Ava is 8 months old today.  This afternoon, as I watched her sit in the middle of the floor, trying to figure out the best possible way to fit a toy into her mouth, I was struck by the fact that she’s no longer a newborn.  She doesn’t need or want to be held all the time.  She explores far and wide – climbing steps, walking along furniture, glancing my way as she’s about to grab some questionable item, joining with her siblings as best as she’s able whenever they are playing nearby.  I don’t know why, but this time around is catching me a bit more off-guard than usual.  More than ever before, I’ve found myself teary-eyed and wishing that time would slow down just a little for me and my baby girl.  But, I need to settle for enjoying these fleeting moments as long as they last and not thinking too long on what life will look like in a year or a decade or more.  I am so thankful for her.