Milestones and memories

I don’t know exactly when it started, but Jack pretty recently learned how to walk up the stairs. This is different than climbing them on all fours. Now he can go up the stairs standing upright the entire time. As I watched him do it this evening, it struck me that he will never ever have to crawl up them again.

Jack also learned how to climb up on the couch this week. I believe Friday was the first day I saw him do it. Never again will he need me to give him that final boost up. All these milestones are wonderful, but they also signify the closing of a previous chapter. I found myself getting wistful for the days when we were so excited that he could roll over or pull himself up to standing. Days are long – there are afternoons when I look at the clock and moan to myself, “I can’t believe it’s only 3:00!” – but Jack’s babyhood is just flying by.

But this nostalgia comes and goes. A second after getting misty-eyed watching him get to the top of the stairs, I heard Tom ask him, “Is it night-night time?” Jack answered, “No!” and I caught myself thinking, “I can’t wait until he’s older, and bedtime isn’t such a battle!”