There are a lot of thoughts going through a Mom’s mind as she approaches her child’s first birthday. I am not ready for this – for my daughter turning one.
Since giving birth to Annabelle, I’ve always welcomed change with open arms. I saw each time that she turned a week/month older, and reached a developmental milestone, as something to celebrate.
If you follow me on Instagram, you should know by now that I literally celebrated every week that Annabelle got older. But now that she is approaching the one year mark, I don’t feel the same way. I feel like my baby is suddenly growing up too fast and I just want time to slooooooooow down.
Last week I received a letter from Annabelle’s baby school that says she will be transitioned into the first steps room before her first birthday. My first thought, “Well this is going to be cool! She is becoming a big girl!” But then as I started to read the letter describing the changes that will occur with her transition, I felt my throat closing with anxiety.
She can’t have a bottle anymore? She HAS to wear closed toe shoes? She is on a strict schedule? She only takes one nap? She cannot be spoon fed? She can only have finger foods?
I feel so silly obsessing over this but, I’m suddenly not ready for her first birthday.
I can’t fathom that she gets any older. Am I alone feeling like this? Is this normal?
Those things, those are all things that toddlers do. Not my baby. My baby likes her bottle of breast milk. She hates wearing shoes. She takes two-three naps a day and likes when you feed her applesauce with a spoon. She is a baby and likes to do baby things. 
I have never felt such a strong urge to put her in the Moby Wrap and wear her around everywhere until she tells me to put her down. I wanna hold her close, sprinkle some Peter Pan fairy dust on her, and not let her get grow up.
Umm, this gives me major anxiety for you!!! That’s a lot of change for a little one!! No more bottles and no spoon feeding would throw Mav over the edge. He will feed himself but prefers to be feed. Hang in there Momma!!!
PS- How are our babies on their last month before they are 1?!
I have no idea where the time went. I always preach about stopping to slow down and enjoy the moments, but I feel like I blinked and now she’s almost one!
I would cry too. In fact looking at my 3 almost 4 year old, I’m like excuse me, who let you be a real kid? I did not sign that permission form.
My baby will always be a baby, right? I often tell her to stop growing, she does not listen to me.
Oh gosh… I know that she will be 3 before I know it!
Time really has flown by!!! Feels just like yesterday that you were announcing your pregnancy!
Time flies when you’re having fun =0)
I completely feel your anxiety! Liam’s school just told me they are moving him into the “older” toddler room now that he’s 18 months – he will be in with 2 and 3 year olds! Mama isn’t ready for that!
My son is 4.5 months old. On the one hand, I also celebrate every milestone (he is ahead of the curve on everything except sleeping–average, and weight gain–below average)…he’s already eating rice cereal, scooting, rolling over both ways, and sitting up for about 10 seconds. I can’t wait for each more milestone. However, on the other hand, I miss my less than a month old newborn. I miss being able to hold him and cuddle him and not having him push away so he can explore.
That’s a lot of change! I’m so thankful that on everything but nap, our center lets the kids lead the way. It’s a smaller one, so they don’t have to move up right away.
But you’ll get through it! She’ll do great and so will you. 🙂
Wow! That’s a lot of change. I’ve never heard of such strict rules, but I’m sure they are there for a reason. It’s hard when they grow. My son is quite a bit older (12). I went through his baby pictures (0-4 years) not too long ago. I used to look at them all the time, but it had been a while. I can’t believe that I have a little man on my hand. A little man that wants to have a girlfriend (he’s in 6th grade). Time does fly by. That’s not just some cliche. If you aren’t comfortable with all those changes, I would talk to the baby school. My son was still taking 2 naps a day at that age. He was also fed with a spoon. I’m thinking it has to do with ratios (caregivers to kids) and what the easiest way to provide care is. She’s still your baby–always will be. Just a little warning: when she gets to be a tween, she probably won’t want you to call her your “baby.” She’ll insist she’s a big girl. Just ignore all that–they don’t get it. 🙂