Keeper of Moments

I seem to alternate between worrying the kids will never grow-up and that they'll be moving out tomorrow. Is it me or do the first two years go by in a blur? I mean it's not like the rest crawl by, but those first two move with incredible speed.

I remember wondering if Riley would ever go two hours without eating or sleep more than two hours at a time. I remember even before that, those long days in the NICU when I wondered how long we'd have to wait to take her home. It seems like minutes ago I was throwing her fabulous hedgehog themed first birthday. It seems impossible that I'm designing her 2nd birthday invitations!

Life is strange, we have so much joy and wonderment in the early days, but we don't remember it as we grow. Riley's life is so happy in these days of discovery and new independence. I wish she could hold on to these memories, but I guess that's my job. Maybe I was just as happy at 22mo and some subconscious part of me lights up and longs to go back vicariously. Her joy is pretty contagious.

Some day she'll dictate the party theme and I'll attack it with just as much vigor and better crafting technology, but for now she goes happily with the flow. Someday, it'll take more than watching the rain out the window to entertain her, but she'll always feel warm and fuzzy. She won't know why, but I'll remember her daddy and I cuddling and reassuring her through storms. She's always want things tidy and I'll tell her how she used to drag the broom around proclaiming "sweep!"

Beyond teacher, protecter, caretaker and confidant mothers are the moment keepers.