Growing Up is Hard to Do.

You would think that I could handle this by now. I've done it before, twice to be exact. This is nothing new but can you please tell that to my heart? Why you ask? because this little adorable thing is growing up.

I've been through it with the other two and I know how it starts. First you realize that they are getting heavy. Then you have to put away the 3-6 month clothes, then you hold off on putting up the 6-9 month clothes until you can no longer convince yourself that high water pants are in season. Finally you close your eyes and don't look back as you venture out of the infant clothing section into the .... *gulp*.... toddler section.

Next they want to feed themselves and they even learn how to ask for things. But babies can't talk? Where's my baby? Where did she go? Then they'll start running. You'll sit there amazed at how fast those little chunky legs will go until the day you realize that newborns can't run and this one no longer wants to snuggle, she wants to run. It's a heart jumping yet heartbreaking type moment of your life.

The last straw will be when she no longer wants (or is forced to because lack of walking skills) to sit with you and play, she wants to join the big girls and play in their room. They'll be kicking and screaming about how they don't want their baby sister to play but we all know by now... she's no longer a baby.

Princess Newbie is a toddler now. Be still my heart. It's breaking and rejoicing all at the same time.

Princess Newbie playing Ring Around the Rosy at Thanksgiving.  Babies can't play Ring Around the Rosy.

Hand me downs

Today I cleaned out Princess Newbie's closet. It was a sad day.

Today I took out all the baby clothes, 3-6 mos, 6-9 mos, all the little tiny socks, cute little drooler bibs, teeny tiny hats, little booties and I put them all in a box to store away.

Then I opened another box and I took out some old clothes, 12 months and up, that all had special memories. It helped with the sadness to bring out outfits that have such awesome memories.

As soon as I pulled it out of the box I had to put this outfit on Princess Newbie:

This picture isn't Princess Newbie, it was Princess Goofy four years ago. Every single time I see it, I think back to these pictures, to her first time playing in mud. She loved that day and I love that outfit because of that day.

How can you not love it?

And tonight... she's wearing this

But now it looks like this;

I might be crying, just maybe.