never grow up

Dear child of mine,

I remember the day the nurse called me with the news. The single-most-amazing phone call of my entire life: that you were growing inside of me. My joy was boundless that day and still is today–for you are my child. My baby, my boy, my heart, my amazing 5 year old. You are mommy’s child in every way and daddy laughs at just how similar we are. And now you are on the brink of 5 years old, turning five this weekend. Five. Five! It feels like a milestone. And what a ride its been!….from your chubby, happy baby years where you were happy to go along for the ride wherever we went, whatever we did to your third year where we didn’t think we’d get through the year intact with fights and tantrums and mommy on bedrest for months with your baby brother, to your mellow fourth year of life. You have continued to grow as my enthusiastic, emotional, sensitive, imaginative little boy. I call you baby even though you’ve started to pretend-pout at me when I say it. I love how gentle and sweet you are with your cousin and your little brother–coming up with little games and stories for them. I watch you pat your brother’s back when you don’t know I’m looking. You love books and games and running and making crafts and baking and coloring and going on adventures. I have cherished every moment as your mom, and I look forward with continued joy at watching you grow into the person God has intended you to be. No matter how old you grow, you will always be my little boy and I will always be here as your mom.