You're going to miss this.

That’s what everyone said to me when I was carrying each baby.

You're going to miss this.

That’s what they said to me when I was nine months pregnant, couldn’t see my feet but felt pretty sure they were no longer existent and I was just ready to have this baby in my arms and out of my belly.

You’re going to miss this.

That’s what they said to me with tears streaming down my face, the same spit up covered T-shirt from the night before and no sleep when I asked if I would ever sleep more than two straight hours ever again for the rest of my life.

You’re going to miss this.

That’s what they said when that sweet little angel baby started destroying everything in his path with a temper that could scare even the bravest of souls.

You’re going to miss this.

That’s what they said when I couldn’t leave my house without everything but the kitchen sink. When I had diapers and wipes and an extra change of clothes for me and baby. When I had bottles to bring and formula and extra formula just in case and his favorite blanket and changing pad and somehow manage to fit it all in my truck without making the neighbors think we were going on a family vacation instead of a little play date with a baby and toddler.

You’re going to miss this.

That’s what they said to me through every single phase and stage and all the trenches. They said it so much I was tired of hearing it because missing it I didn’t think I possibly could or would, but be thankful for it all, I knew that would be true.

Then this morning I woke up before the sun.

I hadn’t been up all night with a baby that needed to be fed every few hours or changed.

I hadn’t been up all night with a toddler that had a bad dream.

I wasn’t up hours early to prepare a diaper bag only so I could double check it and triple check it before we left for a doctors appointment or play date.

I was up packing lunch boxes.

That’s when I realized they were right all along, I had missed it.

I missed it all so much that I didn’t even realize it was gone and I don’t even know how it went by so fast.

I haven’t had to rock a colicky baby to sleep or lug everything but the kitchen sink in or carry a sweet baby because they can’t walk yet in many years and sitting there packing lunch boxes I realized I had in fact missed it.

If I could go back and tell that tired mom with a newborn that she’s going to miss this, I would.

Or the mom with all the baby stuff falling out of her car that she’s going to miss this, I would.

I would tell her that I know she will because I missed it too.

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