Monday, May 04, 2009

3 years old

Anne turned 3 years old last week. It is so amazing to me that she is 3. It certainly doesn't seem like that much time has passed. I am continually amazed to watch her grow and learn. It hit me this week that she has turned into a little girl. No more toddler, no more baby, 100% full-fledged little girl. Today at her preschool orientation the parents left the kids in their classroom to play while we got the low-down on what to expect this fall. When it was all done and we walked back to collect our kiddos, I just stood at the door, watching her for several minutes, amazed and in awe at her every move, struck by how old she is, how precious she is, how much I love and adore her, and how I could watch her from afar for quite a long time. I watched a show this week and some kids on it were turning 16...I do not want either of my babies to ever turn 16, for when they do, they will not love me as they do now. I have high hopes that I will have good relationships with both my kids throughout their childhood. Even if teenage years are rocky, I am confident, 110% so, that we will have close loving relationships when they are adults, but still, there will come a time when both of my children stop loving me as they do now. Anne loves me unconditionally. She has not yet said she hated me, or disliked me, even through punishments and anger. Jamie smiles with his whole body when he sees me and soon, that will stop. All too soon both will become independent children and stop needing me as much. It saddens me and makes me cry. It makes me want to freeze time, grab my children, hold them close to me and soak in the very essence of the moment. And then something like a 3rd birthday happens and reminds me it is all changing, everyday, every moment, all too fast...








I love these pictures of her, but it is so clear that she has changed and left her babyhood behind...

3 comments:

Nicole said...

Great pictures! Happy birthday Anne!

Heather said...

What a big girl!

Shellie said...

Ditto on all those thoughts and emotions... Anne looks so different in the first pic!