Blink

*Blink*

9 months later, there you were,

my 5 pound warm and wriggly baby.

I never knew 9 months could go by so quickly.

You were a speck of a person, so tiny and delicate,

you fit right into your dad's hands.

You were my muse, the gift which unlocked

a sea of emotions and thoughts.

You were my heart.

*Blink*

12 weeks later and back to work,

my heart felt outside of my chest for a long time.

I never knew 12 weeks could go by so quickly.

You were stronger then, but still so small,

you fit into the crook of my arm.

You were my motivation, the reason for my success

and the one who I longed to be proud of me.

You were my inspiration.

*Blink*

1 year old and a birthday celebration,

with a single glowing candle for a wish.

I never knew 1 year could go by so quickly.

You were strong and sturdy, eyes darting all around,

out of our arms and onto the ground you sprang.

You were my joy, the simplest love I'd ever known

and the benefactor of all my wishes and hopes.

You were my dream come true.

*Blink*

2 years old and a cyclone came to town,

with your mischievous grin and constant motion.

I never knew 2 years could go by so quickly.

You were fast and eager, racing across hardwood,

when crawling gave way to sprints.

You were my curiosity, the mystery I tried to solve

and the puzzle I longed to piece together.

You were my jolt of energy.

*Blink*

3 years old with a new brother by your side,

when the laughter and tears were multiplied by two.

I never knew 3 years could go by so quickly.

You were stubborn and tenacious, lost in your daydreams,

when the world was your kingdom and you were its king.

You were my pirate, my superhero

and I saw new worlds because of you.

You were my imagination.

*Blink*

4 years old with a pebble in your pocket,

and a smile that lit up a city block.

I never knew 4 years could go by so quickly.

You were playful and sensitive, articulate to your feelings,

whether your days were "fun" or "rough", you always let me in.

You were my companion, my buddy,

whose smile made me believe that everything would be alright.

You were my compass.

*Blink*

5 years old on the shore of a great ocean called life,

standing with an open heart and a dazzling mind.

I never knew 5 years could go by so quickly.

You are brilliant and wise, so capable of everything,

I stand in awe of any part of you that is me.

You are my baby, my firstborn, my loveliest prize,

who makes time stand still and sail rapidly all at once.

You are my Jack.

Footnote, January 7, 2016, 8:00am...
In the blink of an eye we are standing outside of the car, parked outside your preschool in the wintry air.  I scoop you up and hold you.  You let me.  We stand there frozen in the early morning light.  Your feet touch my shins but your head nestles into my neck.  You're silent which is rare for you these days.  So in silence we stand there on the snowy curb.  I whispered in your ear, "I'm so proud of you my boy, I'm so very proud of you".  I remember that same head full of hair nestled into my neck 5 years ago for the first time.  We stand there holding space until your brother yells out from inside the car, "MamaMamaMama"  And the silence is broken in the best way it can be.  I set you down on the ground, we go to get Will and all three of us walk into school, an ordinary moment in an extraordinary day.