Times keeps on slipping...into the future

We just returned from a wonderful visit with family in Indiana. We (me, Aidan, Asher, Namaw and Pops) drove up Thursday and returned Sunday. We got to see most of the Hawkins side of the family(2 were returning from a Disney trip and 1 lives in San Juan-that must be like living in paradise!) but most importantly we got to see the newest member of the Hawkins family and everyone got to see the newest member of our family. Aidan had a great time, he got to play in the snow in addition to playing with all his cousins and aunts and uncles. He was uncharacteristically shy but he warmed up eventually. We got to meet baby Grant on Friday as well as visit with other family members that stopped by. On Saturday we(me, Aidan, Asher and Namaw) drove to Indianapolis for a baby shower in honor of Grant where we saw the rest of the family. Again, Aidan was very shy but he got over that after a bit.

We hadn't been to Indiana since last summer so it was really nice to see everyone. Grant is as cute in person as his pictures and he seems to be a very good baby. His mom did have a rough couple of nights but I hope all is better now. Aidan loved Grant from the second he saw him and probably kissed him a thousand time over the weekend! Asher and Grant are only 2 months apart but at that age it is such a big difference. Grant is still in that sweet newborn stage when they sleep so much, make cute little facial expressions for no reason, his knees are still tucked under him in the fetal position, his eyeballs roll around when he's trying to focus, and he has the cute little body stretch when you hold him up. Asher had all those just a few weeks ago and they have so quickly given way to other abilities. He sticks his tongue out(even if he isn't sure what he's doing), he's beginning to see far off objects and notice his toys(he is even reaching toward the toys), he holds not only his head but his upper body up, and he recognizes voices(he was so happy to hear and see his Daddy last night!) and the best thing is that he's sleeping through the night.

I was kind of sad after holding Grant because I realized that Asher would never be in that cute newborn age again and how quickly he changed and will continue to change. I am very thankful that I get to stay at home with him and see those changes because when Aidan was his age I had already been back at work for a month. Aidan will be 5 soon and starting kindergarten in August. I can't believe he's growing up so fast and it just breaks my heart to think how quickly the next 5 years will pass. One of Derek's cousins is graduating high school this year and I'm not sure what happened to the 12 years that have passed since I first met her. Time passes so quickly that we really should make the most of each second. I'm going to try and remember this the next time Aidan asks me to do something that I really don't want to do just because I feel like what I have going on is more important. Nothing is more important than spending that second with my child.