Friday April 17, 2009

 
Five years ago you changed my life.  The day you were born, I became a mommy.  There are moments from the days surrounding your birth that are as clear to me as if they happened three hours ago. 
            The enormous shock I felt the day the Dr. told me I could go into labor anytime.  I’d been pregnant for over eight months and dreaming of having a baby; but suddenly I was face to face with the fact that I was about to become mom. 
            The way I could not wait to hold you again those first few days.  Your daddy and I tried hard to take turns those first two days in the hospital.  But after awhile one or the other of us would say, “don’t you think it’s about my turn to hold him again?”
           How overwhelmed I felt with coming home.  I’d done lots of babysitting, even overnight.  But I felt completely inept at the thought of taking the teeny, not quite six pound little person who was you, home.  What if you needed something while I was sleeping and I didn’t hear you.
 
          And then you started growing and thriving and snuggling your way into our hearts.  I loved watching you learn new things, crawling and walking and talking.  Even more so, I love seeing you discover the world.  Bumble bees, where the moon goes, and why we don’t put dead crows on our bedroom walls. 

          In the last year, you have learned so much about respecting authority verbally.  I love to hear you sing, “Glorious is Thy Name,” when you’re doing jobs.  The way you ask to help me clean or offer to organize things.  I love to see you sharing with Liam and sometimes knowing what he wants better than I do.  I love your sensitive spirit … the way you give me backrubs or run to get a Coke for me when I am sick.  I love to see you follow daddy and want to work whatever he works.  You make me laugh a dozen times a day with your perspective on the world.
(“I can run faster since I’m five, Mommy”)
          Even yesterday when you were disappointed about not going on the train or to play with Lawrence, you had a good attitude about it.  You loved having Grammie here to play roads with you and although you struggled, you learned about patience in waiting to have your birthday cake on Sunday.  I loved hearing you say, “I almost just want to stay four forever because four was so much fun!”  And later you said, “It’s almost scary being five.  You almost get ‘frage sight’.”   Before I knew what was happening, you were out clearing the dishwasher without being told and then to top it off, you got a chair and put the glasses away in the top cupboards! 

            Today you are so thrilled to be five.  And I am just as delighted to be your mommy.

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