Where did he go?

My "baby" turned 8 yesterday. 

And I didn't announce it to facebook. 

(I announce to fb when I pee without an audience) 

(Okay. I WILL announce when I pee without an audience) 

But I didn't announce that my beloved son who made me a mother turned 8. 

I figured just maybe if I didn't acknowledge the fact that he is 8 years old now he would still somehow be the 8 pound baby I brought home from the hospital just yesterday. 

I feel blessed beyond measure that I get to experience something that so many mothers can't. I have been allowed to watch him grow from the tiny baby who was 100% dependent upon me to a little boy who doesn't want me to give him a kiss when I drop him off at school in the mornings. 

I remember the first time we brought him home from the hospital. 

He cried from the moment we strapped him into the car seat until well into the middle of the night.

We had no clue what we were doing. I thought for sure I had bit off more than I could chew. 

I was so tired. He was not. 

He cried. I had no idea why. 

The first few weeks seem like a blur of just trying to keep us both alive. I remember crying rocking back and forth in the floor with him screaming in my arms and wishing the newborn stage would hurry and pass me by. I wasn't cut out for it. 

Turns out, I got my wish. 

Except the toddler years flew by just as fast. 

And then the school years came. 

And time still didn't slow down. 

The days were soooooo very long. 

But the years just flew by. 

And yesterday, he turned 8. 

And I know that I will blink twice and he'll be 18. 

I know I will forget how sweet his hair feels as I run my fingers through it before I go to bed. 

And I know I will never get back the moments of you wanting no one but me. 

I hope you know that your mama loves you and is SO proud of you. 

I hope you know that you will forever, and I mean FOREVER, be my sweet tiny 8lb 7oz sweet baby boy. 

So- my sweet, beautiful baby boy. 

Happy Birthday.