The Thrills and Fears of Turning 11-Months-Old

My baby girl starting doing something last week that scared me like crazy. Something that made me want to snatch her up and hide her away.

She took her first steps.

I know, I know, I’m supposed to be all “yay baby girl!”, but I’m not! She is my last baby, and with three big brothers she is something of a marvel at our house.

And I want her to slow down.

She turned 11 months a week ago and that means her first birthday is only 3 weeks away. My pulse may have started racing when I just typed that sentence.

I want her to slow down.

She is talking and clapping and eating big people food (and often refuses baby food, actually) and has eyes that are so deep I feel like she knows my every secret. I mean, do you see those eyes up there?

And I want her to slow down.

I really do have excitement when I think of her growing older, having conversations with me, asking me questions, meeting friends, going shopping. All the things.

But right now, I’m feeling a little bit scared of that first birthday. Of her days as “baby” being numbered as the path to toddlerhood and preschool-hood and big-kid-hood are staring me in the face.

And I know she isn’t going to slow down.