THEN AND NOW

THEN

My son turned 18 this weekend.  How is this possible?  Where did the years go?  It’s not fair.  I want those years back.  They seem so care free and wonderful now.  What happened to my sweet baby?  

Hi friends!

You know, the one in the bassinet beside my bed?  

 My whole family traveled miles to see him.

Laura, Dad, me . Wish you were here.

One morning at 3 AM, he woke me and I reluctantly pried my heavy eyelids open as I turned to check on the little form lying beside me.  I will never forget what I saw next.  It was definitely worth waking up at 3 AM.  I was greeted with the biggest, happiest toothless grin I have ever seen.  His whole face beamed with joy at seeing me.  I basked in the glow of this image for a long time before drifting back off to sleep. It's one of my happiest memories.

 
 His older sister was a little uncertain about bringing him home from the hospital.

What's your name again?

But then she decided he could stay.

Don't sleep!  Let's play!

 

He became quite a ladies man

How you doin?

And a fun playmate

You say the funniest things, Krista!

Hey!  Who's driving??

He was always happy and a joy to have around

Put your shades on, Kyle!

OK!

When he first started talking, he had an Italian accent.  Carrying him through the shark exhibit in Sea World, he startled me by asking, “Mommy, dose shawks bite-a my face?”

Sometimes I couldn’t understand his baby/Italian talk.  One day he pointed at a keychain hanging on the wall and said, “Diddle Bawbie!”  It took me a few seconds for my mommy translator to kick in.   He was referring to the tiny Barbie doll hanging on the key chain (little Barbie.  Duh). 

At first, he thought Krista's name was Kyle too.  We went to a friend's beach house and when Krista stepped off the deck onto the sand, it was like she had stepped off the edge of the planet.  He was very upset, and with tears streaming down his face, he turned to me and yelled, "Look at Kyle!  Look at Kyle!"

I'm Kyle and so is she!

His sister taught him to dance

Mom's going to embarrass me with this photo one day

Note the lamby coat

Had fun with his cousin, Mitch

Best Buds

You're supposed to smile!

He learned to play guitar ... really well, I might add.

You should hear me play Led Zeppellin

When he was four, he called me his "Love-Love".

When he was five, he had his first crush on a cute little blond girl in Kindergarten.  He was telling me about her with great fondness, and I looked at him curiously and asked, “Kyle, do you like her?”  He turned his face up to me, his eyes squinting in the morning sun, a huge grin spreading from ear to ear.  I was crushed, but tried to act nonchalant as I fought with the screaming voice in my head:  “Another girl has won his heart!  That’s not supposed to happen yet! Not now! Or ever!”  I pushed the screaming maniac out and away from me, leaving her sobbing  and pounding her fists on the sidewalk.  She always finds her way back to me, though.  Don't tell anyone.

Hi Handsome Boy

I cherish all these memories, especially now when he barely lets me hug him, making sure his face is out of reach in case, God forbid, I should try to kiss his cheek.

Now he is 18.   

Smile!

 In Europe and Costa Rica he's old enough to drink

He can vote.   

He’s a man!

Life is bittersweet.  Have you noticed that?  I am proud of my handsome grown up son, and my beautiful daughter, but I would time travel back to the happy days of their childhood in an instant if I could.  I guess that’s what I’m doing now.

Hey Mom, can I borrow the car?