“Now, Maxie?” Josephine shouted.
“Not yet, GoGo!” Max responded.
They were sitting on two little roller coasters that you push with your feet, waiting one for the other to go down the little slope.
And, because her big hero brother said “Not yet” she waited and said, “Okay, Maxie…”
Then he would count, “One, two, three, GO!”
Their chubby little feet would paddle the ground and they would begin the slight decline down the coaster to soar onto the open floor.
Smiles and joy and squeals accompanying their little rides.
Then one would shout, without hesitation, “Let’s do it again!”
And off they’d push their cars to the top to begin again.
Friends—my two Littles are utterly exhausting. I’m like super tired. And they fight. And they roll on the ground. And they don’t like their food to touch—or when I cut their toast the wrong way.
My eyes are held open by VERY strong coffee…
But it’s ALL so worth it.
And my stomach is already nostalgic for the future loss of my Littles.
My decade daughter, as she calls herself, was once my Little…and I enjoyed every minute of it (let’s not relish in her own toddler tantrums that also split my hairs 😉 )…
She, in all of her innocent wonder, was my sunshine on any cloudy day. And, believe me, in Poland there are a LOT of cloudy days.
Now she’s the epitome of beauty and grace. She is tall and slender and lovely with a touch of awkward. And growing. She will, without any doubt in my mind, be a beautiful, successful, creative, and compassionate young lady—I already see that in her.
But it does not mean I don’t miss my Sweet Adelyne that used to skate on flour and make tea parties for her daddy with all of her dollies.
She has phased into young lady—that, very thankfully, still likes to occasionally play dolls, too!
And as my little miracle approaches his fourth birthday, I think. No, I know that I am already missing him.
My toddler, naked bottom Max—without a care in the world.
Can I squish him into Little-ness forever?
Probably not—but I capture every moment of each of our days—the good and bad—on the reel of my on-going memory maker—the core of my heart…because I know that, as they grow, I will enjoy each new phase—but it will not mean that I will not miss the last one.
Josephine asked Maxie if he was ready—and he said “Not yet.”
Maxie—I am not ready, yet, either.
Please don’t grow.
But just like they paddled their feet and took off, I know what fate awaits me…
Their wild ride.
***
Photo credit: Inga Rurek
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