Lasts and Firsts

The thing about parenting is it's easy to celebrate the firsts of things, but a little harder to celebrate the lasts. Because most of the time you don't know when the lasts are. I think this past Monday was Liv's last nap. I know, I know - she's 3 1/2, we had a good run. Most kids give up their afternoon nap well before now. She had a cold, took a nap Monday afternoon, then slept 'til 7:45 Tuesday morning - an hour and a half past her usual wake-up time. And I think that did it. I knew she wouldn't nap that afternoon. I put her down to bed early that night, and the new schedule has taken over.

Then yesterday we had mom's group. She played all morning and was pooped that afternoon. She wanted to go to bed but didn't sleep. A little later we read some books, and she just zonked out. It's rare that she falls asleep in my lap. So is this another last? Will she fall asleep in my lap again? I don't know. So I'll treasure this one - notice how much she's grown, how she doesn't fit in my lap like she used to. Marvel at her perfect olive skin, her long eyelashes, her straight black hair. My sweet girl. Such a blessing. Glad Aaron was home to capture it.