Where did my babies go?

My boys are getting bigger.  Everyday they are changing and getting bigger and bigger.  People who haven't seen them for a while often say, "they have turned into boys."  It makes me proud and sad at the same time.  I can't believe how quickly the last years have gone.  I can vividly remember Sean's first night home and Jackson's time in the NICU.  It seems like just yesterday, but at the same time I see the boys in my home and realize they aren't babies anymore.  I hate packing up the boys' clothes because it reminds me that they will never be that size again.  Those moments are gone.  They are just precious memories.  Maybe that's why I procrastinate on putting their stuff away.  (Probably not, I am just really good at procrastinating.)  

At the same time that I hate seeing the boys grow up and not be little anymore, I love seeing the people that they are becoming.  Sean is very compassionate and can make friends with anyone.  He is often not good at remembering his "friends" names, but we are working on that.  Sean does things on his own time schedule.  There is no forcing Sean to do something he doesn't want to do.  Hopefully this trait will serve him well when he is exposed to negative peer pressure.  Sean is also fiercely loyal to his friends.  You don't mess with one of his buddies or he will come to their rescue.  Jackson is the life of our party.    My sister has nicknamed him "frat boy" because that is what he is like.  He likes to dance, be silly and wrestle.  Now, others of you may not know this about him because he gets shy in front of groups of people.  Jackson is also very independent.  He knows what he likes and he will not settle for less.  His persistence at times can be fierce.  As part of his independence, he has to do things his own way.  The minute you tell him where to put a sticker on his Sunday School worksheet is the minute you can guarantee it won't end up there.

Since time travels at warp speed, I will enjoy the snuggles, the hugs, the kisses, the yelling of "MOM" when they are trying to get my attention, and the everyday events.  I pray that I can always stay in the moment and not waste a minute of their childhood.  Yesterday is gone and we are not promised tomorrow, so all we have is today.