Little Laud
Little Laud
July 13, 2026
I keep noticing how quickly the littles become independent. It is always way too fast for me. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m raising responsible adults; and my cute babies will not be cute babies totally dependent on me forever. My job is to get them to independence safely. To lead their hearts toward Jesus by truth. They can’t understand truth for themselves if they aren’t independent thinkers.
Laud is almost three years old. Right now, everything is “I got it!”
Then there’s his fashion statements (haha) as he does chooae his own clothes and normally dresses himself.
It took me months to get “my best brother shirt” and “my gym color beach shirt” away from him. Now his favorites are the t-rex dinosaur shirts.
He discovered he can put legos on duplos today and I snapped I picture…
His comment? “Let me see, mommy, did you get my text with my dinosaur shirt?” (I think he meant picture)
He will tell you Prim is his doggy. Sometimes he sings to her while she rests. Other times, she is his pillow or when “Prim is sad” he snuggles in her bed.
I love how independent my little Laud is getting! I also love that he still grabs “Esben and Janner book” or “Fishing book” and snuggles in my lap to read. (The Wingfeather Saga & Fibbing Fisherman, respectively)
He has been falling asleep in the bed he shares with Lucas more often than being snuggled and then carried to bed. He will entertain himself with 10 Lego blocks or a car and a dinosaur for hours. He loves spending the whole day on adventures with big (yikes, driving!) sisters. I love the hugs when I come in – because I know he missed me.
This year he can’t do camp, but he watched Lucas hang out with a long-lost camp friend all day today and kept reminding me that his “best friend, Dander” (Zander) is in camp without him. My rebuttal is that Zander can open the boy’s bathroom door to get out without help and without making his toes bloody. (Laud tries and more often than not, runs over his little toes with the heavy bathroom door)
For now, he still needs Mommy or big brother or big sister to help him with lots of things that he’ll be doing all by himself shortly. In my smile, when I look at him doing something “by himself,” it is me reminding myself that our littles grow up quickly and I need to savor every moment with them. Every cuddle, every time I have to slow down for an extra five minutes so he can put his clothes on himself or fold the towels… soon they are sprouting up faster than anyone can keep track and driving themselves around. (Not that I don’t love ALL the stages and levels) Toddler Laud has a special little spot right now and I see “Big Kid Laud” coming too soon for me. One of the challenges of motherhood is feeling a twang of sadness as your toddler does it themselves, no longer needing you for that task, yet also feeling pride for them in your heart because they have accomplished a goal.
I’m so thankful for a job where I can bring my littles. Thankful for big kids who want to invest life into their siblings. Thankful for family and friends who encourage his little journey with me. I thank God for the honor of being a mother.
Our blessings grow all around us.
Type at you later,
~Nancy Tart
