my big boy Porter

The other night my dear little Porter fell asleep at the dinner table.  Completely exhausted from running and playing all day in the crisp Fall air, mixed with I suspect all the emotion of having a new baby at home.  I changed him into his jammies while he slept.  He didn't even stir. Then I pulled him onto my lap.  How huge he felt in my arms!  My little baby... now my big boy. I began to rock him.  I couldn't help the tears that streamed down my face at the thought of how fast these last three years have gone and at the realization of how fast these precious children of mine will grow.   

I remember a comment my mom shared with me that her mother shared with her when my siblings and I were young.  She told my mom to cherish being a mother to young children.  That we would be grown and gone before she knew it.  She said how much she missed the days of sticky hand prints on the windows and toys strewn all over the floor.    

I believe I do cherish these days of my life.  I love my piles of laundry containing brightly colored clothing and little socks.  I love the art work that completely covers the lower half of our fridge, the stuffed animals that I have to pull from under the covers of my bed when I go to make it up, and the stool that takes up way too much space in our tiny bathroom that makes it possible for the kids to see themselves in the mirror as they brush their teeth.  I love my children and I love these days.