With all of our friends having babies now, I just have to look back to see how much our little ones have grown in the last 3 years and 21 months. *sigh*  They grow so fast!  What happened to those little immobile infants that didn’t talk back, didn’t smear food on themselves and didn’t use their sleeves as a very handy alternative to a napkin and a Kleenex.

Here is Kai at 3 months old in all his wonderful chubbiness.  He still liked to eat then…he really, really liked to eat.  Ah, the good old days.  At that point he was a little drool monster and kept drooling until around 8 months when he had more teeth than most 80 year-old men.  Having 4 teeth by 4 months old is just not normal, nor comfortable for his nursing mama.

Then and now 

3 months old zebra

Here’s our little princess…so little, so fragile, so ready to start madly sucking that thumb.  In this picture she was brand spankin’ new…only hours old and mommy was already obsessively taking pictures.  Anya’s birth was so much better than Kailan’s so I actually felt like moving around (evil, evil epidural).

Then and now…

Anya in the hospital thumb sucker

It seems like just yesterday that we were taking them home, and now they are walking, talking little humans that are the joys of our lives.  While they occasionally (and sometimes OFTEN) frustrate us, they are so fun to watch grow and evolve.

I think it is funny when people say, “‘We’ll get a dog first and then have kids.”  Dogs are nothing like these little human beings.  I know the love that people without kids have for their pets, and I know it is real love, but the love and the sacrifices you are willing to make for your children far, far eclipses that for your little pet.

For your children, you will go through the immense pain of birth, but think nothing of it. 

For your children, you will sacrifice financially…no annual vacation trip where’s it all about you…no new car every few years…no new outfit (with shoes and purse to match!) every week/month…no eating out several times a week.  Man were we spoiled!!

For your children, your world will stop on its end when they are sick or hurt…and you would do anything to make it go away.

For your children, you give your all…your heart, your soul…your family is what makes your days so much better.  That smile, that little kiss…it’s a wonderful end to every day.