January is the calm before the storm at our house. All three boys have birthdays in a five week span coming up, and my mom’s birthday, Valentine’s Day and my parents’ wedding anniversary falls in there, too. This is the season of new beginnings, but for me it’s also a season of nostalgia and looking back. Fisher-Price’s theme this month is milestones, and that couldn’t be more appropriate for where my head is at these days.
It amazes me to think of my wee babies (okay, they were 9lbs, 10lbs and 10lbs 1oz at birth, so maybe not quite “wee”!) and see the amazing creatures they are today. Tristan, who was borderline failure to thrive at eight weeks, is second tallest in his class and this year joined the football and basketball teams. Simon, who had to be coaxed out 10 days past his due date and still took more than 24 hours of labour to emerge, is Mr Popularity with amazing ability to play music from memory and wants his own agent. And Lucas, my biggest wee baby, is reading and loves math – in junior kindergarten.
When they were little, the milestones were obvious and often: first solid food, first steps, first words. It seemed like there was a new and astonishing milestone achieved every week. Now the things that give me the most pride are more subtle, less achievements and more moments, like when I realized that Tristan reads aloud to Simon most nights before bed long after they are supposed to be lights-out, or when I catch glimpses of the grown-ups they will be as the baby fat melts away.
When I was invited to stay on for another year as a Fisher-Price play ambassador, I thought of exactly this – how quickly they are growing up and leaving their babyhoods behind. Way behind! While you know I deeply admire the Fisher-Price brand and have very much enjoyed being a part of this promotional campaign, I worried that we were on the upper cusp of the age target for the campaign. In the end, after a few lengthy conversations both with the brand representatives and the family, I’ve decided to stay on for another year, but will be finding some creative ways to blog about the terrific Fisher-Price toys and gear designed for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. I don’t want to say too much just now, but here’s a hint: stay tuned, I might need your help!
One thing I’ve come to realize: you’re really never to old to play.
Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are always my own.
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Love the side-by-side pics. My husband still has his boyhood train set. Now we set it up at the base of the Christmas tree.