The seasons are changing and fall is upon us. It’s my favorite season. The cascade of changing leaves; the carved pumpkins; the vibrant hues; the smell of bonfires and Yankee candles; the cool, crisp air. Everything seems cozy as families draw nearer to each other and the holidays approach. Fall is just full of change and beauty.
I love everything about it.
Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons. Jim Bishop
As the weather has gotten colder and our shorts have changed to pants, I’ve come to realize that my boys have all grown. All of a sudden, their clothes seem to have shrunk and pants that fit just a few months ago are now high waters.
How does this happen?
My twins are full blown talkers and feelers. My almost 1 year old is walking and climbing everywhere; becoming more like a real little boy and less like a baby every day. None of their pants fit. And I can barely hold them all in my arms or lap anymore. My babies are not babies anymore.
This has been happening for a while, but looking at them with pants that are 3 inches too short as they frolicked in the leaves the past few weeks just brought it right on home.
Just as the seasons are changing, so is our life. As our life is changing, my boys are growing. As my boys are growing, so am I. And as I grow, so does my heart.
Everyday the boys say to me, “Mom, I’m your baby!??” And I say, “Yes! You’ll always be my baby!”
I can no longer easily hold them all in my arms; but I thank God they do still want me to try. My boys may be outgrowing my lap, but they’ll never outgrow my heart.
In my life, this is a season of change and unknown, growth and stretching, fear and freedom. My boys and I are all changing and so much is out of my control. As much as I want to hold on to certain things, I can’t fully embrace what’s next if my hands are full of the past. It’s a bitter sweet time of life, but my boys encompass all the sweet and I am so grateful we are growing in this together. The seasons, both figurative and literal, are only getting colder, but our love for each other (and new pants) will keep us warm! 🙂
Love the trees until their leaves fall off, and then encourage them to try again next year. Chad Sugg
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Three Boys and a Mom 
Such a lovely post! My 3yo will no longer allow me to call her a baby, except when she wants to be carried. LOL They grow up real fast, don’t they?
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So cute… Thank you! Yes, some days they do that too and only wanna be big boys, but other times they like knowing they’ll always be my baby. Sometimes they’ll pretend to be a baby and then I say, “you’re not a baby, you’re a big boy.” and then they say, “but I’m your baby!” ❤
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This is beautiful, Rachael, and so very wise. I love this line “As much as I want to hold on to certain things, I can’t fully embrace what’s next if my hands are full of the past.” How true that is. When we live in the past, no part of us is in the present. These quotes are wonderful–you have such a knack for finding beautiful ones. Love your sentiments and your heart! 🙂
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Thank you Marla! Your comments are so precious to me and always hit my heart. ❤
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This is so beautiful. I love, “My boys may be outgrowing my lap, but they’ll never outgrow my heart.” Such a great reminder to slow down, even in the uncertainty and craziness that each season can bring, because they go so quickly.
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You’re so right Keri! It’s like we blink and everything has changed and everyone has grown. Unbelievable. I’m holding on to everything as it comes…and as it goes!
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That baby exchange is so sweet! Li’l D always protests when I call him my baby, and so I often remind him he will always be my baby. Even when he’s an old man.
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Exactly… And even when they’re old I’ll kiss them and hug them in public come hell or high water haha
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They grow up so quickly! I just looked at my toddler the other day and thought, you’re almost a preschooler and definitely not a baby. But no, they will never outgrow our heart. Lovely post, as always.
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Thank you so much Melissa. Yes, it blows me away how fast it all whizzes by. We have to cherish it all while we can.
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I got a good laugh out of this! My twins are growing like weeds too. One has such a small waste though, that we have the same issue…the pants keep getting shorter and shorter, but he would be drowning in the size up. Thanks for the reminder to cherish them in THIS season.
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Thanks Natasha! And yeah we have the same problem…they’re tall and thin! Luckily they’re cute even in high waters haha
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Great costumes! And love the quote about autumn, its my favorite season!
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Thank you so much! Those skunks were honemade with love 😀 it’s a wonderful season!!
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Such a touching message! I know exactly how you feel! It goes by before we blink. They are truly so lucky to have such a loving mom, who I know will forever keep them her “babies.”
BTW: Way to go rocking the gold heals momma!! Love it! 🙂
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Aww thanks sasha!! That means so much to me!!
And yeah, Finally had an excuse to wear them so I rocked em! Haha! My feet hurt a lot after though! They’re not used to that any more, lol!
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What a beautiful family! It’s always so crazy to me when my daughter goes to put on her change of season clothes, and nothing fits anymore. How do they grow so much, so fast? Great post!
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It’s amazing isn’t it!? Thanks so much Meredith!! Always love seeing you on my blog 😃
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Love love love! We really need to get our babies in a heart leave pile 🙂
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Seriously…like asap! Thank you darling 😍😘
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I just stumbled upon your blog the other day and I just have to say – you have a wonderful, touching way about your writing – thank you for sharing.
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That means so much! Thank you and I’m so glad you’re here!
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
A mom’s thoughts on the changing of the seasons!!
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Oh, how I feel your pain here. We too have 3 boys. 12 year old and 10 year old twins. I miss ours being babies as well, but each stage has brought new joys and adventures and laughs. And just so ya know, the pants get short for ours too, every Fall. They just won’t stop growing, no matter how much I want them to. Enjoy yours while they’re still that little, because they won’t be for long. 😃
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Thank you! Yes, I wrote this last year and have been having the same thoughts and realizations again this year. They just insist on growing no matter what! 😊 it’s pretty cool though, although I do miss their baby years sometimes!
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I miss ours being that size all the time. I used to love having all three piled in my lap, little hands resting on my forearms. Oh well. New stages bring new adventures.
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Exactly! 😊
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