The "Baby" is 4 Today

"The days go slow, but the years fly by." - unknown

I tried to find who said this, but I just keep coming up empty handed.

Whoever they were, they were certainly wise.

Because this thought has been rolling around in my head almost daily for quite some time now.

Especially on those days when the clock just seems stuck.. and it seems like the boys may just never stop running/jumping/climbing/screaming/wrestling/making messes... and it seems like bed time will just never ever get here.

But. Then it does.

And a few minutes later, they're all tucked in. Saying sweet, honest, innocent prayers. Giving hugs and kisses. And yelling down the stairs "You're beautiful pretty, Mommy!" and "You're handsome and I love you, Daddy!"

And then it's quiet.

And one more day has passed.

And everyone is one day older. One day closer to the independence that, I admit, I often crave.

But I know that way too often, I overlook the sweet and innocent parts of the day.

I am too overwhelmed or too busy to appreciate the few small, fleeting moments we still have with them as they are now...

Just little boys.

Curious, trusting, silly.. filled with jokes and joy and limitless energy.

And filled with unconditional love.

And right this very second, I want to cling to that.



Today, our baby turned 4.

And he's definitely not a baby anymore.

He's silly and creative, sweet and clever. He will never turn down a snuggle.

And he has been following the lead of his big brothers for so long now, that I'm pretty sure he hasn't been a "baby" for some time.

 

But today, it's even more real.

Look at this beautiful, happy boy!

So we had to take lots and lots of pictures.

 So we could remember this day. Exactly how it was. Exactly how he looked. Exactly as we were.








Exactly how it was to lay in the warm grass.

And just exactly how strong his mighty little muscles were.











We will remember that the sun was shining and the sky was as blue as his eyes.

And we'll remember the wind.


And how he had to get it out of Mommy's face so she could see to take his pictures.





“You will never be this loved again. So on those days when you are feeling stressed out, touched out, and depleted, just remember that you will never be this loved again. One day you will long for their affection. So choose a soft voice, choose gentle hands, choose love.” – AK

Graham Arnold. 

August 20, 2015.

4 Years Old

He is the one who was in my arms  - with Holden and Bridger sitting beside us on the couch - when I looked around the day we came home from the hospital and said, "We're all here now."

And he will forever be the "baby" who made our family whole.

♥  ♥  ♥