No longer
Just before klunking Lucy into her crib before nap or bed, I often cradle her in my arms, her head in the crook of my left arm.
I do this mostly to embarrass her, and to entertain myself — jokingly crooning, “Look at my Lucy baby! Are you my Lucy baby?” while she frantically
pummels me with her size 8 flailing feet and laughs. She now looks ridiculous in this pose.
My baby is no longer such — she’s almost 3 ft. tall (!!) and weighs more than 30 lbs. I remember the way her body used to perfectly curl around my belly w
hen I breastfed her, how I belted into my bathrobe. Eric always tells Lucy how he’d carry her around in the Football Hold.
Eric snapped these pics this past weekend when Lucy and I were reading books and sharing a bowl of popcorn. When I downloaded them off the camera yesterday, I could not
get over how grown up Lucy looks. Despite her double chin and the baby fat that still clings to the tops her her thighs, she is becoming a little girl.
But Sunday, while driving, I kept catching glimpses of her in the side mirror, she positioned in her car seat behind me. Lucy was opening and closing her mouth in experimental Os, softly singing to “I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas,” and staring out the window at the passing clouds. The light was reflecting off her still rotund cheeks and baby-flat nose, and she looked so young and innocent and small. I saw her baby face again, clearly.
It makes me wonder if this will happen for the rest of her life. Will I always carry that baby image with me? Catch snippets of it as she grows into a girl, a teen, a woman?
I hope so.
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What a beautiful blog that you write. Sometimes it is amusing, sometimes sad, others so filled with information my head spins but always entertaining. I love the pictures of all of you. I would imagine that you will always picture your children that way no matter what their age.
I hope so too Carly. I know what you mean. That last picture of Lucy is especially beautiful - you might want to get one printed for Eric for Father’s Day - just don’t tell him … shhhhhh…
Yes you will ALWAYS carry these images with you. Belive it or not the images will become more important and stronger as Lucy grows older and more independent. I had the picture printed today for Dad and I, we will frame it this weekend.
The answer is, simply, yes.
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love your blog. I wish this was around when I had my babies. One thing I can’t get over is how now at 21 & 23 I still want to gobble up my girls. They have flown the nest & are on their own so when they walk in the door I get overtaken with this desire to kiss them to bits. they are kind enough to indulge me a little!
Maggie
I really like your blog. This particular post brought tears to my eyes. My daugther is only 5 months old and I often get sad when I think about how fast she will grow up. I hope that we will always be able to catch snippets of their baby faces and remember the times that will too soon become long ago.
She’s so adorable. I know EXACTLY what you mean and have been mulling the same thoughts over the last few weeks. I think it’s hard to imagine having a tiny wee one around again now that our girls are such big girls.