I'm parenting kids, people. KIDS!

On the way home from the park today, I realized something.

While for the past three years, I've felt like in my mind that I've been parenting my babies, I realized that I am now parenting children.

Somewhere between the museum, the park play dates, the preschool co-op, the pool, and the zoo - it somehow just hit me that my babies aren't babies any more. We're not on a blanket on the floor with a few toys. Instead of being wrapped or worn, both of my little ones are now running, playing, interacting. The days of babies who observe more than participate are over for these two sweet kiddos.

{Well, at least for Little Lady. Little Man still loves to sit back for a moment first!}

Today while they were playing with friends, Little Man and Little Lady were both real people, with personalities, real opinions, real voices. They both had preferences of what and where they wanted to play and both found joy in different activities and areas of play. Instead of being these small creatures totally and fully dependent on me for absolutely everything, they're beginning to learn what it feels like to venture slightly out of arm's reach to find answers to their own questions.

Of course, they are and will always be MY babies - but it seems like it has happened so fast that they're no longer those squishy, newborn-smelling, puddles of love in my arms. For Little Man, he was only 13 months when I became pregnant with Little Lady. He was still so much of a baby when I began preparing and planning for Little Lady's arrival that I think it was just seamless in my eyes to envision them both as my babies together.

But now children, they are.

After the car ride home, the naps, the dinner, and the bath time - everyone received a few extra snuggles tonight, and maybe a few happy tears as well!