That's why I was surprised when I felt sad after we took apart his crib & put a big bed in his room a few months ago. My baby boy will be 3 years old next month. And, as much as I look forward to the years ahead & all he'll experience, my heart feels sad at all that will fade away.
At this point in his life he is completely honest. The idea of telling a lie doesn't occur to him. He says it how it is without hiding anything he's feeling. And, he believes everything we tell him.
He loves his momma & daddy. He's so excited to see us, to play with us, to make us laugh. He loves to hold our hands & wants 10 hugs & kisses before he goes to bed. I will hug & kiss this boy as many times as he wants because I know the day will come when he'll not even want me to tuck him in, much less kiss him.
He can't hide his excitement. When he sees something new or something he loves, he yells & points & laughs & wants to tell me all about it. And I will listen as long as he wants to talk to me.
Sometimes, I feel so much love for him that I think it will make my heart burst. Before he entered the world I didn't know it was even possible to love someone so wholeheartedly knowing that they can give you nothing but themselves in return.
And, I think about him becoming a teenager and I hope he still likes me. I hope I can still make him laugh.
I want him to be free to grow & explore & become the man he's going to be, but I also want to hold on to him so tight & hope that he'll never leave because he is my baby & he'll always be my baby. I know I have a long time before he's all grown up, but I also know it's going to go so much faster than I ever thought possible.
So, I try to savor the days we spend together. I try to listen to him when he talks, get on the floor when he asks me to play with him, and kiss & hug him until he doesn't want anymore.
