He's still my little baby

It seems I'm constantly thinking about how big Bear is getting. He's doing new things almost daily. Right now, it's standing alone for longer periods of time. And, today he even started to take a step.

But, he's still a little baby. I'm reminded of this when we sit down to nurse. We snuggle together, and I feel his little shoulders and back, and I'm reminded how much more growing he has to do.

I love those times. We've had our challenges nursing - first, he wanted to constantly, then he rarely wanted to at all - but, now it is purely peaceful. It's especially precious to me on my nights off when I get to put him to bed.

At all times, it is the perfect paradox of his growing independence, and his persistent dependence on his mother. His ability to help find his own way to the target is a demonstration of his independence that only I get to see. Yet, his primary source of nourishment is still coming from me, a true testament to his dependence.

So, I look forward to the times when we go into his room and snuggle in the milk chair, or sometimes sit on the couch; Bear gets his favorite drink, and I take a deep breath and relax - what other choice do I have after all? I don't know how many more months we'll have this, so I'll cherish each while we still do.

I don't let it happen to often, but sometimes this snuggling leads to this...