these dear baby days

Alas, I am retreating to the quiet world of blogging for the likely two readers aside from Seth and dad (hi, Rachel, hi Jay!) who still read this. I won’t go into another diatribe on my confusing feelings towards social media. Instead, today, I’m going to write about these sweet spring days. I’m calling them Baby Days. We’re in a fleeting season that I’m well aware I’ll probably romanticize in the future. My older three are in school three to five days a week, so I’m often home with Penny and Auggie who I have taken to calling The Littles. Our summer will be busy, loud, vibrant, so I am embracing the slow beauty of April.

It’s The Littles and I right now during our days since our second spring break ended (our Parochial school decided on two breaks this year which has meant disregulation for parents and children alike). Today, I think for the very first time, I have both of them napping in their respective rooms at the same time (!!!). This feels so totally luxurious and a bit decadent! We recently moved Penny at age two and a half from the nursery into Priscilla’s room. We made a big deal out of it, and I’m so proud of how well she’s doing. She’ll even stay in her bed during nap time, which I don’t anticipate lasting. For now, for today, I am enjoying it. We now have a sisters and brothers room respectively, it feels so special. Auggie still prefers his mini crib on loan from dear Emma. I think I’ll start putting him in the main crib for naps in the next week or so. He still spends nights upstairs with us.

These Baby Days usually mean something fun in the morning: coffee shop, park, playdate, walk and then back home for lunch. Auggie isn’t on much of a schedule so he’ll usually nap in the car seat, stroller, or carrier if we’re out and about. I try to be home by Penny’s nap time, though.

I love when our house feels quiet, the slow sounds of spring beginning: birds, dogs, lawn machines going. Often indistinguishable these slow days, afternoons all melting together, but special and important none the less. I am reminded when I think of this time of a quote I read from Teaching From Rest a year ago that lives on the front page of this blog:

“We recognize all the small moments throughout our day for what they are— the makings of a cathedral of timeless beauty, the planting of seeds that will bear fruit in their season.” -Sarah Mackenzie

These moments, this posture of motherhood is neither glamorous nor prominent, but the tedious work adds up to something. These Baby Days are like the making of a cathedral, but instead of a visible place of worship the work is the worship and the physical manifestation that occurs is that of the development of a person. While I am overwhelmed and usually longing for more quiet or space for creative endeavors, the importance of this motherhood effort is not lost on me. I love and cherish days like today. The blessing of a tandem nap doesn’t hurt.

When Auggie was born I kept wondering if I would feel a bit of dejavu, taking me back a handful of years to when I had a toddler Priscilla and new baby Langston. To my surprise, it feels entirely different. I believe I am a little wiser now, resting in my mother-wit. For today, I will embrace Penny asking to read her favorite book, she calls it “the Timmy book,” but it’s a collection of Little Golden Books and Auggie’s wide, expressive gaze as he takes in the greening world around him. These Baby Days are cathedrals-in-the-making, and I am up to the task and ever grateful for them.