I know, I know. People tell me they grow up so fast, but this is too much – Gem is already getting too big for some of her clothes. Some she didn’t even get to wear.
On Thursday, we had a well baby checkup. At 6 weeks old, she weighs 12 pounds, 4 ounces – up from 7 pounds, 9 ounces at birth. She has grown 3 inches in length and her head circumference has increased by 2 inches since birth.
I worry about how quickly time is passing. I’m afraid I’m going to miss something. I’ve gone whole days without taking a picture of her – and she changes so much each day. I’m a bit sleep deprived and my brain is often in a groggy haze – I worry I’ll miss a smile, or a giggle, or a coo. She is so close to rolling over, she can scootch herself several inches away from where I put her down, she has discovered the baby in the mirror, and when she smiles – my heart stops.
I once heard someone say that parenthood means deciding to let your heart run around outside of your body. I’m starting to get this picture of parenthood as one big, long, excruciating yet joyous exercise in letting go. This started for me even before her birth. When complications started piling up and I spent the 33rd week of my pregnancy in the hospital, I got a crash course in accepting the fact that I can’t control everything. On an intellectual level, I understand that I can’t control everything about my daughter’s upbringing – on an emotional level, I still want to try.
Over the past several years I’ve had several lessons in letting go – losing a job and my father’s death were big lessons. Later I mustered the courage to let go of the income that came from a dead end job so I could go back to college. Lessons learned, perhaps, to prepare me for the years ahead of holding her close, while at the same time, letting her grow.
I love the little rolls on her legs. I always knew I was doing my job if my babies had those rolls and of course a big ole’ smile! She is precious.
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I remember having these same feelings at this same 6 week interval. I spent every single moment with the babies, yet I was convinced that I surely missed something important. Enjoy every single moment so you can tell her all the fun stories as she is growing up.
Your little angel baby is just so adorable. I cannot believe she is already 6 weeks old!
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I remember feeling that way, too.
This is a beautiful post, Judy! Love her picture….she’s precious! Time does fly…my “baby” is now 16 yrs old….and my middle child made me a Grandma. I’m sure you won’t miss much, just relax and enjoy the ride. 
~Hugs!
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I still feel that way and my son is five. I often find myself saying that I rejoice in each milestone, while mourning the passage of what came before. It’s an odd mix of emotions.
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Six weeks already!! Time flies when you’re having fun, doesn’t it. I still take a lot of pics, I’m glad for digital cameras!
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Time does fly… and it’s bittersweet. But when you see what confident creatures these babies grow into, it’s amazing. My little guy is now nearly 4, and he says some of the most amazing, curious, insightful things. And he never fails to turn me into a mushy pile of mom goo when he reaches his little hand up, touches my cheek and says “Mommy, I love you.” It just doesn’t get any better than that!
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My babies are older now (4.5 and 3) but I remember those days. I took hundreds of pictures of them while they slept. LOL I agree, parenthood is all about letting go and enjoying the ride. Every new thing they do is another reminder they are no longer babies. Sigh! Thanks for the memories!
Visiting from SITS…
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