Babies don't keep : Some much needed perspective in the morning mirror

When I look at my sweet Mills I feel like he is getting so big - that tiny little fragile bird that I once knew is now a chunky, smiley, chatty little infant! (Time slow down!) But this morning as I walked by the mirror in our guest room and caught a glimpse of mills all snuggled up on my chest I realized just how tiny he really still is, and in true Mills Harry fashion he flashed his precious grin. This is not normally the type of photo I would share here on the world wide web but in that moment I got a dose of perspective that I so desperately needed - stop worrying, these are the moments that matter, start savoring every minute.

As a new mom, I'm realizing more and more that the days are long but the years are short.  I get so consumed with his development and his growth and what I should be doing to help him along the way - is it time to drop the swaddle? Paci or thumb? Did he get a long enough nap? Did he get enough play time? Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong? The list goes on and on. I get so focused on doing everything just right that I forget to really take him in and be there in the moment. This is my biggest fault - overplanning and overthinking instead of just being present.

Parenthood is exhausting and overwhelming, beautiful and rewarding and the most incredible gift and responsibility I've ever had. Babies don't keep and this little one is growing right before my eyes. When I stop to really take him in I realize that I will never get this day or this moment with him again and it makes me just want to soak up every second. So I'm going to spend less time worrying about all the ways I might mess him up and instead hold him a little longer, snuggle him a little tighter, lean on my instincts more than google and embrace those middle of the night feedings because some day, sooner than I want to admit, he will be a rough tough little boy who doesn't want to snuggle up in my arms like he used too.

So thank you guest bedroom mirror, for giving me a glimpse at my beautiful tiny boy and reminding me to soak up every second.