First Birthday Provides a Bittersweet Milestone

Amy George

My baby turned 1 last month.

How did that happen?

I don’t mean that in the literal sense. I know how it happened. Lily grew up and progressed just like
babies do.

What I mean is – how did it happen so quickly?

It really just seems like yesterday that I was cuddled up in the recliner with Lily, watching her sleep in my arms in a quiet house while Chris was at work and Ann Catherine was at daycare. I remember thinking, “This is what life is all about.”

Then I blinked one day, and she was eating solid foods, drinking out of a sippy cup, trying to take steps and saying “ma-ma.”

What makes this milestone even harder is the fact that Lily is my baby. I find myself getting so excited when Ann Catherine reaches a milestone. Maybe it’s because she’s the oldest – or maybe it’s because we came so close to losing her when she was born.

But with Lily, it’s different. Yes, I’m excited when she does something new, but it’s also just one more reminder that Mommy’s little girl is growing up. And because Chris and I believe God has blessed us
beyond what we could have imagined (and we are stopping while we’re ahead!), I also know that when
Lily’s baby phase passes, I’ll never experience it again.

Oh, there’s plenty to be thankful for in that respect. No more 3 a.m. feedings, no more trying to feed Ann Catherine while giving Lily a bottle at the same time, no more spit-up down the front of my shirt (always at the time I was walking out the door to work!)

But there’s also a twinge of sadness as that phase passes away. The baby years are so special. There
was nothing I enjoyed more than holding my babies in my arms and loving them. Now, I’m lucky if I can chase Ann Catherine down long enough to get a hug!

Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled that Lily has met this milestone. I am so blessed that God has allowed her to grow and thrive. However, each time I rejoice when she says a new word, or takes a step, I also find myself wanting to stop time and record these moments in my mind. And hold onto them just a little longer. It’s all part of being a mother.

After a successful career as a news anchor at Channel 19, Amy George now works full time for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. She and husband Chris are the proud parents of Ann Katherine (2) and Lily (11 months). Her passion is raising awareness about prematurity and the NICU at Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children.