Kaden at the beginning of your life I was often given the
same one liner most new moms hear: “Enjoy this time, for it goes by way to
fast.” I heard this so often I began to cringe each time I was given this piece
of wisdom. I smiled kindly, but in my head would repeat, “Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.”
Life was a blur as I was learning my new normal of balancing you all of 16
months and Ashton a sleepless newborn. I look back and I shake my head wondering
how we survived those days!
In a blink we moved passed it.
Five years later I find myself offering this exact same
wisdom to moms. Boy how time goes by. I want to make my hands into fists, stomp
my feet and yell out, “Please soak in the moment. Observe and watch this
wonder, your child, grow. You have absolutely no idea, NO IDEA, how fast this
will all go by!” I am amazed how much life happens in five years. As I sit here
a whirlwind hits my memory bank. So many memories flood into the forefront.
Milestones, which will create the man you will become.
It feels as though yesterday I was shopping for your first 4th of July outfit and I blinked to seeing us today as we shopped for size 1 sandals. I remember holding up size 24 month overalls thinking you will never fit into these. Now we patiently wait for your waist to grow into size 5 jeans, so your pants are no longer high-waters. In a blink you are boy.
I watch you play with curiosities and listen as your
imagination soars. I am in awe. There are days I fear walking away from your
play. I realize how beautiful these moments are. I am proud of you as you
finished your first commitment: preschool! I shared with others it could not
possibly be over. Did you not just walk so independently into your first day of
class while the only tears shed were mine? I blinked. I find us two years later
songs sung, friends made, hand is writing and I cannot catch my breath. As I
feel we are starting to say hello to the world- dipping my toe into the waters
you were diving in. Yep, I blinked alright.
Good bye little. Hello boy.
I look ahead understanding how fast you will grow. I breathe
out as I think what lies ahead. You are on the cusp of turning five. Another
milestone will be met (You have only been waiting two years for this!) as you
can chew gum! Sooner than I like you will be two hands old, finally 10 and able
to have soda. This means preteen years are upon us and soon car shopping. Car
shopping leads into dating and dating is a sure sign of high school. This
snowball has no end. It keeps growing and moving faster than I can catch up.
In a blink you are a young man.
For now, I will continue to stop looking ahead. As it is it
all comes and goes way to fast. I want to relish in these simple days when you
still yell over a crowd you love me and want to spend the whole day in my
company. In a blink these days will be over.
I am trying my hardest to keep my eyes wide open not to miss
a thing.
