It's Intense to be a Mom to an Almost Two-Year Old

My last child. 

The last of the babies.

The caboose on this fast freight train of parenting. 

She is still a baby, 

still needing snuggles when she's sick,

still clingy when she's tired ("Uppa, Momma!"),

still unable to keep up with the big kids when they run.

But then, she's not a baby any more in so many ways that are achingly obvious, too.

Like how she is on the fast track to potty-training herself.
("Go potty, jelly bean!")
...and then when sitting on the loo..
("ABC's, Momma, sing ABC's!")

The lady-like way she has of doing things properly and keeping things in the right place and order.

The way she loves saying big words with such gusto, quickly progressing with her sounds until she has it right. 

("Yook Me, Momma!") 

Yes, she has her opinions about how things should be done and is driven to learn, to grow, to do things in a way that makes sense to her reasoning little mind. She's a lot like her big brother. Different dynamically from each of her sisters. 

She may, indeed, be the "baby" of the family, but she'll never settle for being the one that deals with Mom when Mom goes through the Empty-Nest syndrome as the older three fly from the nest. 

Nope, not this girl. She'll be free in her soul long before she flies from my nest.

It's in her nature to be so.

And so, in many ways, as I watch her go from baby to big girl in the blink of an eye, I know I'm also saying goodbye to the neediness of "baby"hood in more ways than one. 

And I don't think there's any way to prepare a mother's soul for the next stage. It's like learning to walk. 

First, I must crawl. 

There will be bumps and bruises along the way.

I'll fall down as I learn.

There will be tears.

But as I watch her accomplishments I know my heart will soar with hers.

So maybe...

...just maybe...
 there will be moments the empty nest will be forgotten as I, with wonder, watch them fly.

"Bye, Momma!"

(riding off into the sunset with Prince Charming)