time flies

Yesterday I went to visit my dear friend Julie in the hospital. After a long and difficult pregnancy she had finally just given birth to her second little boy. He was tiny and perfect. One year ago this week I was in the hospital doing the same thing. Johnny's birthday was on Tuesday. I had him with me when we went to see baby Zach and I couldn't stop staring. I can't believe how far we have come this year, how far he has come. He had his well-child check-up on Wednesday, he is just over 20 lbs. He is growing taller every day. He takes four and five steps at a time and will probably be really walking any day. He babbles all day and says three words (Mama, Dada and bye-bye) and he can climb anything. I seldom see him without a grin on his face. He loves his Mommy and follows me around the house all day. We have come a long way from the days of midnight feedings, reflux and colic (ok- he still throws up all the time but my pediatrician swears he will outgrow that). I almost didn't make it through last fall, but this summer has been absolutely delightful. He is the most delightful little one I have seen in a long time and there is nothing I would trade for this time with him. It is, however, probably better that no one offered last September. We couldn't do without him and now that it's in the past I am more than willing to pay the price we did to have the lovely baby we do. I am sure that there will be many challenges in the future and he will not stay this lovely pre-toddler for ever, but I think this year has finally taught me that this too shall pass and that the struggle will pay off. Maybe that will help me through the next rough season.