My baby is growing up. 6 months old already.
Today, we put her in her high chair for the first time. She sat up there and “talked” a little – and smiled a lot.
And there she was. Big as big. Her eyes sparkling, her gummy smile charming us, her hands patting excitedly on the table.
My heart did a little pitter-patter when I saw that, and then I looked over at her big sister – gangly and talkative and gregarious. And a little lump welled up in my throat. I just wanted to stop the clock right there, to hold on tight to this chaotic beauty, to the wonder of this moment.
Oh God, let me make the most of this. Don’t let them grow up too fast.
The below poem (by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton) has been all around the Internet and back again a million times, but I keep coming back to it. It speaks to me, calms me, reminds me that these “unproductive” days when “nothing” gets done…these are the days that matter most of all.
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo.
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
Stay tuned for musings, product reviews, and giveaways specifically related to babies in the 6-12M age range. Won’t you join me?
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The Jacobsen Family says
September 15, 2009 at 4:28 pmAnd here I go tearing up… LOL! So true, I think it every day. How did my very first baby get to be 5 years old already? And my other 2 get so big so fast too? Trying to cherish every moment…
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Cindy says
September 14, 2009 at 3:35 pmI think the same thing each day! I love that poem!
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Andrea McMann says
September 13, 2009 at 8:39 pmI’d never seen that poem before. Thanks for sharing! It’s absolutely perfect!
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KellieS says
September 13, 2009 at 7:39 pmI miss the swaddling and cooing.
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Mary @ Parenthood says
September 13, 2009 at 6:54 pmI love that poem too! Does she just sit in the highchair or are you giving her stuff to play with at all? We’ve been experimenting with spoons and cups mostly which keeps Elizabeth pretty happy. Although I haven’t found a spoon I’m terribly excited about yet. Any recommendations? We did discover that a baby spoon made of porcelain, while very cute, still only lasts until the first time baby drops it over the edge of the highchair.
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Mama Plays Mozart says
September 13, 2009 at 3:43 pmThanks for the poem. It’s just so crazy how fast babies grow. Mine is 11 months now and it seems like only a week ago she was a tiny little blob in my arms. It’s both amazingly happy and sad at the same time to watch her turn into a tiny person.
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Jinxy says
September 13, 2009 at 3:31 pmI can’t believe your baby is 6 months old already. Heck I can’t believe mine is almost 9 months old. It goes amazingly fast. So much faster then I ever imagined possible.
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Keith Wilcox says
September 13, 2009 at 7:28 amI have never read that poem before! Somehow I missed it on all it’s travels around the internet. Just goes to show there is always someone new to teach :-) I feel the same thing with my boys. They are 5 and 6 years old. your story made me remember when they were so cute and lovable like that, sitting in a high chair so innocently :-/ What have you done? Now I want another kid! Gotta go talk to the wife about that heheheheh
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kristen says
September 13, 2009 at 6:14 amStephanie… I can’t believe she is 6 months. And mine is 8. Time does fly and I love and hate it at the same time. It’s so fun to watch the new changes and developments, but so sad to know that once that moment has passed, I can never get it back.
I am here and there on the internet. Life is crazy, as always. I hope you guys are enjoying life at a slow pace. I envy you :)
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Kalani says
September 12, 2009 at 10:11 pmI had read that poem sometime ago when my now 3 year old little was a baby boy… I am so thankful to have read it here again. I do need to just savor the moment, the day! Especially with baby boy #2 on his way. Time flies by and there I am worrying about dirty dishes?! Not tomorrow!
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Erin S. says
September 12, 2009 at 7:01 pmi have never seen that poem before. what a great reminder. thank you.
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xenia says
September 12, 2009 at 6:42 pmThere are definitely days that I find myself starting to think Well, when you’re older… and then I stop myself. Because once that happens, we can never go back. And then where will my sweet babies be? They’ll be big and grown up and won’t want to cuddle in my lap or need me anymore. That thought makes me sad.
Definitely looking forward to all your 6-12M posts, I’m right there with you!
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Tiffany says
September 12, 2009 at 6:16 pmThanks so much. I needed to read that!
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Melissa says
September 12, 2009 at 5:27 pmI love this poem. My mother in law gave it to me in a card at my baby shower. And how true it is that the cleaning and everything else will wait, but there is no way to stop time. I have such a love hate relationship with my little boy growing up. Almost 2 is so much fun, but I really miss him being a little baby.
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Laura says
September 12, 2009 at 1:52 pmDitto. These are the days…
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Casual Friday Every Day says
September 12, 2009 at 12:14 pmI think this is every Mother’s cry. I feel the same way. Dash is all over the place, pulling himself up, crawling, not content to just sit back… he needs to be part of everything, leading the crowd. I’m amazed by his growth.
Kiss those sweet heart little girls of yours for me!
Nell
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Blessed says
September 12, 2009 at 10:51 amYou are so right about this – Time is just flying by – my baby will be three months old next week. It is so hard to believe.
I’ve learned that dancing in the living room is much more important than having a spotless kitchen – I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything.
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Leane says
September 12, 2009 at 10:44 amBabies are a time-line that force you to realize how quickly life is flying by. Oh, how it hurts my heart to see my little one grow minute by minute & to know for certain that it slips away so quickly & I cannot stop it! I didn’t know that being a mother involves SO much heartache. No one told me My heart would be pained by joy not just sorrow. I, too, want so desperately to hang onto each moment….each smile, giggle and grin. This is an excellent post! Sometimes I need the reminder that the dishes piling up means I have spent time on what truly matters. Thank you!
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AutumH says
September 12, 2009 at 8:16 amYour little one is darling. It is amazing how fast our children go,especially when we take the time to actually stop and reflect on it. My kitchen and household is always messy in one way or another. I’m just barely learning that a clean kitchen is not as important as taking some time to play cars with my boys or reading to them when I can. Thank you for sharing the poem by the way. I loved it!
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Barbara says
September 12, 2009 at 8:14 amI love that poem and thank you for the reminder today. Ours, like all of then rest of them, are growing way too fast!
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Deborah Buckingham says
September 12, 2009 at 6:40 amMy husband is on vacation this week and next. With the extra pair of hands I managed to clean off my desk. I can’t believe how old some of the things in my ‘to do’ pile were.
With a toddler and baby at home I am in the same boat as you. I am torn between wanting to clean/take care of the house and wanting to just sit and play with the kids. Most of the time though one of them (or the puppy) needs something, so that is what I do. The housework comes last. And msot of the time it shows.
Oh well, there is always next year…
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Mary says
September 12, 2009 at 5:41 amOh my goodness, I’m in the same exact place. My baby is 7 months and my toddler is 2.5 and I stop all the time and just savor it. I wish I could bottle these days, so I could pull them out and enjoy them again.
~Mary
P.S. And my sink is just about always full and the dustbunnies and gathering and that’s okay with me! :)
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Naomi says
September 12, 2009 at 5:14 amNo kidding! Jasper seems to have gotten so grown up in the last month or so and Roo is acting like a petulant teenager… at 5. It does go so fast, especially with the second child.
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Zmama says
September 12, 2009 at 3:39 amSigh. Was just thinking the same thing. May god’s blessings be on them always.
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Joy says
September 11, 2009 at 10:12 pmI’ve been feeling and thinking of this so much lately…oh how fast they grow, I don’t want to miss a moment of dress up and dancing, stories and laughter.