Three years...

When I was pregnant with Joseph, every mom I met told me to enjoy and cherish the little moments because it went so fast.

When Joseph was born, I spent hours staring at his perfect little body, running my fingers over his tiny hands, over the arches of his feet, across the round perfection of his little bald head. On quiet afternoons, I lay in bed next to him, boggled that Chad and I had created this fragile little being. I cherished every moment.

In the middle of the night, I sat and rocked him, staring in the mirror on his closet door at the reflected tableau of Mother and Child. I'd look at the two of them, her cradling his delicate little body, him snuggled tight. There were times when the Mother in the Mirror cried along with her child - in exhaustion, exasperation, defeat. There were other times when she sang and laughed at his antics while trying so hard to get him to sleep. But I cherished every moment.

And then came the day when he didn't want to be rocked any more. The Mother in the Mirror disappeared to be replaced by her counterpart who tucked her little boy in bed and sat beside him reading story after story, singing softly and kissing plump cheeks. The smell of baby powder and lotion was replaced by the smell of little boy and activity. She breathed his scent in and cherished every moment.

For three years, I've wiped his tears, bandaged his hurts and soothed his pains. For three years, I've laughed with him, cried with him, played with him, loved him. The little baby I sat and rocked night after night has been replaced by a little boy who's favorite word is "why". He's talking, running, jumping, climbing. He dances and sings and makes up stories about his day.

He draws and feeds himself and doesn't need my help on the potty chair. He knows the names of his dinosaurs and favorite cartoon characters. He knows what he wants to do where and doesn't understand why he can't skip his nap. He argues and pouts and tells me that he's "mad". He is a sweet little boy, with a stubborn streak to rival his mother's. His logic stumps me, his jokes tickle me and his dear little face fills my heart with joy. And I cherish every, single moment.

Three years...why does it seem like forever? Why does it seem like an instant?