Asa was born a few days before Christmas.  And as much as I try to remember what he was like in all his new-ness, all I can remember is the chaos of trying (and failing once again) to breastfeed, Christmas trees, ornaments, new toys and lots of visitors.

Then the kids went back to school a few days a week once January came, and I had that time alone with him now.  I snuggled and cuddled and rocked and sang and enjoyed my time with him then.  But by the time the “big” kids got out of school in May, he was just beginning to get out of his “sack of flour” stage.  He could finally laugh and interact.  He was beginning to sit up on his own.  He was beginning to really babble a lot.  His personality showed up about the time they finished school.  And, fair or not, I feel like he kind of got the shaft once summer started.  I definitely met his needs.  I fed him, clothed him, bathed him, changed his diaper.  But there weren’t a lot of times that I sat down and focused on him. The “big” kids are louder and more attention-grabbing.

But now that school’s back in, I’m lovin’ Mommy-Asa time.  Today after his nap, I sang Old MacDonald a hundred times and tickled him with each of his little toy animals…and I listened to his guffaws(really…I’ve never heard a kid laugh like he does).  And I stared at his toothless grin.  And we sang and danced.  And I shared giggles with my not-so-small-anymore baby boy.  And we cuddled.  Because really?  Who doesn’t love a good cuddle.

We lived in the moment and I took it all in.

And I only took one blurry blackberry picture: