My kids keep me going

Watching them grow and watching do things I never thought about is amazing to me. I never think about how kids have to learn everything.

So when Meredith started to spin around & twirl like a princess I marveled at what a sweet little girl she was. Never thinking that she had to learn that somewhere. When she says a new phrase or a new word, I'm in awe of her. I say "wow she can't be old enough for that." And yet there she is, saying, doing, going, etc to whatever it is and excelling at it. It makes me proud. It makes me say to myself and anyone who will listen to me brag, "what a genius she must be". I have no idea if other little girls are doing the same things. I'm sure they are. I'm sure..... in fact I know that there are other kids her age doing way more and way less.

Having Sean has made me acutely aware of other kids' abilities & non-abilities. I hate the word disability and it's many forms. Disabled to me means broken and my kids aren't broken if they aren't able to do something YET. 

Then there is Sean. Who by all accounts should have low muscle tone. Should be a little behind children his own age in terms of physical abilities. Should be behind in his "milestones".

He is 12 days old. When he was born, we watched him for any signs that he would be behind. That he wouldn't be "normal" or "typical" in his development. Not that we would've seen those signs at 5 minutes old, but we watched. We waited.

By 2 days old, he was lifting his floppy little head up off my chest and turning. Granted he flopped over, but he was lifting & turning it. I couldn't believe that. Meredith didn't successfully lift her head & turn it until at least 3 weeks old. Then.... we got home and we looked for other things. He would hold his arms up and we weren't able to pull them straight down. Not that we were forceful, but holy Moses! This kid is strong.

We had his Bris and the Rabbi commented on how strong he was. He lost his cord stump earlier than a lot of kids as well. The nurse remarked that this was indicative of what a fast healer he is. Bless her!

And then...... we watched as Sean turned himself onto his side while he was sleeping at 10 days old. Can you imagine?

Meredith is twirling around like a princess and saying "cheese" for the camera right now! Apparently she likes the camera again. Yippee!!!

She's been putting her stuffies into all of Sean's things. Right now "bear" is in the infant car seat. Meredith climbs into the bassinet.

And Meredith is such a big help. She brings Sean a blanket whenever she thinks he needs one. She alwas wants to "help" or sit with us when we're nursing. She helps with diaper changes. She really is great with him. She always wants to hold him. When we get out of the car she makes sure to remind us to take him with us. How cute is that?

I watch them & I fall even deeper in love with them. I watch them and I smile. I smile a genuine smile. Nothing can ever take the feeling I have when I look at them away from me.