This is 6

This is 6, y'all.
He's a goof. And stubborn. And so much fun.

I will not mourn the growing up. It's what they are supposed to do. It's what they get to do. Not everyone gets the chance. We are blessed.
I will not wish they could stay my babies. I want them to grow and thrive and learn and love and have their own independent lives.
I will not long for the days when they were little.  Littler.  I will cherish those days forever, but I will not wish them back.  There is nothing quite as special as spending that time with your young ones. But each new days brings it's own adventure. Each day teaches me something more about them; reveals something more of who they are becoming.
I will not be sad as they age.

But...

There is still a moment on each birthday when my breath is taken away. When I look at this child. This person. And their entire lives flash before me. When my eyes fill with tears because it's all going so fast. He's a third of the way to "adulthood" (as defined by a number...we all know it really comes much, much later than that.)  I can't slow it down and I can't believe he's this old and I can't believe she's this old and I can't believe I'm this old and I can't believe we've been married this long and I can't, I can't, I can't...When did this happen?! He's in school all day. All. Day. I have wrinkles in my forehead and when are those new-mom-bags-under-my-eyes going to go away? The kids have been sleeping all night for at least 4 years now...why are the bags still there?! Why?!?!

So another year has gone by and brought us more laughter than tears. More good times than bad. More health than sickness.
It may not always be that way.
But we continue to celebrate each passing year because each one adds a chapter to our story.

Me: 10 years from today you will be able to drive!
J: I bet you will be very sad when I move out when I'm 30.
Me: Yes. I will be very, very sad if you move out when you are 30.

I will not mourn the growing up. But it will catch me off guard over and over and over.
Unless he is 30 and still living in my house. I will be aware of every single day of that nonsense.

                                                       "Whoa! I'm older than one hand!"

E bought J this bear with her own money and was so very proud of herself :)