Doug&babyT

Our T-man is twelve today.  Twelve.  Or, as he so sensitively put it yesterday, “One year and one day away from being thirteen.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or weep.

I look at this photo and see pure love and joy.  I hear the silly giggles he and BrightSide shared. I wonder what he thought after he licked his daddy’s head.  I remember the feeling of his pudgy arms and legs wrapped around me, snuggled up tight for hugs.

I remember.

I see the smart, funny, handsome young man he is now and think of the years to come.  First loves and friends, schoolwork and licenses, high school and college and life.

But then I slow down and remember.

This sweet young fella turns twelve today.  It’s time for a new chapter to begin.