‘I packed away my son’s newborn clothes last week. Tiny onesie by tiny onesie, my heart ACHED with thankfulness.’: Mom of rainbow baby will ‘never be sad’ when watching son grow

This is a follow-up to Kelsey’s ongoing journey. Read part one here.

“Tiny onesie by tiny onesie, I packed away my son’s newborn clothes last week.

I always imagined this milestone to be one of those Hallmark-commercial type of moments, where I weep and weep, clutching each tiny, still sweet-smelling piece of clothing to my chest. But I didn’t.⠀

As I tucked each piece away, my heart physically ached with thankfulness.

Thankful we got to bring him home in that chicken onesie. Thankful we got to see his first smile in that blue baby bear onesie. Thankful we got to sleepily see his blue eyes sparkle, wide awake at 3 a.m., in that sea-foam green onesie.⠀

I’m not sad. I’m nostalgic. I’m indescribably thankful. But I’m not sad. He’s here. He’s growing. And the more he grows out of each stage of clothing in the seeming blink of an eye, the more we get to learn from him.

The more we get to see what makes him laugh. What brings wonder to those eyes. What toy he likes to slobber on most. As he leaves the newborn stage, he enters a new one. And so do we.

I’ve stopped greeted aging with sadness. Instead, with gratitude and amazement. Life is fleeting. Life is precious. I may not clutch those onesies with gobs of sad tears, but I’ll look back on those first moments with grateful nostalgia, while looking forward to the ones to come with eagerness.

I’m so thankful I will get to watch him crawl one day. Watch him walk. Watch him giggle as his first ice-cream cone melts around pudgy toddler hands. Watch him skip down the steps with a much-too-big backpack. Watch him shyly smirk at the mention of his first crush. Watch him light up with amazement when traveling to a new place. Watch him venture toward the life he wants to live. ⠀

The more time that passes means the more time I’ve been blessed to know this little man. I’ll always be sappy (always a bit too sappy…get ready, James) when greeting a new chapter, knowing the last is over. But I’ll never be sad.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Kelsey Pfleiderer of Islamorada, Florida. Follow her journey on Instagram here. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Kelsey here: 

‘My grandma showed up in the OR during my c-section. She had a few choice words for the doctors.’: Grandmother teaches pregnant woman important lesson about kindness in dream

‘I cancelled our baby shower. Suitcases out, cookies, decor and appetizers ordered.’: Mom to be cancels baby shower due to coronavirus ‘staying home is the most loving thing we can do at this time’

‘You won’t ‘get over it.’ And you shouldn’t. My grandma still gets choked up about her angel baby.’: Woman suffers twin miscarriage, ‘I talk to our babies every day’

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