30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 25

How? I helped him step out of the tub tonight and as I took the towel to his head to rub him dry like I have since he was a baby I realized I wasn't bending over or even stooping. This baby of mine now stands to my belly button. The child that made me a mother is no longer asking me so many why questions, but is now actually telling me why. "I'm four mom, that's what four year olds do!" was his response to my asking how he'd grown so much. When I asked if he could stop growing 'cause I just want him to be my little guy forever he said, "Mom, that can't happen. If I stop growing I will die." Sigh. Staawwwppp. 

Today, I told him he was going to help me with folding the towels while his brothers napped. Then he told me everything he could do to help me and that he would sort all the clothes by who they belonged to, and then he would fold the towels. He showed me how he figured out which socks were Bradley's and which socks were his by measuring it against his foot. And, folks, he sorted all my laundry. Seriously. I actually got laundry folded and put away today. That is a miracle in this house.

This child, this no longer baby of mine, amazes me. He has a memory unlike any other kid I've ever met. He astounds me on a regular basis with the detail in which he remembers people, places and events. He has grown from being timid and fearful about many things, to now approaching things with a brave heart, still cautious, but plodding on, unwilling to let fear win. He regularly says, "I was really nervous about this, momma, but I chose to be brave and I did it!" 

Each year seems like just a blip. Like I blinked and he grew. I don't like how fast this time seems to go of raising kids. The baby age, the sleepless nights, the exhaustion...that seems to go on and on, and then the next thing you know they go from baby to almost five. It just isn't fair. 

It has a been a bittersweet reflection tonight thinking on my Steven. I am in love with who he is, who he is becoming, watching him discover and learn and care and give. But I miss those early years, those years that went too fast. I want to watch them again so that I can remember better all the precious moments that I know happened but have forgotten. 

He will continue to grow, I'll continue to wonder how, and why so fast, but today I am thankful for this boy, Steven. I'm thankful that he is mine, and that right now, he is still quite happy to belong to his momma.