Not Allowed

Jim Croce wrote this amazing song back in the day called "Time in a Bottle."  Parenthood makes you want to be able to save that time in a bottle.

That itty bitty newborn.  Such an angel.  So sweet.  And all you want to do is watch him sleep all day.  Sleeping yourself means missing things and that's not okay.  So even though you should be asleep you just watch your baby sleep.  But all that baby does is eat, sleep, pee, and poop.  And you can't wait for the next stage and a smile.  But that means the baby is growing up, and that is NOT ALLOWED.

But then the baby smiles.  And it's the most beautiful thing in the world.  And was that a laugh?  Best sound ever.  Please don't ever leave this stage because it's perfection.  I thought the newborn stage was, but this is obviously perfection so what was I thinking?  But dear baby, you are getting bored so easily, so I wish you could sit or something so that you have more options.  But sitting means you are growing up, and that is NOT ALLOWED.

And then you are sitting, and trying to crawl, and reaching for things and interacting, and OMG could you be any more perfect?  I can predict your moods and needs now and you are so fun!  But you still get bored, so I can't wait for you to crawl because how cute is crawling?  But if you crawl, that means standing and walking follow and that means you are growing up, and that is NOT ALLOWED.

It goes on and on like this.  Each stage is pure perfection but it goes too fast and you want to save every single moment so that you can always have it.  Every perfect moment is bittersweet.

My toddler read a book the other day.  On his own.  That means he is growing up, and that is NOT ALLOWED.