Anne at Good American Wife just recently had her first baby, Walt. And Joo from Eyes of My Heart has just announced that they are expecting their second child while proudly sharing pictures of Pumpkin Girl’s 9-month old milestones. My good friend Angela is anticipating a challenging year ahead with three kids in three different schools, and away from Blogdom, another good friend, Carla, is experiencing all sorts of change in her family as she looks ahead to her oldest getting married next year, her “babies” (twins) starting Kindergarten, and the highly anticipated birth of her only daughter around Thanksgiving. Babies are all over, in all sizes and shapes and personalities. I hope I never get tired of hearing about all the joy they bring.
This is my baby. Today he starts 8th grade. He’s smart, funny, resilient (as he should be) kind, helpful and a teenager. Thirteen years ago I would never have imagined, as I cradled him on my forearm and buried my nose in his fuzzy soft baby head, that he would one day look me in the eye, answer the phone in a man’s voice, wear size 9 shoes and have hairy legs. No mother can think ahead like that when her heart has been bewitched by her newborn, when suddenly life as we know it stops with a screeching halt and becomes broader, shinier, more amazing and often, more scary as we go from just being a woman to being a Mom. And those 13 years have slipped away like a tiny drop of rain; thankfully I have a million memories that I am clutching tight to my heart. Next thing I know, after a blink or two of my eyes, he will graduate from high school and cast out his line to see what he can catch in the world. I hope to have him ready and able to accept all the challenges that world will throw his way.
My baby is also in 8th grade. Sometimes I walk by his room and hear this voice and think “Who’s in Tay’s room?” But it’s him; the grown up man voice is still startling. I think “they grow up so fast” is probably the truest cliche ever…
Ah, your post brought back memories – way back when my 14-year-old was just a wee babe. Now he’s started grade ten. Where did all that time go? We were looking through photograph albums a few weeks’ ago and I was amazed at all that has happened in the intervening years.
I still can’t used to looking up at my six-foort tall son – oh and those hairy legs are something else. All those subtle changes in their face too…mostly I can’t used to the idea that he’s shaving now.
I’ve packaged up your seeds – Columbines, Delphiniums and Alliums – and just need to get to the post office to mail them off to you.
Oh just stop it! That makes me so weepy and yet, I know that the end goal of all our work and love and discipline is for them to stand on their own and live strong and independent. I know, but ogh! It happens so fast!
Congratulations Griffin!!!!
My big smart handsome nevvy!!
Oh now I am teary eyed. He does look like such a man! Life sure passes by way too fast. You should be proud of what a great guy he is growing up to be.
You might want to buy him something to fend off the girls with. He’s a cutie!