little firsts

Before I had children, I knew that there are a lot of important firsts in a child's life.  What I didn't know until I became a mama was that while there are a lot of important firsts, there are a million little firsts that happen every day.  First steps, first words, and first days of school are all big and important.  But when you're with your children all the time, you start to see all the little firsts that can really make you realize how fast time really does go.  The first time they dump a measuring cup full of flour into a mixing bowl.  The first time they realize they can turn on the light switch standing on their tippy-tippy toes.  The first time they take off their own shirt.  The first time they eat an ice cream cone down to the very bottom.  It happens every day.  And this morning was the first time Rowan let me spend a little more time on her hair than just a ponytail.  She sat still and let me play around, and I realized she had enough hair for a french braid.  A messy french braid, but still.  I got a little choked up.  I'm not sure why.  But as I slid my fingers through her cornsilk fine hair, I realized I had a little girl, and she was far from being a baby anymore. 

The days are long around here.  But what they say is right.  The years are short.