We used to to play for hours, you and I. We played anything and everything. You were also so creative, but patient and kind when my creativity didn't match yours. We would build with wood blocks and play with cars. You always let me build anything I wanted. You've always been very easy going like that. When I was pregnant with Sunshine and always sick, we would play games where I could be sitting or laying down. We'd play pirate ship a lot. We sailed the seas of your bedroom and never go tired of the same game because we always had new adventures ahead of us.
When we needed a little down time from all of the play, we would read together. You would sit in my lap and we would read story after story. Thomas the Train stories were your favorite. We would read about those cheeky engines morning, noon, and night. After we read about them, we'd also play trains. It didn't have to be anything fancy, just pushing the trains along the tracks on the train table.
As you got a little older, you were happy with a little more indepence. You could build and play for hours alone. The moment you learned how to read, which was exceptionally early, you would sit and read for hours. You would read all of the wonderful stories we read together and you would read new and exciting stories on your own. I would watch you and I would be so proud, and so sad at the same time. You always still let me play or read to you when I asked, but it was different. This time, you didn't need me.
It was all OK because we still had our bedtime ritual. When you were a tiny baby, I would hold you in my arms, rock you, and sing to you. As you grew up, I would sit on the side of your bed and sing to you. It was always the same songs, in the same order. As more and more time passed and we got busier and busier, our playlist of songs went down to one. Baby Mine. I would sit on your bed, stroke your hair, and sing you Baby Mine. Soon, that one song turned into no songs. I know you'd still let me sit on the side of your bed and sing to you, but you no longer need or want me to.
Each morning when I wake you up, I say, "Good morning, my sweet baby angel. I love you with all of my heart. You are my precious gift from God. It's going to be an amazing day, Little Man." Each morning when I say it, I embrace it because I know that at any moment, it may be the last time. You will be setting your own alarms to get up and won't need me to wake you up. And, before I know it, you'll be off to college where I can't wake you up each day.
You are turning into such an amazing young man. No matter how old you get, you will always be my baby boy. Whatever you face in life, I will be there, supporting you. Even though you no longer need me for a lot of things in your life, I hope that you still want me to be there. However, even when you don't want me there, I'll still be there, waiting, just in case. It's you and me.
Happy Birthday, my Little Man. I love you. Always.
Mommy