“Don’t wait to make your son a great man – make him a great boy.”

~Author Unknown

My Jackson is on the verge of four.  No.way.  He still has two more months left of being a three year old, and I am holding on to those two months tight.  My sweet firstborn has quickly passed his baby days and is becoming such a boy.  It brings tears to my eyes when I think of how fast I feel he went from being a year and a half (when we found out we were expecting his sister) to celebrating his third birthday.  Really.  Where did two go?  It was a whirlwind of being pregnant–the sickness, the worries, the preparing, the anticipation, then a blur of those delicious yet sleep-deprived newborn months, all the while running a business.  It was an adjustment, but one that I didn’t even have time to realize we were making.  Some days I was sad for Jack that it wasn’t just days of mommy and Jack, other days I was delighted that he now had a sibling so close in age.  Some days were pure bliss–playing, giggling, learning, enjoying.  Other days were spent frustrated and wondering if it was just the age or was it because he has to share the attention now?  During that time, Jackson became extremely anti-camera.  Yet another stage, but my mommy and photographer’s heart sunk each time he would run the other way.  I longed to have images of my sweet boy.   It was no better when someone else photographed him.  Man, you should have seen our family photos last year.  You haven’t seen them?  That’s because they weren’t really “family” photographs.  A certain three year old was conspicuously absent in almost all of them.  Last week, my sweet Jackson made my heart sing.  He not only let me photograph him, but he actually enjoyed it.  We had fun “exploring” and spending a few quiet moments checking out some chickens and other fun finds.  He is so many things, my dear boy.   Above all, curious.  Kind.  Spirited.  Pensive.  Loud.  A doting big brother.  A master imitator.  Funny.  Lover of his “comfs” (comfy pants).  Inquisitive.  Rowdy.  Ahhh, my sweet, slow down.  Please don’t grow up on me too fast. Thank you for these quiet moments together.  Though we talked, so much was said in the silence…

i love you more than all the stars in the sky,

mommy