Today's Lessons: Slow Down

There is such peace that comes from waking up with a sleeping baby resting on my arm. I was too lazy to put her back in bed after her early morning feeding (which happens, ahem, a lot.) I have a tendency to get wrapped up in the "I can't let this last forever" mentality, but the truth is that I love it and I am relishing it. I can already see how fleeting these precious moments are, and I want to bask in them. I hereby pledge to breathe deeply the scent of my freshly-washed baby as she snuggles into my chest. I promise to put my feet up and surrender when she has decided the only place she will nap is on my chest. I will sit down with my glass of water and not look at the mess on the floor when she is on a nursing marathon. I will gaze into her eyes and not the clock when possible, knowing that she is growing so fast and will all-too-soon be chasing her sister around and the desire for total, undivided attention will be reversed.

Sometimes I feel like I need to speed up to catch up with Isabella, my little bundle of energy. I run run run, my mind working overtime to keep up with She Who Is a Toddler. It's very easy to get wrapped up in "the next thing" trying to create a home for learning and growing. She learns and grows with our experiences from day to day. I pledge to open windows and doors to the world, and not get bogged down in structure. I promise to use structure only as it provides rhythm and beauty in the home and in our family. I will give her the time she desires while balancing with the example she will need to grow in confidence and, more importantly, Faith. But most of all, I will not dwell in mistakes and imperfect days. She, too, is growing fast and needs more than anything else, Love. She will learn at her own pace; she will mature and take on the oldest's role in due time.

In the *vast* experience of 27 years I know that Life is precious and short. I know that each day is a gift, and if I spend too much time thinking about tomorrow I will miss the fleeting beauty of today.