Recently, the depth of Nicole's independent, imaginative play has expanded exponentially. As a family who regularly strives to choose books over screens, it's been life-giving to watch her imagination be fueled by the books we read together. After bringing Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sheri Duskey Rinker and Tom Litchenheld home from the library, the top of our toy shelf was transformed into an intricate construction site. Each time we read the story her play deepens and expands in ways that surprise and delight me. It's been incredibly fun to listen in as she builds new buildings and operates her vehicles.
Meanwhile, our Jonah buddy has been investing his time and energy on the complex task of walking. As a 15-month old, he's a little late to the walking game but I knew for certain that he'd get here in his own time. Shawn and I both witnessed Jonah take his first step on July 5th and it's been an exciting progression ever since. His spirit and determination have made it easy for all of us to cheer him on and the look of gratification on his face while he toddles around is so sweet I wish I could bottle it up. Lately, he's been walking more than he's been crawling and the sight of him proudly striding around the house has made me cry on more than one occasion. For some reason this milestone has hit me harder than the rest and my mommy heart is teetering between pride and sadness as I watch him grow.
As the saying goes, "the days are long but the years are short" and I know that this time at home with my kids is fleeting. I firmly believe that most things worth doing in life are going to be hard and there are days when being home with my kids feels unbearably hard. But, there are so many more days that are chock full of sweet moments, profound lessons and limitless play. Witnessing milestones is definitely one of the perks of the job, but I'm even more grateful to be present for all the quiet moments that happen in between. Children are a blessing!
Love,
Erica
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