what i’ll remember

We’re going through some major growing pains over here. My husband took an amazing new job which we are SO SO SO grateful for, but definitely affects the whole family. I am the primary parent during the day now which I am SO SO SO grateful that I can do, but is a bit of an adjustment. To top it all off, Sadie is on the verge of turning a year old (how did that happen?) and is experiencing everything that goes along with that: teething, temper tantrums, and other pre-toddler trials and tribulations. As I write this, I am going on four hours of sleep (not consecutive, mind you) after an arduous night of crying (mostly hers) and am anticipating a long day ahead of me.

And yet. We are okay. We are more than okay. A year into this parenting gig and I’m finding that the difficult days are still difficult, but don’t hit me as hard as they used to. It is all temporary. And hopefully (crossing my fingers and toes), tomorrow will be a better day. Heck, things might be better in an hour. That’s the way “baby time” works.

So today, I want to share what I’m going to remember most about this time. In the midst of all of these changes and transitions, there was THIS:

We took Sadie to San Francisco – her first vacation and our first in years. And while it was very different vacationing with a baby and came with its own set of challenges, we found moments of magic like this one during Sadie’s first time at an aquarium.

I keep coming back to these images. I see them in my dreams. Every time I look at them, I am reminded that even when life is giving you a run for your money, there is an opportunity to  see the world through the lens of wonder and gratitude. She reminds me that every day, every moment, is an opportunity to begin again.