Watching

These days, I do a lot of watching. I watch Soren all day, everyday. But what I really mean is, I do a lot of observing. Soren likes to have me around, but is often more content to play on his own. And it's a joy to watch, I mean observe, him as he goes about his day.

It is amazing to me that he can pick up new words every day now, sometimes after hearing them only once. Or that he demonstrates curiosity in knowing what things are, wanting to call them by name. It's a thrill to watch him puff up with pride when he succeeds in doing the activity he is trying, scaling the object he is climbing (including the 6ft ladder in our kitchen when I wasn't looking), or just being funny.

And it is so fun for me to watch Soren interact with others: Daddy, Mormor, Grandma and Grandpa, Laura (or Ottie as she's now called) and David. He loves these people who love him and it's a thrill to observe him as he shrieks and giggles with glee when Daddy chases him around the house. Or Mormor plays peek-a-boo or when Grandpa walks his fingers towards Soren at the table. I love to watch as he gives these special people kisses and hugs good-bye.

And in all of this, I know that I am watching Soren grow. He is learning and changing everyday, he is SO much fun and yet despite the excitement of all of this I know that my baby is disappearing a little more each day. He is becoming more and more a little boy. That's why I just love when he points to himself and says "baby." Because I know my baby is still here for me to enjoy and observe. And I will have the privilege of watching him grow to be the boy, the adolescent, the man that God has created him to be.