Slow Down, Turbo…

My best friend from middle and high school and I had a saying: “Slow down, Turbo!” We’d draw the words out really slowly so it would be more like, “Slooooowww doooowwwwn tuuuurrrrbohhh!” It was appropriate for times when we were driving and some genius decided to pass us at ridiculous speeds. Or, we’d use it when someone was talking quickly, and we couldn’t understand what they were saying.

This phrase came back to me today as I sat and watched the Animal, currently ten and a half months old, putting the rings on his ring stacker. Every time he got one on, he beamed, did a little giggle, and raised his arms in the air just waiting for me to respond with a, “Yay!” He did this over and over.

Later in the day, he was proud of himself for getting his walking toy turned around on his own without falling.

Then, he was proud of himself for taking three pretty solid steps from the couch to me without any stumbles.

And I realized that I was sitting there – really sitting still – and watching him. Something I hadn’t done in a few days because I was busy with work or Miss Sassy Pants or Bhāndāria Words with Friends. But, today, somehow, I was able to just watch my boy do all the awesomely cute things that babies begin to do – and do so quickly.

Life can get so busy on most days that I find myself not soaking in the beauty that is my children. I find myself longing for moments when I can get away and have some freedom, forgetting that my children won’t always be so little and so interested in being with me.

So, I’m taking this opportunity to tell myself to “slow down!” and stare at these beautiful gifts that were given to me. They will only be this exact age one time, and I’m lucky enough to be here to watch.