Three Years Old (three months ago!)

How do you measure time? We measures time in minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years. And yet that really doesn't capture the essence of what time feels like.

When you are 10 and can't wait to be in your teens ... 3 years seems like forever! When you are 13 and can't wait to turn 16 and get your license, you think the time will never pass. When you are 38 and staring down 40 ... time seems to blow away as quickly as a dandelion's seeds are disbursed by the puff of breath from a toddler.

And that is how the past three years have gone in our lives. In some ways, it feels like Jackson, Addison and William have always been a part of my life. It is hard for me to imagine what my life was like pre-triplets. And in other ways, it is as if they have just been here for a moment.

A few weeks ago, we took the kids to have their pictures made at Portrait Innovations. We go there every year around their birthday ... good pictures for a great price! Later that day, back at work, I put their 3 year old pictures in the frames that I have in my office. There under the 2 year pics were the 1 year pics. And it took my breath away how much they have changed.

Gone are my babies. Gone are my toddlers. I sat there looking at their pictures and it was so easy to imagine what each of them will look like at 18 ... when I will be placing their senior portraits in those frames. And I am already sad. Sad that they are growing up so quickly. Sad that I can't just stop and cherish every moment ... the good and the bad ... and just enjoy now. Sad that I have already forgotten so many things.

And so I resolve (once again) to blog more often for posterity. To remember the funny things my kids say and do. To treasure each day for the beauty it brings. To remember that happiness is fleeting, that God is good and that ultimately loving our Father is what is important.

So let's see how long I can keep this up! I'll leave you with something insightful that Addison said the other day when I was sad:

Addison: Mommy, what is wrong?

Me: I'm sad Addison

Addison: Mommy, don't be sad.

Me: It's OK. Sometimes Mommies get sad.

Addison: There is no room for sad Mommy.

Seriously, who is the parent here? I definitely know that I am learning as much from them as they are learning from me. The interesting thing is that God is using them to help me grow Spiritually. And I thought that was my job to help them. God is amazing that way.

So, without further delay, here are some of their 3 year pictures