Our littlest one is growing fast and furiously. He is walking everywhere, easily keeping up with his brother now. Since his bipedal milestone, his motor skills have sped up exponentially. He can throw, hit golf balls with his toy golf club, feed himself with a spoon, wave bye bye and more! He loves to strut around the house looking for trouble. He can say Mama, Bubba, Dada, Hi, All done, and Yes (although this one really just sounds like a ssshhhsss). He’s also an adrenaline junkie. He squeals with delight as we throw him down the slip-n-slide and immediately screams for more when he stops. He loves the water and is not afraid of getting splashed or dunked. He is all over anything fast and daring.

He loves to make faces, i think mostly because funny faces are a sure-fire way to make Caleb burst into giggles. We’ve recently switched him to a convertible car seat so now they can see each other better. This has made car rides much more interesting. The two of them can often be heard from the backseat trading funny faces followed by fits of laughter.

A few days ago, Nathan woke up from his nap refusing to put any pressure on his right leg. He held it up whenever he was on the ground and would only crawl. He never complained about it until we tried to straighten it. Dumbfounded, we took him to the doctor and had some x-rays done just in case it was fractured. Nothing showed up and sure enough, he was fine a few days later. I’m guessing it was just a twisted knee from too much roughhousing. He’s such a bruiser and hardly ever cries when bonked, pinched or knocked down. But just look at him; he definitely doesn’t look fragile and has enough padding to protect him from the worst minor injuries.

A month from now, we will be celebrating his first birthday. Since we will have just gotten back from our beach vacation, his party will be small and intimate, with just a few close friends and family members. I am trying to enjoy every last moment of his infanthood, but it’s like sand slipping through my fingers. Try as I may, he’s growing up. I think I’m in denial a bit. I will shamefully admit that I still manage to swaddle this great big boy and put him in the swing with a kiss and a paci. He still sleeps in my bed most nights, and I still can’t go too long without him by my side. And you know what? I really don’t care. Knowing this is going to be our last tiny baby makes me totally fine with he fact that I still cram him into a blanket or that his legs droop over his swing to where they’re practically dragging the floor (a bit of an exaggeration, but a funny mental image nonetheless!). Neither do I care that he still loves snuggling up next to me at night while I watch him dream. Because these days are almost at an end. There will come a day where I will drop him off at nursery to have him excitedly run away instead of tearfully reach toward me. I will have trouble recalling these memories and will forget what it’s like to hold a sleeping baby or how it feels to be needed, even if I’m just in the other room. I have few crystal clear memories of Caleb as a baby; memories I intentionally burned into my mind that will forever be with me. But there are many more I have lost. I know the same will happen this time around too. So I’m a little sad. But I’m also excited about what’s to come. And I see a wonderful brotherhood developing, I see two young boys who will be loved and nurtured and challenged. God willing, They will grow up to become strong, humble and compassionate men of God. This is what I set my hope in for these boys. This is why I can let go of infancy and welcome childhood with open arms.