Happy Monday Mamateurs! I hope everyone had a great weekend and got into the Olympic spirit…despite a somewhat odd Opening Ceremony! (Seriously though, what the heck was that?!)
Our little family had such a great little low-key kind of weekend. The summer can be SO crazy-hectic with weekend trips, bbq’s, boating, and other warm-weather festivities, that it almost gets overwhelming at times. It felt so incredible just to slow down for a moment and spend some quality time with my 2 favorite men (and one very special auntie). So many times this weekend I caught myself just staring at “little” Ben in utter disbelief at how big and independent he is getting. (Perhaps reaffirming my sense of “Ben getting so big” was the doctor’s appointment we had on Thursday that revealed the monster had grown 2 full inches in the last 6 weeks!)
Don’t get me wrong, we definitely have our moments, but I can’t get over how overcome with pride I feel for him sometimes…over the teensiest and most inconsequential things. Just the other night, I served him soup and let him spoon it to himself (which as you can imagine, is risky with a precocious toddler). He ate every last bite (or slurp) of it and barely spilled a dribble. I damn near teared right up watching him focusing so hard and opening wide. In fact, I am getting a little blurry-eyed writing this. At this time last year, he was just eating his first foods- and now he is feeding himself, trying new foods every day, and even asking for more. Before bed, then proceeded to help me pick up all of his toys- without crying or protesting that I was taking away his fun….just dutifully carried over his blocks, cars, and trucks one-by-one and put them away. By no means a milestone, but another sign that my little guy is growing up.
Then yesterday morning, he actually had the common courtesy to knock on the bathroom door before barging in to give me a good morning kiss. Clearly, we are taking baby steps with our manners, but again, I was so stinkin’ proud. It made me think of Brooke’s post about the twinkies going off to pre-school soon and I found myself wishing I could freeze time. I want Ben to stay this delightful hybrid of growing-independent-yet-still-dependent-on-me-for-a-lot forever. One day soon my proud mommy moment will be Ben hopping on a school bus or scoring a soccer goal. As happy and fulfilling as those moments will be, I can’t bear the thought right now.
For now, I’ll stick with him sipping out of a big-boy cup 
What has your latest proud mommy moment been? Your child using his/her manners? Receiving an award? Starting a new grade? Going off to college? Getting married? (Don’t even get me started thinking of that- I’ll be a wreck!!)
*I should mention that I was never this sappy before I had a child. Oh how motherhood makes us a wee crazy….
-J
BTW- local moms, if you haven’t scored your 1/2 price tickets to the Champlain Valley Fair, act soon…today is the last day!
mamateurs
