THE YEAR THAT WENT TOO FAST
I went into labor for real at around 12:00 midnight on the 3rd of April 2010. I sat in my bed for about 45 minutes coping with the ever closer contractions playing Text Twist and argued with myself as to when I should concede this was actually the “time.” Three hours later, I heard the cries of Alexander Rolla Mayne. The joy I was feeling in those moments is immeasurable. My whole life felt as close to complete as it has ever felt.
This past Monday my little Alexander Rolla turned a year old. I look at this little person in total awe. He’s walking, babbling, eating everything we put in his mouth, and figuring things out at a rapid pace.
I went into his baby journal and wrote about his first birthday party and recapped the little moments that were worth noting. I went back to the beginning of the journal and found myself laughing, again. I’m never going to stop finding it funny the impatience I had during my pregnancy with him. Every moment of the entire 10 months and 1 week was ETERNAL! I was so anxious to hold him that I complained about how long it was taking to get to.
Now, I’m looking at the insane speed this past year has traveled and feel pretty silly for being so impatient. It’s true that when we want time to hurry, it slows. And vice versa. This has never been more true than right now.
While the evidence of warp speed is in Alex, whatever is faster than warp speed is evident in Isabelle. She’ll be turning 13 in less than a month and she lets me know as often as the thought crosses her mind.
She’s finally playing softball for a city league and I don’t think she’s been this consistently excited about anything in her life. We debated for a long time when the right time would be to put her in softball, and I believe now was the best time for her. She’s learning how to play so fast and she wants to be the best. After only a little over a month of practices and games, she’s focusing her goals. She wants to play softball through high school and get a scholarship to play for the U of A. Not a bad idea.
She recently received a letter from the National Honors Society (yearbook selling) congratulating her on her grades and dedication. I explained to her how grades and sports work in high school. I told her if she stays on the NHS and plays softball as well as we think she’ll be able to when she gets to that level, she’ll definitely get a scholarship.
Twelve/thirteen years old is an interesting age. I vividly remember what my priorities were at her age. It started with the intentions to do the same kind of thing...not sports per se, but getting picked up to go to school was something I really wanted to do. Boys, friends, and social life completely took over my priorities and essentially threw me off course. I hope with all my heart she’s able to stay as focused as she is right now. I hope I’ve instilled in her the proper mind set. So far it seems to be that I have, but like I said, this age is interesting.
My kids are funny. I’m floored I’m closing in on 31. I made fun of Josh for being 32. Yuck. We’re not babies at all anymore. If someone can show me how to slow this time thing down a smidge, I’d be eternally grateful.
