Today was a jammies sort of day.
As I was feeding my son this morning, I looked at him there in my arms. There he was filling my entire lap, stretched way beyond the width of my body, easily able to reach up and grab at my nose or eyelashes, and I realized that he’s now closer (in age) to being a 1-year-old than he is to his birth day.
In that moment I felt a twinge of sadness… and maybe even a little grief about saying farewell to my immobile little infant that used to depend on me for everything. He still depends on me for most things of course, but less and less every day as he learns to crawl, speak, eat “big boy food”, and do so many other things on his own.
I know it’s all happening exactly as it should, and I’m so thankful for his healthy, normal development… But inside my heart I’m asking the question:
“How does a mother cope with watching her precious baby grow?”
It’s seriously been making me want another baby. {Oh, cluck, cluck!}
But back to the jammies.
There is something about little footed pj’s that is just so “babyish”. Most of the time we’re dressing up our little munchkins in jeans and unnecessary-but-super-cute baby shoes. (There’s something so ridiculous and adorable about really small adult-like clothes.)
But to me, nothing says “baby” like footed, button-up-the-front jammies.
So this morning, Levi got to stay in his jammies until noon.
I’m sure what he wears makes no difference to him, as long as it weather-appropriate and doesn’t interfere with his new tricks (namely crawling). But to me—today—it made all the difference.
Seeing him scoot and crawl around the floor in his jammies… sit in his high chair in his jammies… cuddle on my lap in his jammies… and go down for his morning nap in his jammies just made me feel like…
It’s not too late.
I still have time with my baby.
Dear mommy-friends, how in the world do you cope with the “loss” of babyhood as your precious little ones grow?
Love,
A
About Author
Adriel Booker
Adriel Booker is an author, speaker, and advocate based in Sydney, Australia who believes storytelling, beauty, and the grace of God will change the world. Adriel has become a trusted voice in areas of motherhood and parenting, Christian spirituality, and global women's issues. She's also known for her work with the Love A Mama Collective—serving under-resourced women in developing nations through safe birth initiatives—as well as her years spent as a Bible teacher and leadership coach. Her latest book is Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss and she's made the companion grief journal available for free. Find Adriel across all social media platforms at @adrielbooker or sign up for LoveNotes, Adriel's 'secret posts' that aren't published anywhere else online. ✌️
9 Comments
Melissa (Confessions of a Dr. Mom)
4 August 2010 at 5:44 amOh, I just LOVE those footed PJs…they really do signify babyhood! I tried to get my son to still wear them in 4T…but he wasn't game. Yes, I found them in 4T! Those pictures are just precious, enjoy!
Ana
4 August 2010 at 5:46 amThe most wonderful thing in the world for me was discovering my son's personality as he grew. I was sad when the baby stage left, but at the same time, I was having too much fun with that one year old stage…and with the two year old stage (which was so amazingly awesome!)…and now with the three year old stage!! It does hit me every now and then that he is no longer that "baby" who cooed and cuddled but rather my little boy who just oozes energy and curiosity, and about that time, I sit down at the computer with him and start shuffling through pictures. It helps ease the growing pains for this Mommy 🙂
Hannah
4 August 2010 at 6:13 amI so agree there is nothing more baby then footie pj's! I love the pictures! I don't know how we cope, at least for myself. I find myself looking at my boys like that almost everyday wondering how in the world they got so big so fast! I just try to cherish the moments, even the crazy ones LOL because it really doesn't last long! But it is a great ride! I hope you are having a great week! I love jammy days!
Amy
4 August 2010 at 6:15 amI made sure to always dress my babies in footie pjs. Adorable AND comfy.
Shawntae
4 August 2010 at 6:53 amDo exactly what you are doing, a BLOG(baby book) keep record of everything he does. That is how I cope. I seriously take about 300 pics of Kingston a day!! Somedays I find myself going back through my old posts just so I can remember how he used to be. I even cry too because he was soo little It makes me soo sad that they grow this fast! Everyone tells you they do but you don't believe them tell you see it with your own eyes. But also the progression is so fun to watch too! Yesterday Kingston tried to feed himself baby food and I was like NO NO NO. haha He's also crawling everywhere. I just want him to sit down and be a little baby again that I can swaddle up.
I love baby jammies they are soo cute! I have some clothes that look like jammies but they can be worn as either or.
Jhen.Stark
4 August 2010 at 1:35 pmFOOTIE JAMMIES!!! Love them! I just stocked up on more for Joss!!! I can't get enough of them. My favorites are her footie jammies with bunnies on the feet. LOVE THEM!
Mandy
4 August 2010 at 2:07 pmOooh how I can relate! I was just telling my husband how much I miss my newborn baby. So exciting to watch them learn and grow- but it's so hard to watch them grow out of their precious infantness. Oh and I never dress my son in shoes and jeans. Only for the most special of occasions. Ha ha. He's in jammies every day. Am I ghetto? lol
Cameron
5 August 2010 at 1:02 amI totally leave Isis in her jammies until after her morning nap everyday…is that bad?? She just seems more comfortable & we're always just hanging out at home! haha
my shy thai
5 August 2010 at 2:50 amohhh i know exactly how you feel! I was just looking through photos of my daughter who just turned one in June… they change so quickly! I think what you are doing here with the blog is a great thing, and a way to savor and capture so many wonderful moments that flirt by us so quickly.
and yeah! for footed jammies, they are the cutest!
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