We live across the street from a really cool and really big park. It's full of trails and playgrounds and picnic areas and every amazing park thing you can imagine.
Now if you're thinking that this is going to be a post about how I take advantage of the proximity of the nature and the trails and the fresh air by heading to the park everyday and getting my work out groove on, then you would be wrong. So very wrong.
However, there is a group of moms who do a stroller work out in this park. They gather near the toddler park and then head off in a line, doing their lunges and leg lifts while pushing their strollers. In my head, I make fun of them and admire them at the same time. I mean, they look like total weirdos. But on the other hand, at least they are doing something, anything about the baby weight. And I have to give them props for that.
(Quick question - at what point does baby weight just become weight? I'm not sure, but I think I may be getting dangerously close to that point.)
Anyway, not too far from our home is a strip mall with a couple of our favorite restaurants. And sometimes we walk there using a little trail trough the big, beautiful park. A couple of evenings ago, we took advantage of the gorgeous weather to stroll on over to our favorite cookie place to get some dessert.
(The walk cancelled out the calories - I'm sure of it. And seriously, you have to try these cookies. They are so worth the walk.)
On on way there, Janie was riding along in her stroller, content to observe the water, the bikes, the ducks. We were almost to our destination, when she wanted out.
And as soon as her little feet hit the pavement, she took off like a rocket. Running with the freedom that only a toddler can enjoy. She ran with abandon. Carefree. Happy. Phoebe-like.
She ran all the way to our destination and all the way home. (With a brief, but tearful, intermission when mom and dad insisted that she hold a hand while we walked along a busy street.)
That's over a mile. Running at top speed. On short little two-year-old legs. She laughed and laughed and did her excited toddler whoo-whoo-whoo!
Rob ran interference, making sure that she was safely away from bikers on the path, and that she didn't veer into the rocky area next to the trail.
And I was in charge of pushing the stroller and trying to keep up with them. Man, that girl is fast.
When we returned home, I was way more exhausted than our little sprinter. I blame my footwear. If I had known the walk would turn into a high-speed toddler chase, I would have traded my oh-so-cute flip-flops for some oh-so-practical tenners.
As I watched her run, it hit me all over again. My baby girl is not a baby girl anymore. She's getting big and bold and has her own ideas about life. For example, why walk when I can run? Why say yes when I can say no? And then say no again? Why be quiet when I can laugh a loud belly laugh? Why take a nap when I can play? Why go down the slide only once when I can do it over and over and over? Why eat vegetables when chocolate chip cookies provide all the nutrition a girl could need? (She may have gotten that last one from me.)
And then this afternoon, during our pre-nap story time, Janie insisted on sitting in her own little chair instead of sitting on my lap. I think I actually gasped out loud and then prayed that it was just a fluke. But tonight, she had the same request. No thank you mom. I don't want to sit on your lap tonight. I'll sit in my own chair.
Is this it? Is her babyhood officially over? Just like that without any warning?
I feel sad. And proud. I'm excited to see what's next. And trying desperately to remember every little detail about every little moment. All at once.
Motherhood is such a big mix of emotions. But as I look at my little girl sleeping so sweetly, I know that I wouldn't trade a single minute of it. Not at all.
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