teeth!?!?

Is it possible?

Really?

Could my baby girl really be cutting teeth at only 15 weeks old?!?

yes, folks, it's possible. and true.

I suppose that explains why this has been her favorite thing to do for the past several weeks



and why she's been so grouchy and having trouble sleeping too.

I'm still having a hard time believing it. Boden didn't get his 1st tooth until he was 7 months old. It's funny though - I think it was the same time of year. If I remember right it was right around Valentine's day when he got his bottom teeth.

I was a little late on my teeth too - I'm not sure when I started getting them, but I know I was behind all my friends in losing them. I'm still a little upset that I didn't get to write my name on the giant tooth in Mrs. McAndrew's kindgergarten classroom or get to drink chocolate milk through a straw stuck through the gap in my teeth during snacktime with the rest of my kindergarten classmates.

anyway...all that to say, I was not expecting this.

I had to go find a picture of Boden's first teeth coming in. It was Feb 24, 2008 - he was just over 7 months old



I was really hoping to enjoy Claire's toothless grin a little longer. She's only been smiling for about 6 weeks, and I haven't snapped that many photos of her actually smiling. I'm going to have to make it my mission to get a few more before they really start showing.

It won't be long...

It won't be long before those little footsteps I hear after naptime, running across the hall to shout from the top of the stairs "I'm awake!!" are just a distant memory, rather than a daily occurrence. It won't be long before the little boy who wants to be attached to me all day long is telling me not to kiss him in front of his friends. And it won't be long before the little boy who wants me to read books over and over and over again is off at college, studying something important I'm sure.

Tonight I stood outside Boden's bedroom door, trying to comfort him as he called out to me, frustrated because I wanted him to go to bed so I could work on checking things off my to-do list, folding laundry, and putting away dishes from dinner. He kept saying "mama, I want you", "mama, come cuddle me" - and it hit me at that moment...it won't be long before these days are gone. So I put down my laundry basket, left the dishes un-done and the to do list un-checked and cuddled up with my little guy. As I lay there all scrunched up in his toddler bed, listening to him breathe as he fell asleep, silent tears falling down my cheek, I couldn't help but thank my Heavenly Father for this most precious gift. One that I too often take for granted.

Some days it just hits me like a ton of bricks - the days I often wish away, will soon be over. And I will want them back. I look at Boden and I can barely believe he's 2 1/2 yrs old. It's gone by SO FAST! I was trying to remember what it was like before he could talk, but I couldn't. I can't imagine what it will be like to look back when he's 5, 10, 18 yrs old. I don't want to forget a minute of it.

Lord, thank you for the beautiful little lives you have entrusted to us. Being a mother is more challenging than I could have ever imagined, but also more amazing than I could have dreamed. Thank you for moments like tonight that remind me how precious these days are. Help me to find joy in each day and to never overlook the blessings each day brings. I pray that you will give me strength, wisdom, grace, and knowledge as I raise them to know you and love you. Amen.