I'm not a mom, but I just love the way you love your kids.
Posted by: Brenda | October 29, 2010 at 05:33 AM