You know that feeling...

When you realize that your baby is becoming less of a baby and more of a little boy or a toddler?
That feeling has struck me full force lately but then there have been moments when he is still my little baby.

At 1:30 am when I hear the 'desparate cry' the 'i'm awake and don't know why but i think it's because my teeth hurt, can someone please come pick me up and hold me and rock me and give me my paci because I dropped it behind the crib' desparation.

LC brought me back last night. I went to him, I picked him up, I held him, I rocked him, I looked at the clock and was reminded of the many nights he and I sat in the glider and nursed in a hazy fog of sleepy milk induced coma.

But last night, he wanted his Mommy, he held up his arms and calmed down as soon as I picked him up.

When I check on him (800 times +) before going to bed each night, I see the little boy in him. His long lean body laying flat on his belly, legs out straight, arms curled under his chest. Snoring softly, tousled curly hair laying still.

When he plays, I see a little boy. I see a learner, a grower, someone who is going to walk very soon. Someone who has learned how to sort his toys putting the circle in the circle hole, putting the toy cow and goat in their pen, bringing me the puzzle pieces when I say 'bring me the puzzle pieces'

I see a little boy who understands every word I say to him. I am amazed by this. I read that toddlers have all this vocabulary in their heads and just lack the skill to turn it all into sentances. But that's coming, I just know it, and I can't wait.

He gets onto the table and has trouble, I say 'move your leg, lift it that way' and he does! I say 'eat a few more bites of your banana off your tray then we can have some more' and he does! I say 'go get me the other puzzle pieces across the room so we can finish the puzzle' and he does!

My baby IS a little boy. A happy, loving, beautiful little boy.

It is amazing to watch.

Simply amazing.