Firsts!

There are so many firsts you experience with your children. The first time you hold them, the first time they smile, the first time they laugh, sit, walk, talk, eat, play, run. There are first holidays and birthdays. There are firsts when they go to preschool and then kindergarten. And then the first time you realize that your little one isn't really so little any more and is on his way to being a big kid who is getting more and more independent everyday.

Today Annie was at a friends after school and I knew Audrey would be asleep when the bus came to drop Charlie off. He has been practicing walking home on his own with me following him for a week or two now but today was the first day I told him he could walk home all alone. As the time came when I knew the Buses would have come to the park around the corner I went out front to walk to the corner to meet him and there he was walking down the street with his friends. He didn't see me and I was shocked to realize how grown up he is, he waved to his friends and told them he would see them tomorrow and walked the rest of the way home with a smile on his face. I snuck back in the house so he wouldn't know I had been watching him. He was so nonchalant about walking home alone when he came in the house, like "no worries mom".

So today was the first time I glimpsed my little baby boy really and truly growing up. I guess I am still happy he wants me and really needs me because I am sure the day will come sooner than I can ever imagine that he really is grown up.