A quick judgement

I was driving to the dentist last night and I saw a man, with his back to me, walking on the sidewalk with no shirt on. Other than the no shirt, he seemed of sound mind (he was wearing pants and shoes). I thought to myself,

"Dude, I know it's warm but GEEZE - put a shirt on already!"

My next thought was "Canadians - any sign of warm weather and we're in shorts, flip flops and no shirts!!" In short, I thought he was a lunatic.

As I got closer to him, he turned around and to my shock and surprise, he was carrying a newborn baby, covered in a blanket, right on his chest. I gasped. Then I cried. This man is pacing the sidewalk, with skin-to-skin contact for his newborn baby, calming it, getting it to sleep. And here I was thinking this guy was some yahoo galavanting around without his shirt on for mere sport. Shame on me. My next thought was to the mother, who (I will venture a guess) was likely in the house trying to cope with the craziness I call Week 1 with Baby. Was she sleeping? Crying? Just trying to cope? Who knows.

I passed such a quick judgement only to realize I was completely off. How many times have I done that without knowing the full story? I will certainly know better next time.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Things change right before my eyes - before I even know they've changed. Most notably are the phases of my daughter's life that just seem to pass before I've even realized they are gone.

Tonight I sang a rousing rendition of "The Goodbye Song" from Bear in the Big Blue House (thankfully I know the words) and a not so perfect version of "Teddy Bear's Picnic" (I have since looked up the words). When did this little ritual begin, I wonder? It has been going on for as long as I can remember. Me or my husband, sitting beside her bed singing and patting her back.

It got me thinking about all the other little things we would do for her - especially at night - and when they just stopped? When did rocking her in the glider stop? Walking and bouncing? Nursing? Night waking? (ok, she still does that last one sometimes) I feel though that when I go through each of these 'phases' it seems that they will never end. Then she outgrows them or they outgrow her - or better yet - we just get tired of them all and move onto something else.

As I looked at her in her bed today, I still couldn't believe how big she's gotten, how she says "Good night Mommy, I love you" and gives me a kiss and hug. I also know that this phase too will pass. I hope it never does or better yet, I hope I never forget it.