Where does time go? I remember when Troy and I were dating (a long time ago!) I said once that time was dragging by. I think it was because I wanted to hurry up, finish high school, finish college and get married! I had goals to accomplish and a man to snag. I also remember him telling me that time flew by and that one day I’d realize it. Although I’m sometimes slow to admit it when I’m wrong, I will this one time – he was right. It literally seems like just yesterday I went into labor and Troy was driving alongside me on the road to the hospital, talking to his parents while I walked through contractions. The contraction would pass, I’d get back in, we’d drive another mile or so before I’d say “pull over” and I’d get out and walk towards the hospital some more. I remember Will’s first birthday extravaganza! We went with our very best friends and their 1 yr old daughter who was born on the same day as Will to celebrate their birthdays! We spent their first night in a hotel (that was a cute scrapbook page!) and went to the Atlanta zoo. The next day we had a huge (and I mean huge!) b’day party for them at our church, complete with Will and Audrey looking absolutely adorable in their matching outfits – we even had puppets to entertain the guests. Other birthdays have been Bob the Builder, Tractors, Baseball, UGA etc. I’m so sad to say that I don’t remember specifics of them all – what kind of mother am I?? This year I missed his birthday. I was in NJ training for a new job. His birthday was on Thursday and I didn’t make it home until Friday. I never want to miss another birthday – especially a monumental one. This year my baby boy left single digits and turned 10 and I missed it. It doesn’t matter that I called first thing that morning, woke up in the middle of the night thinking he was now 10, left a present and even set up a surprise b’day party for him at school. I wasn’t there. Luckily, there were some understanding people in NJ that hugged me and helped dry my tears and Will seemed okay too. But the point is that when I got home, he had changed. I look at Abby and she seems to be the same, but I promise that Will grew a foot while I was gone. His face got a little sun too on the Sat. I was home after the trip during his baseball tournament and the combination of the two has turned him into a little man. I looked at him tonight and was amazed at how absolutely handsome he is – he is soooo good-looking! The blonde hair, dimples, sun-kissed cheeks, under armour shirt, athletic pants…. he is practically a teenager. Oh and not to mention how cute the brown UGA bracelet is on his tan little arm. He was at his papa’s sitting on the stool and I just marveled at how fast time has flown – where did all of the in-between time go? He was just born! And then, on the way home he drove. He is quite the little driver – complete with blinkers, and looking both ways! But what did me in was his singing to the iPod to ”Toes”…….. “a beer in my hand, ass in the sand (he didn’t say ass though!!)………tequila….senorita…..” He was truly my little man – so grown, so mature. And now, even as he’s snuggled up on the sofa beside me watching TV his legs almost stretch out as far as mine. He isn’t technically a baby, but he will ALWAYS be my baby – ever read the book “Love you Forever”? There’s a repeat in the story that says “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like for always. As long as I am living, my baby you’ll be” – It’s true. Mama loves you Will!
