My baby had a birthday yesterday...it was a good day for him, his name was announced on the radio, i brought pizza and brownies to his class, he got the Birthday Hat and Special Chair at school, we had a little family celebration with gifts at home. But, as every year, it's also a wistful day for me.

It seems like (I'm not going to say "just yesterday") not very long ago that we were waiting and waiting and waiting. He was 2 weeks late and then only arrived after induction AND emergency c-secton....mmmhmmmm, he's STILL a mama's boy. Really, the past 12 years seems like only 6 or 7 to me. And now he will be leaving me to pursue the rest of his life (perish the thought!) in just a short 6 years...which will seem like 3! My throat tightens and my eyes sting just thinking of the day. Honestly.

This child has been nothing but pure joy. Yes, of course, they ALL are (knowing nod here)...with their moments of trials and challenges, to which they are entitled because they are "children". But really, this boy had been an absolute breeze to parent. He loves to snuggle and hug, he opens right up to conversation, and (get ready for it) he still holds my hand - even in front of his classmates! No, he is not a namby-pamby-wussy-boy either ;) He is calm, compassionate, meticulous, responsible, intelligent, athletic, clever, articulate, studious, witty, handsome...shall i go on?! In the interest of time and sparing you any more eye-rolls, i'll just say "pure JOY!"

So while i love to shower him with extra "specials" on his birthdays, each year is a reminder to me that he is one year farther away from being my baby and one year closer to being an adult. The only comfort i can find is in telling myself that someday, when he is grown, he will find a wife and together they will raise their own "Trevor". And if this new "Trevor" brings my Trevor half as much joy as he has brought to me, then it will be just. I BELEIVE that raising children is a privilege and it truly has been a humbling honor to be entrusted with a child such as Trevor to call my own.