This is My Favorite Stage

Love this sweet post from a mama about the different stages kids go through and how each is her favorite.

When the nurse first handed you to me, I knew my life would never be the same. You were so tiny and helpless, and I knew that it was up to me to help you grow, learn, and develop. As a newborn, you slept in my arms, and I dreamed of who you would one day become. And I thought to myself, “this is my favorite stage.”

Then one day a few weeks later you looked at me and smiled. Not a gas smile, but an open-mouth, happy baby smile. My heart melted and in that moment, nothing mattered but you and me. I couldn’t believe that I was the one to inspire your first smile. I made you happy. Me. And I thought to myself, “this is my favorite stage.”

Once you started laughing at things, my mind changed. All I had to do was make a funny face and you would burst into a round of giggles. A simple “oops!” when I dropped something made you belly-laugh. It was the most magical sound in the world. And I thought to myself, “this is my favorite stage.”

You were growing so fast and suddenly, you were eating solid foods and sitting on your own. You played with toys and I was able to interact with you more. It was so fun to be around you. I loved seeing your reactions to all the different baby foods I gave you, even if it was just you making a sour face and spitting it all out. You definitely weren’t a newborn anymore. And I thought to myself, “this is my favorite stage.”

When you learned to crawl you definitely kept me on my toes! You were so excited about the world around you and interested in tasting and grabbing everything you could reach. I would crawl around with you and you would chase after me. After a few weeks of this, I realized that all my pants had holes in the knees from playing on the ground with you. And I thought to myself, “this is my favorite stage.”

Then one day you looked at me and said “mama.” From that moment on I heard “mama” every time I left a room, walked into a room, picked you up, or put you down. I loved every second of it. And I thought to myself, “this is my favorite stage.”

When you started walking you were so proud of yourself. You clapped your hands, took a few steps, and then fell down. But every time you would get right back up. Every time you would try again with determination. I was so proud of you and the tiny person you were becoming. And I thought to myself, “this is my favorite stage.”

Now you are almost three, and you have such a fun, bright personality. You play with me instead of by me, you tell me you either love my hair or you don’t like it, and you love taking pictures with me. We sing the “Thomas and Friends” theme song before bed every night, and when you get tired, you reach up and play with your hair just like you did as a baby. And again, I am left thinking “this is my favorite stage.”

I know that there is good and bad with all the stages you have passed through and will pass through. I’ll be honest and say I’m not really looking forward to the teenage years. But every stage of your life keeps getting better and more fun. And that’s why we do it. That’s why we have kids–for those good moments that make it all worth it. We are allowed to say that every stage is our favorite, because truthfully, they are. Yes, we miss the baby stages, but the memories are ones we’ll never forget. Raising you has been the most amazing thing I have ever done, and I am so lucky that I get to do it for the rest of my life. Because even when you are an adult with a fancy suit-and-tie job, you’re still going to be my baby.