Stop Growing, Please

Recently, I have really started to realize just how quickly Makenna is growing up.  Some days, it seems like it was AGES ago that she was a tiny little 7 pound, 11 ounce newborn.  And other days, it seems like it was just yesterday.  I can't believe she has been here for more than eight months already!  When she was born, I felt like it would be FOREVER until her first tooth came in, or she started standing, or we celebrated her first Christmas.  Now she has TWO teeth and two more on the way, is constantly pulling herself up, and Christmas is right around the corner.  (Don't laugh...it is!)


I think about how many "firsts" have passed us by already, and honestly, it kind of makes me sad!  I sometimes wish that I could just stop her from growing, just as she is, for just a little while longer.  Some of the "milestones" we've already passed are:


4/21 - First time laughing out loud
5/16 - First time rolling over
5/20 - First solid foods
6/18 - First road trip with Mommy and Daddy
8/1 - First time swimming
9/4 - First tooth came in
9/10 - Started crawling
9/17 - Started clapping
9/26 - Started pulling up in her crib


That's a LOT for one little girl!  


I really think this eight-month-old, smiley, drooly, extremely curious, cuddly, lovable little girl needs to stick around!  In bed this morning, she snuggled up next to me, laying on her back like I was, and I just wanted to freeze that moment and hold onto it forever.  Then she rolled over, grabbed my face and gave me a slobbery smooch on the cheek...and yanked out a chunk of my hair.  I'll admit, the hair pulling is kind of a pain.  :-)


Every time I get sad about her growing so quickly, I try to focus on all of the great "firsts" that we still have ahead of us - first Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, first steps, first word, first birthday, first time she says, "I love you!", first dance class, first day of kindergarten, etc.  I have to keep reminding myself that yes, she is growing up, but that doesn't mean she will be any less amazing and beautiful than she is right now.  

I love you, my sweet little Tootie!!