Dragons and Knights

4/22/2016

You have been an only child for 12 years. You know how to entertain yourself, and you have your own world that you live in 95% of the time. Your heart is sweet and sensitive, but your all boy that loves to run in the streets of the neighborhood with all the other boys playing war games, sword fighting, wrestling, and riding bikes, and at nearing 12 years old, you still love stuffed animals. I sit quietly and watch you as the battle on the coffee table unfolds. Most of the time I have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to the names of the worlds you create, what land which knight is from, and why they are at war. You are so passionate about it, and although I don't always understand what sounds like jibber jabber fantasy world games you are talking about, I love to watch you play, and I love that you are so creative and have a wild imagination.

As the time draws closer for your little sister to arrive, I feel twinges of sadness to see you so big already. I remember you being a newborn like it was yesterday. My mind sometimes can't wrap around how fast time seems to go, and how you got to be nearly as tall as me. Childhood is fleeting, and the first year of life is even faster, passing in a blink of an eye. Although I wish I could just slow it all down, and let you be a kid even longer, I know that within a few years you will be driving, and becoming more independent than you already are.

So I will soak in as much as I can. Capturing the moments and memories of your youth that I don't want to forget, and want you to remember about yourself when you are older, and the world tries to change you.

I know you are going to be a fantastic big brother. You already love your little sister so much. Every day you talk about how excited you are to hold her, and teach her things. I know at times we drive one another crazy. Sometimes it truly feels like you and I are definitely from different planets, but there is so much love between us, and we never miss a day without hugs, kisses, and I love you's. I realized we haven't called you munchkin in a long while. You were so cute as a toddler, we called you munchkin for years, and you always said, 'munkin.' I still call you hunny bunny time to time. I think of the cute ways you used to say things, like 'lellow,' instead of yellow, 'shouwyer' instead of shower, and I don't even know how to spell out how you said shower, but it was cute, and we still laugh about it at times, or 'grill,' instead of girl.

I know someday, probably before I am ready, you will be on your own, you will have your own family eventually, and I will see the man you grow into, but in my heart you will always be my baby boy.