In about 3 hours, my baby boy will be 9 years old. The same baby boy that moved up to the men's shoe department this afternoon. The same baby boy that counted the minutes until his new iPod was fully charged and is now happily singing the two songs I let him download over and over in his room. The same baby boy that wears deodorant, traded the Disney Channel for ESPN, and begs me to let him have his own Facebook page.
This week one of my coworkers brought her precious, month old baby boy to my office for a while, and memories of who we were 9 years ago came flooding back to me. It seems to be so long ago when it was just Heath and me in that tiny apartment each day, learning each other in that way that only happens with a mother and her first born. Heath was the best baby, so happy and healthy, and it was so much fun watching him grow into a smart little toddler.
When I think about Heath as a toddler, the same pictures always comes to my mind. The first is of the two of us sitting in a pink recliner with an Elmo song book and microphone. I taught kindergarten then and singing was such a big part of how I taught reading skills, and I taught Heath all the songs I was teaching my 5 year olds. The second is Heath in a black cowboy hat and a diaper, riding the rocking horse from my childhood. He loved that little felt hat from Walmart and would spend hours on that squeaky horse, watching the same Elmo movie with that disgusting meatball.
It's funny how my memories of the first two years of his life are so much sharper than his preschool years. We moved back home and the distractions grew as life got busier. I guess being a mom became a routine, and each little moment didn't get the awe and attention from those first couple of years. But I was still amazed by the beauty, the intelligence, and the gentle spirit of my little boy. I remember spending the day before Perry was born crying because even though I knew life was going to be more than wonderful with a baby girl in our family, it was the end of a period of time when I belonged only to Heath.
His birthday always opens a floodgate of memories and emotions for me. When I think about myself 9 years ago, I almost laugh at my complete naivety. I look at pictures of the three of us, and I think it is funny at how much we didn’t have and didn’t really need. Everything I had went into loving those two boys, and somehow it worked. Despite our mistakes as parents and people, I don’t think Heath could have turned out any better. And so every year on his birthday, I offer a special thanks to God that he’s the kid that named me Mom.
"You outgrew my lap, but never my heart."~Author Unknown
So sweet. As my 6 day old little boy lays beside me in a moses basket, words like that take on a new meaning. It's fun to be called MOM - even if for now, it's not yet by Cade. Soon enough. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Hailey O'Brien | May 24, 2009 at 06:33 AM
He's really growing up! It happens so fast. Your "little cousin" turned 17 the other day and has his driver's license. That will be Heath before you know it.
Posted by: Linda | May 24, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Happy Birthday, Heath!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 24, 2009 at 06:15 PM
Happy birthday Heath! It is sad that they grow up so fast, but what great memories you have and are continuing to make.
Posted by: nikki | May 24, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Happy Birthday to Heath! May this be a year full of memories and just as special as the ones that preceded it.
Posted by: KStorm | May 24, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Happy birthday Heath!! Hope it was great.
Posted by: tanya | May 26, 2009 at 08:24 PM