Slow Down the Clock

"'A' you're adorable, 'B' you're so beautiful, 'C' you're a cutie full of charm"...do any of you know that song? My mom used to sing it to us; along with "The poor old slave" and a clever ditty about a moth and a light bulb. Anyhoo, I digress, but it's fun to remember the things my mom did for us. She made the most awesome paper dolls. She would draw ladies in beautiful dresses with elaborate hair-do's and then Jaime and I would color them and cut them out ever so carefully. We used to play with those things for hours. But again...digression...back to my song. It pops into my head whenever I look at Joseph. A newborn's facial expressions are so mercurial; by turns you see a fleeting smile, a wrinkled brow, pursed lips, the beginnings of a cry, wide-eyed surprise, and that look of intense concentration that comes right before they poop. Their face is better than the best t.v. show and I hate to look away because I'll miss something wonderful, I just know it. I'm trying to treasure up every moment because these days won't come back to me. I'll have my children forever, but they will only be a wonderful newborn, or a curious and delightful 3 year old, or a eager, helpful 5 year old, or a intelligent 8 year old connecting the dots of life once, just once. I will not know them this way again. Slow down life!! Let me hold Joseph a few minutes longer. I need more time to build block towers with Grant that he can smash and giggle over. One more story for Grace please while she snuggles close! Stay with me Merritt and tell me one more factoid about dinosaurs or jellyfish or giant squids. Don't grow so fast!