Miss Independence

It's official.  Princess #3 is walking.  She's been standing on her own for what seemed like forever.  The last few days she began to take little shuffling steps to the side.  And today, I'm not sure if it was the highly appealing looking toy her sisters were playing with or what, but she took off.  A solid 6-7 steps in a row without falling.  And then she did it again.  And again.  And again.

And I'm thrilled.  And at the same time, heartbroken.  Walking means new independence.  Walking means that now all 3 of my children can run away from me.  Walking means I no longer have a baby.  Instead I have a toddler who is quickly growing into her own personality and discovering her world on her own terms now.  And while watching her experience life on her own two little feet brings me much joy, inside my heart hurts a little, because with each new tentative step we get further away from the "baby phase": a period of life I've identified with the last 6 years.  I'll eventually be ready to embrace the next phase, but just not tonight.