goodbye 5

I'm not one for goodbye's, and the other night was no exception. You and I- snuggling in your bed- said goodbye to 5.

 You assured me, "Don't worry, Mommy- I'll still be your lil buddy."

I smiled and hugged you tight, but it was dark so I didn't bother hiding it when I swallowed hard and bit my lip. As I was saying... I'm not so good with goodbyes.

But with every "goodbye" comes a new adventure.

Well hello there, 6!

 

So I woke up early yesterday. I knew you'd be up already. I hurried and dressed to meet my boy downstairs. After all, we had a date!

You decided - 6 years ago- that for the most special dates, we'd always meet up early.  At 12:19 a.m. (2004), as the new day turned, we had our first official date - and boy, was I smitten!  

Love at first sight.

I didn't think I could  place a custom order straight with our Heavenly Father for what I'd hoped for in a son. But He knew the desires of your Mommy's heart. And He blessed me with a boy who was even more than I ever could have imagined a precious son could be.

He gave you the sweetest heart I've ever known in a child.

Sensitive and caring.

A little bit shy, but a whole lot of a big heart. I can't wait to see, my sweet son, how God uses you when you're older.

 

 But for now, He uses you to make my day's. You put a smile on my face. And though you are "all boy" - you bring the calm and peaceful spirit to our home.

You make your Momma smile.
You make my heart happy.

You are my "little buddy."

And 6, nor 16, is ever gonna change that.

So, goodbye to 5.

And cheers to 6!

Stay a while!

(a looooonggg while, for your mommas sake, please!)

We welcome you with new model cars -

And bowling games with the lights turned out and funky cosmic colors strobing the floor.

And though Cosmic Bowl is super fun, everything is made more fun when your best friend is there to share it with you.

Along with a couple of sisters who adore you.

You are an amazing son.

Happy Birthday to my boy whom I love and adore and in so many ways admire.

You have a beautiful heart.

Thank you for blessing me every single day.

I love being your Mom.

Goodbye 5.

It's been a wonderful year.

eight.

Sometimes I wonder how it's possible that I could pick out your voice among a sea of a million - yet some days I can look across the kitchen and hardly recognize you.

I know I heard that little old lady who passed us by-  me a proud new mama, you a newborn babe swaddled in my arms - tell me that "it goes by way too fast." 

Surely, I thought- not too fast.

Surely, I thought- I'll remember every first, every last, every giggle, every tear...

Every moment.

And then the moments turned into milestones.

And the milestones into months.

And the months into years.

 

And then one day- eight years later - I thought of that little old lady and realized she must have been a grandmother.
And once a new mother.
With a newborn babe swaddled in her arms.

But I will not lose myself in a mess of tears over the moments that have passed, for those moments have weaved a beautiful tapestry of memories.

This year, especially, you have grown so much. What you've acquired in maturity, helpfulness, generosity, intelligence and loveliness-  my beautiful daughter-  is so much more than inches or feet could ever measure.

You are my helper.

My friend.

Eight years ago today - when they placed you in my arms- I thought I could never love anything or anyone more than I did right there in that very moment.

Last night as I tucked you into bed, (your long grown-up self nearly reaching from one end to the other), I told you- again- about the beautiful day you were born.
The day you made me a Mama.

And you asked me, "what did you say when I was born?"

The question brought me straight back to the hospital bed where I held you, all through the night,  snuggling you close to my chest- stroking your soft silky hair and feeling a brand new emotion I couldn't quite name, but that I knew I'd never felt before...

What did I say to you? Besides saying "I love you" - a million and one times- I also remember saying "I'm so proud of you!"

Oh, my precious Gracie girl- my first born- there has not been a day that's gone by in 8 years where I haven't thought those very same thoughts.

And if I haven't told you enough- please forgive me.
Because I want you to know today, and every single day,
how much "I love you" - and that "I'm proud of you!"

Happy Birthday, baby girl!
 

Please don't go.

Dear Summer,

Are you leaving so soon?

But you just got here!

Pull up a chair, crack open a cold one.

Stay awhile longer...

Please?

We've got more goggles to adorn.

Swimsuits to wear from morning till night.

Stay just a bit longer.

Though the days are getting shorter, it's still light out.

Enough time for one last swim.

Summer - we're crazy about you.

Sunshine.

Warmth.

Flipflops. ('nough said)

So, while you're still here, we'll hold onto you a little bit tighter.

Lest you disappear, as quickly as you came, not to be seen again until next year.

Morning...

Though I've never claimed to be a true "morning person," I will admit that there is something truly magical about the morning time.

I love the smell of coffee in the morning.

I love the welcoming shadows the rising sun sprays across the floor.

I love reading  my Bible.

I love being able to think.

Uninterrupted!

And I love that my quieter, sweet son is almost always the first to wake. His charm is endearing. Though he's just beginning to read, I love that, on his own, he chooses to read his Bible in the morning. like his mom.

And if older, quieter son happens to not be the first awake, then it's loud, crazy busy son who is. Oh, I cherish those (few) moments he allows us to restrain him in his high chair for his breakfast... after that, Mommy's day is non-stop exercise chasing our little explorer around, keeping his inquisitive little fingers out of danger and prying choking hazard objects I didn't even know existed, much less in our home, from the jaws of life grip he secures.

Next up, our smiley girl. And, what does she do from the moment she wakes to the moment she goes to bed?

Yeah. Pretty much smile.

(except when she's in the throws of a 3 yr. old tantrum, but more on that later. or not).

As the morning goes on, my first born wakes latest of all. She stays up late reading. And I let her. I once heard that you should never squelch the voracious reader. Buy them a book light. Let them stay up late. So I did. And I do.

And after she's done eating and dressing, I can usually find her doing something smart again.

Puzzles at 9:00 a.m., anyone?

In this house.

Yes. My husband does work. These pictures were taken on a Saturday morning, silly.

But I loved the father and daughter, (my 2 little brainy nerds), bonding over puzzles pictures so I had to include them.

 

Ah, life is grand. And when I'm off typing a quick work email, or doing one of a gazillion other things I need done, I can always rest assured that someone will help "watch" the baby for a moment.

Or, put him in a plastic bin of toys as a "playpen" to restrain him.

Yes, this was 1st borns idea.

I said she was smart.

I didn't say she always practiced common sense.

But, no matter. It's all good. Whatever works.

Peace and love and kissies all around....