Wow! Hard to believe Caleb is now 9 months. My mom and several others told me how fast the time would go, but I couldn't see it or understand it when I was so tired from lack of sleep. It is quite obvious to me now, however, that my little baby is quickly turning into a little boy. It is amazing to see him learn something new or do something for the first time and it is thrilling to see how much joy he gets from the simple things. I pray Jeremy and I have the strength to set appropriate boundaries for him while encouraging him to develop into his own person. I also pray we have the humility to raise him in a path that will lead him to love the Lord and live a life that brings glory to God. To think that the parenting I am doing now will affect Caleb's future is overwhelming. Someone once told me (most likely my mother), "If you raise a child right, you raise him to leave you." I think about this principle often, knowing that if I am indeed doing what I need to do for Caleb now, one day he'll be confident enough to walk out my front door and start out on his own. Hopefully, he will return at some point for a visit with a wife and some of his own children for me to spoil, as I have also been told that grandkids are a parent's reward for not killing his own kids. If Caleb is like my youngest two brothers, however, he'll return, move into his old room and be content to stay awhile and enjoy the life of a bachelor who enjoys his mom's home-cooking too much!
