This is the child who was in my thoughts
Long before he was in my womb.
He was named before he was conceived.

This is the child that was our first.

This is the child on whose birthday I wept
Because I realized that babies don't keep
And that someday he would even
Go to kindergarten.

Well, now that day has come.

I've changed his diapers and changed his sheets.
He's changed his clothes at least 5,000 times.

I've been his teacher, his disciplinarian,
His buddy, his confidant and his albatross.

I've seen his first attempts at rolling over.
I've seen him conquer the world of potty training...
I've waited anxiously for his first word.
Now he uses his logic to outreason and correct me.

I've watched him gaze at the world in amazement.
I've watched him lasso that world in his play.
I've watched him create imaginary friends,
Invent his own carseat
and talk about Disney World like he just was there yesterday.

I've watched him dance in dramatic delight.

Now I won't get to watch quite as much.

You'll be part-time watcher
Part-time keeper.

Please watch him carefully.
Please keep him well
And please, please help keep that
Sense of wonder in his gaze,
That creativeness and inventiveness in his work.

I know to you he is just one of many
And you don't know him very well.

But I know that he calls tomatoes "potatoes"
And that he can follow directions to pick up "most" of his toys.
And that he has a tender, tender heart.

And to me, he is one of not so many.

He is my firstborn.
He is the answer to our prayers
And he was in my heart even before he was in my womb.


Thanks,
A very sad Mom today...