Austin recently attended his first dance.....it was a Christmas dance and honestly I can't believe how grown up he is starting to look. He is my first born, my baby. I am so blessed to be his mom. Really. I'm not just saying that. He makes being a mom easy.....he really does. He will turn 12 years old in April and honestly I am kind of sad about it. I know that in about 6 years, he will be going to college and "coming into his own". And I know that I will miss him greatly. I will miss how he talks with me now, how he wants to spend time with me and how he tells me all about his day when he comes home. I know that he won't stop talking to me, but it will be different. We all change as we grow up and become adults. And we still love our parents and talk with them, but it is in a different way. And I will miss the way it is now. Don't get me wrong, I most certainly want him to grow up and become the wonderful man that I know that he will become. Lately I have just been realizing how fast time really does go by. How it really does seem like yesterday that he was a baby in my arms. And how sometimes we take things for granted......like how wonderful our children are and how we should cherish every minute. I am so proud of my son. He is the most wonderful 11 (almost 12) year old that I know. He is the most responsible child, he never gives up, he is understanding, compassionate, loving, sweet, smart, and always has a heart to help others and do his best. A lot of the time I sit and wonder how I ended up with such a child. All 4 of my kids are this way, exceptional. And I know that most mothers say this about their children, but I can guarantee you that I really believe it. It is a truly humbling experience. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be their mother. My heart swells and I get a lump in my throat when I look at this picture. For so many different reasons.........because I am proud, because I have an overwhelming love for him, because I am sad at how fast he is growing up, because I will miss him when he goes out into this scary world, but most of all......it is because of the overwhelming love.
