My little man (Buddy) took his first, unassisted step yesterday.  And I missed it. 

I knew this moment would come and I knew I would cry.  Sitter tried to pass it of as not a big deal, but of course she's used to it!  She's been watching other people's kids for eighteen years.  She's witnessed tons of first steps.

He's been gearing up for it.  I was hoping that he could stave it off until we went on vacation.  But, he seems ready to walk.  He has all sorts of toys he stands up to play on... and lately he's been crossing from one to the other on his feet instead of getting down on the floor and crawling from one to the other.

On Wednesday he stood up unassisted for over four seconds, but he didn't take a step.  Before he went to bed I told him he was NOT to walk at the sitter's house first.  He had to do it for me.  But did he listen?  No.

I know there will be other firsts that he will more than likely do for me... but what I mourn is that I'm feel like I'm missing out on his babyhood.  He's growing up soooo fast.  He's already almost a year old!  Time has gone by double as fast as it did when BG was a baby.  And I see how he's signing and babbling and trying to walk.  I can't help but want to cry.

I know all too well how fast kids grow.  Once they get to school, it's all down hill from there; what with routines and after school activities.  You get so caught up in the commotion that you miss out on the here and now.

The other day I saw a young couple walking down the street holding each other.  The high school had let out and the kids were walking home.  I looked at those two kids and thought that in no time my kids will be that age.  I thought back to when Hubby and I were in their shoes.  Back then, we thought we knew it all.  We were so grown-up.  What did our parents mean that we were too young?!  What the heck were they talking about?

And I translate that thought to my kids.  Will I be ready when BG brings home a boy she's in love with?  Or when Buddy announces that he has a girlfriend?  Even the thought of it makes me want to re-patent the chastity belt.  I know what kids that age are doing; and it gets younger every minute.

All I can do is cherish these moments now and hope that I'm raising them well enough to let them go when the time comes.  I hope you can feel that way too about your little ones. 

If you have a baby at home, love him/her extra today in honor of Buddy's first step.  The day will come when your baby graduates high school and you'll look back and wonder where the time went.  I hope we can look back in happiness rather than regret.