May 30, 2020
This morning I wake up a little earlier than necessary so I can enjoy a few precious moments to myself. I sit outside on my front porch, my other happy place and enjoy my morning coffee. The air is fresh, the breeze cool and fresh. We didn’t get nearly as much rain as we needed so the lawn and fields are still dusty and dry. Hopefully we get some soon! What a huge difference compared to the last few mornings of sticky humidity. My little magoo is awake upstairs, but he’s happily babbling away to himself, so he can wait until I finish my coffee before we start our day together.
It is so hard to believe that his first birthday is less than two weeks away. I sit and reflect back on the year that has past, all that has happened in what really is such a short time, but has proven to be such a significant year of changes. It seems like we were on an exciting roller coaster where every up, down and flip describes every event happening throughout the last year and a half. It started with us putting a push on the house renovations because we now had a deadline. We moved our stuff in a couple of days before our beautiful, pudgy little angel was born, but we didn’t start sleeping there until a few weeks later, and even then, the kitchen wasn’t finished yet! Thank goodness babies are not born crawling. Settling in to our house while also being new parents was a little bit of a challenge. There were so many things to do that it sometimes was hard to just sit, relax and enjoy my little muffin. Now that he’s walking, part of me wishes I had cuddled my sleepy burrito a little bit more. I feel like I barely remember holding him in my arms those first few months, even though it was only a year ago. So much has happened since then! They grow and change so fast.
I’m sure many mothers feel the same away about missing the newborn days. It’s amazing how quickly we forget how light and warm our fresh little bundles were. Creating and having a baby is such a shock to your system. No matter how magical of a gift it is, it still comes along with many stressful, sleepless nights, so it’s no wonder we kind of feel like we go into robot milker mode. Especially because all the babies tend to do is eat, sleep, poop and cry. As much as I feel like I may have rushed my little man along and not slowed down enough to enjoy each stage he grew through, I have no regrets. If I ever feel like I have forgotten something, I just look back at the millions of pictures and videos that we took and I’m right back in each moment of kisses, cuddles and smiles.
It wasn’t only our lives that changed so much this year. My brother finished school and got a job at a New Holland Dealership, my parents bought a beautiful home in Perth, and my sister and her boyfriend bought their first home as well. My friends are getting engaged, buying homes, and in the process of completing their Doctorate degrees. It’s amazing how so many life-changing events can fall into place for so many amazing people in such a short period of time. It’s like we all board the same train but get off at different spots along the track, Then the pandemic hit, trying to bring our train to a dead stop. It gave many a little bit of whiplash, but after many weeks of patience, plan-changing, compromising and adjustments, the train seems to be slowly chugging ahead again. Move-in dates had to be postponed, wedding dates and plans changed, but in the end we realize its for our own safety and the safety of our loved ones. We will have our chances to celebrate together someday if we continue to have faith and practice proper social distancing.
I’m not going to lie though; with social distancing regulations it makes it challenging to decide how to celebrate my little man’s first birthday. A first birthday is usually a huge deal to many, especially in my family. We love any excuse to get together for food and celebrations. He has so many cousins who would love to play with him but it’s not safe to do so right now. It is discouraging and lonely but his health and safety, as well as that of our family members is a mother’s highest priority. I have no doubt that his day will still be special and he’s going to be spoiled, no matter what. There are always ways to celebrate with others like with Facetime or drive-by parades. Summer is also already here and so bonfire season and driveway drinks can begin as long as everyone follows the proper guidelines. An evening of enjoyable company, good food and drinks is not worth weeks of being sick!
