milestones

i just got some film pictures back from my sister kylie. she took them when van was only a few weeks old for a film project. it was quite the task to find a place to get them developed, so it was neat to see them months later. it's incredible to see how tiny he was. he has grown so much and so fast. one day while nursing i looked down and noticed his long legs dangling off my lap and kicking the side of my rocking chair and it hit me, "what just happened? where did my baby go?"

it's as if van is waking up from a deep sleep. one day he finally noticed the colorful toys that hung above him, another day he mustered the strength to roll over, and then he was suddenly in his big boy crib sleeping through the night. the next day he could sit on his own and down two or three jars of baby food. then he figured out how to clap and more recently he started crawling as if he learned how over night. i suddenly find myself chasing after a baby--a baby baby! a curious, chubby, and hilarious baby.

van is no longer a fragile infant confined to his mama's arms. he is discovering the world around him and and can even maneuver through obstacles like a maze to get what he wants. his sweet newborn sounds have turned into loud squeaks and monotone chants. i love to watch him and see his little eyes follow the birds in the sky. i wonder what he's thinking. i can see his brain spinning and i know somehow he is comprehending light, shapes, sounds, and textures. then he looks back at me, and his eyes light up. he mirrors my smile and suddenly all feels right in the world.

with the passing of each milestone comes a new and exciting one. i feel blessed to be able to witness van grow up and more importantly, shape who he becomes.