There was truly no better way to start the day. Upon waking the boys up at 8 a.m., Jackson rubbed his eyes, sat up in bed and announced his age. I teared up immediately because I cannot believe this child went from newborn to FOUR in just days.
You mothers know what I mean. One minute we’re changing cloth diapers, pureeing baby food and counting the hours until the next feeding. Now I’m breaking up fights, teaching table manners and watching my language. HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Jackson’s day was made special by smaller gestures like a Cars decorated dining room, homemade breakfast on Cars plates, new favorite Cars toys and a playdate at the park with just one other family – all accomplished while wearing a new Cars shirt. (I’ve sufficiently contributed to somebody’s retirement fund at Disney Pixar, let me tell you.) My mother’s visit made today extra special considering we’ve spent the majority of our holidays and birthdays alone since December 2008. I tried very hard not to mourn the good old days of birthday parties in our huge backyard in Georgia.
I did go to work but only part of the day. It was hard to focus on the July proof because my mind kept wandering back to the weekend of Jackson’s birth. I cannot fully explain the certainty I felt when I saw Jackson through the nursery window. He was less than a day old and his adoption had not been secured yet, but I knew he was mine. I had not held him, touched him, smelled him, and he had not yet heard my voice, but I knew with every string in my heart that we were supposed to be together.
Now, here we sit, four years into our relationship and he is still the one who asks to snuggle with me in the mornings, the one whose laughter gives everyone the giggles, and the one who is never short on affection.
Happy Birthday, Little J. Mommy loves you.
