What a Difference a Day Makes!

As of Friday, December 16th Maya and Zoe have been in my care taking charge for exactly 100 days! That would make them 14 weeks and 1 day...whew...where does the time go? Over these past 14 weeks the girls have acquired many new skills (i.e. breast feeding on their own, holding their heads stable, tracking me with their eyes, smiling, laughing, and cooing to name just a few.) In retrospect, they have grown by leaps and bounds since the day I first held them in the hospital (when they both were able to sleep comfortably in the same baby isolet.) In spite of all these achievements, (and because I am with them most all the time,) the changes are mostly subtle, progressing in development over the course of consecutive days, even weeks.

But on occasion there is a day that sticks out like a sore thumb. A day where baby masters a skill for the first time when clearly yesterday it was too great a challenge. Today is one of those days!!! Today is the day that Zoe successfully pushed her head and chest up off the floor with her adorably delicate arms all by herself. Not just once, but at least five or six times. This all occurred during our ritual of "tummy time" (that I try to schedule successfully at least twice a day - although sometimes Mommy blows it and forgets all about "tummy time" in her flurry of domestic activities...but not on this momentous day...no siry Bob!)

We had just finished with the girls morning snack when I gingerly placed them both face down on their usually beloved red/black/and white playmat (what would we do without that thing???) Normally it takes both babes a moment or two to acclimate to the fact that they have, in fact, been turned upside down and they are now face-planted into their suddenly less than favorite mat. Maya often quickly regains focus and begins her flying routine (this is where she lifts both her arms and legs simultaneously off the ground so that she is now supporting herself entirely with her rapidly increasing belly and her face.) Although this is very cute from Mommy's perspective it seems to make her quite peevish after about three or four minutes (I can't imagine why???) So I usually take pity on her as her disgruntled wails increase in both volume and urgency. It is most amusing how a quick flip into the familiar back resting position can produce an almost instant full faced grin - complete with sparkling eyes and protruding tongue.)

Now Zoe's "tummy time" experience usually takes a different route. She usually transitions rather well onto her belly and quickly turns her face to the side (a maneuver that hasn't quite occurred to Maya yet,) and either kicks her legs sporadically, sucks on any available fist, or takes a convenient belly snooze. But today she decided to throw Mommy for a loop!... Today is the day she must have been thinking "Hey let's see what these arm things can really do!" So rather quickly, she proceeded to use her precious little saliva-soaked paws to push up not only her head but her chest off the mat (just like they describe in all those baby development books!) Well, I could barely believe my eyes after watching her do it the first time. After all, she is the baby with the delicate frame and very little baby fat. Her sister is the one sporting the Big Guns not to mention her Thighs and Buns of Steel! Who would have thought that little Zoe would be the first across the push up finish line...YOU GO GIRL!!! While all this happening, I became aware that this was indeed one of those special milestone moments never to come again...so...appropriately I began frantically thinking..."Where the 'heck' is that 'darn' camera???!!!" Fortunately, Zoe was good enough to keep the body building show going until Mommy found the camera and could snap a few shots for posterity. Unfortunately, by the time that "darn" flash went off she was usually on the down swing of her upper body lifts....(Why can't they make those camera flashes go any faster...huh??? Oh, well that is a problem to be dealt with on another day.)


For now, I am simply in awe of the fact that my little one is growing up so fast. I mean today it is a head lift, but all too soon comes sitting, standing, and I just know all hell is going to break loose when the walking starts! Funny, they are only 14 weeks and 1 day but already I feel a tinge of melancholy about them growing up too fast. Each day, as I cuddle them before their naps, I make sure to nuzzle their heads and take in a deep breath of their delicious baby smell because I can already feel that these delightful days of blissful carefree baby cuddles are numbered. I do realize that they will soon be replaced with other wonderful experiences like reading together, helping them learn to ride a bike, and their first trip to the beach. But there is nothing like the angelic caress of a sleeping baby on your shoulder who flashes a heart-melting toothless grin as she dances playfully through her baby dreams.