Has it Been Two Years Already?

On January 12, 2006 at 3:55 a.m. our precious girl arrived. She weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and was 19 & 3/4 inches long. That very day she began holding up her head and looking around. I should have known then that I would have trouble keeping up with her. She hasn't slowed down since making each day exciting and somewhat exhausting.

Here is Bailey at 3 months old. She was rolling over, smiling and capturing the hearts of her love sick parents. She began rolling from her back to her stomach while she and I were spending the night with my parents. That night I put her to sleep and laid her down in her playpen (on her back of coarse). As soon as I placed her on her back she flipped over to her stomach. I turned her over and she flipped right back. We did this a few times ending with her getting her way and me staying up all night watching in fear of her suffocating. The next day my mom convinced me that if she could roll over then she would roll back over if she couldn't breath. I slept a little the next night. This was the beginning of the many battles of will to come. I have recently heard several people say the three's are worse than the two's. O' boy. I'm looking forward to every minute of it.

Six months old! How fast the time goes by! There are so many things happening, from beginning solid foods to crawling. One of the many things going on during this time is our move to Southaven. Bailey is going on seven months and still not crawling. To this point she has been right on or ahead on all her milestones. I'm starting to worry. Just days after we move into our new home Miss Bailey takes off. There is no stopping her now. She can get into all of the things that she has been scoping out all these months. It is then that I realize it's God's grace that caused Bailey to begin crawling after the move. Things would have been much more difficult with a mobile six month old. Thanks God!

At nine months my sweet girl is pulling up and cruising. At ten months she begins walking and loves this new mode of transportation. If our home wasn't baby proof before we had to make sure that it is now. She is saying lots of words. She has mommy and daddy wrapped around her little finger.

The big first birthday. It's bittersweet. That first year of sleepless nights and worrying are over, but so is the tiny baby that I once had. Bailey now loves to climb, jump, and play. One of her favorite games is playing catch. She will eat just about anything that you put in front of her and may even finish the plate of the kid next to her. She is tiny, but it is not due to a lack of appetite. Bailey can put a few words together now. If you have trouble understanding her she will find a way to get her point across even if it is taking you by the finger and leading you to what she needs.

Here she is at 1 & 1/2 years old. When I think I couldn't possibly love her more it seems exactly that happens. Bailey is talking in sentences now. She loves to be around other kids. We aren't quiet sure where she got it, but Bailey thrives on being the center of attention. One of her favorite phrases is "Mommy, watch me". Others used rather often are "I so funny" and "I do it myself".

My two year old birthday girl. Bailey can carry on a conversation with just about anyone now. She talks all day long. I tease saying she may be a narrator or sports announcer when she grows up. She gives us a play by play of everything that she does. She loves to play games and spend time with her friends. She has also turned into a candy monster. That is something we need to work on. Bailey is mommy's little sidekick. If I do it, she does it. She watches my every move. I do not even realize some habits I have until I notice her doing them. If I sneeze, Bailey does too. If I laugh, Bailey does too. It is flattering and frightening at the same time. Wow, God really gives us an awesome responsibility as parents. I just pray that he covers all of my mistakes because I know I make plenty.

This two year journey has been full of highs and lows. I worry often if I am being the mom that I need to be, the woman that I want Bailey to become. Being a stay-at-home mom is truly one of the hardest, but most rewarding jobs in the world. I try to remember that if everything doesn't get done today there is always tomorrow. I want to do today the things that I would regret not doing if tomorrow doesn't come (laundry isn't one of those things, spending time with my daughter is). I have days that I don't get much done other than tending to and playing with Bailey. Sometimes that makes me feel guilty. Then there are other days that I feel like I got a lot accomplished, but pushed my baby away saying I was busy. It is hard to find that balance.

I also worry that I will look back and realize that I did not enjoy her as much as I could have had I not let the little things cause me stress. I want to enjoy every moment that I have with her. The older she gets the fewer there will be. Sometimes I think stay-at-home moms take for granted all of the time that we have and don't really savour the everyday moments. I pray that I will begin to do so.

Although life as mom isn't always easy it's always worth it. I love Bailey Dawn Taylor so much. At the end of the day when we are rocking at bedtime it seems that all is right in the world (of coarse I don't mind when Dad steps in and lets me get an early bath). My daughter is so precious to me. I can't remember really wanting to be anything when I grew up other than a wife and mother. Isn't God good. I don't always appreciate all He does and sometimes even need time from my greatest blessings (but don't we all). When I really stop and think about the life He has given me I am amazed. I couldn't have imagined anything better.

I would love to hear comments from other moms and dads about the highs and lows of your journey through parenthood.