Smile!

Today Hattie went to the dentist. While this typically might not be a "blog worthy" event, after today's visit, I just HAD to share. 

Rewind. This time last year. Dentist appointment for all the big girls. Hattie's first scheduled dental visit. It was a hot mess. While the two oldest LOVE our dentist and get really excited to go for their cleanings, to say Hattie was terribly apprehensive would be a gross understatement. Thank goodness for an amazing dentist and patient and caring staff (if you need proof, check out this blog post here) Essentially, we got as far as getting Hattie into the exam chair (flanked by her 2 big sisters) before we called it a day. 

Fast forward a year (don't judge... between a new baby, Dan's new job, and change of insurance, we went a bit longer than normal between appointments). It was time to try again. Early in the week, I told Hattie she had a dentist appointment. I was quickly met with teary eyes and "I don't waaaannnnttt to go!" I had my work cut out for me. We read "Going to the Dentist" books. We talked about what was going to happen and what flavor polish she'd choose. We guessed how many teeth they were going to count. We speculated about the toys in the dentist's "treasure chest." I even *may* have bribed her with the promise of a "whirring" (battery operated) FROZEN toothbrush. 

So- this is what transpired. 

My 4 year old was a dental ROCKSTAR today. Like, I wondered if I was in some parallel universe. It went freakishly well and I was so. darn. proud. After some initial hesitation, she warmed up and everything went off without a hitch. She smiled. She talked. She laughed. And... she got a "whirring" FROZEN toothbrush. 

Here she is... ready to go... but still a bit uncertain...

But THIS was by far my favorite part. Waiting to meet Gramma and Papa for lunch after her appointment, I let her sit in the front of the van with me. She promptly pulled down the mirror and could not stop admiring her "shiny" teeth!

Bye, bye Baby

I just put my baby to bed. For the last time. 

Tomorrow my last baby will wake up... as a toddler. 

For an entire year, I have tried to dig my heels in, forcing time to SLOOOOW down and truly experience every moment with my sweet Ruby. I am so very, very grateful to be able to be home with her this year and have the opportunity to really savor every precious moment of her baby-ness... and to be the one to put her down for a nap. And to be the one to greet her when she wakes up from that nap. And to watch her pinch for another Cheerio. And to play Patty-Cake and sing "You Are My Sunshine." But, alas, the day has come. While she won't know the difference tomorrow, I will. She will no longer be an infant. Sigh. 

 I love being a mom. I love being a mom of babies. My heart is heavy knowing the days of sleeping babies on my chest, dimpled fingers, and Baby Magic are coming to an end... far, far sooner and faster than I ever wished. While I love watching my girls grow and learn and sing and dance and dream and become these amazingly awesome... people, I'm having a really hard time turning this page and starting this new chapter. I know some moms can't WAIT for their kids to grow and be independent and do fun thing... and stuff like getting rid of their infant tub or transitioning to a new carseat or disassembling their cribs are just new, exciting parts of the journey. But I'm not one of those moms. Each milestone, while exciting in it's own way, frays the edges of my heart just a little bit. 

So, tonight, while I nursed and rocked my INFANT daughter, I cried. I'm crying now again as I type this. Life is good. I just wish it would slow down a little bit.