Being a Mom

Today is my very first Mother's Day as a mom. I'm not often burdened with emotion, but ever since I became a mom it seems that I am on the emotional Tour de France (another side effect is my desire to write poetry full of rainbows and unicorns, or something equally mushy and cheesy). I blame my hormones, but I know that what has really happened has more to do with that little being that sleeps in the room right next to me (and sometimes he sleeps right next to me). He's changed my world. J is now nine months and one day. Yesterday, he crawled across the room, from daddy to mommy, for the very first time.

I wish you all a very happy Mother's Day.

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I remember the day I gave birth to you.
Only nine months ago one became two.

Your sweet little smile and sparkling eyes,
And a personality that took me by surprise.

I held your hands and played with your toes.
I marveled at your belly, your knees, and your nose.

A day, a week, a month passed so fast,
Those peaceful days sure didn’t last.

You started with an ohh, a baa, a coo,
You wiggled, you squirmed, and let out a goo!

You rolled one way and then the other,
You grabbed one toy and then another.

More time passed and you learned to play,
We sang, we danced, and read all day.

One day you pushed out of my lap,
You turned, you reached and then you sat!

And I found in time you loved to eat,
Sweet potatoes, pears, and even your feet!

With each little change there is something I know,
Each passing moment means that you’ll grow.

For now I’ll be right there; you’ll never be alone.
But the day will come when you’ll be on your own.

Today it happened, you crawled away from me.
Your little legs went so fast I could barely see.

Tears came from out of nowhere as you crawled away,
You turned and looked at me as if to say,

“Don’t worry mom, I still need hugs and kisses from you.”
“Yes, little baby boy, momma needs them too.”

I know this is how it is supposed to be,
To give you love and then to set you free.

But, for right now you’re my little man,
And I’ll hold you tightly for as long as I can.

*This was taken a couple days ago when J managed to crawl BACKWARDS and lodge himself under his Pack 'n Play. This is his steely look of determination. Yesterday he figured it all out. Now, he wants to walk . . . (his momma thinks she'll just have to put a stop to that right now).