Nature Boy

Jackson Daniel never seems to become tired with the great outdoors. The dirt, grass, leaves, and apples from the trees offer our boy hours of joy and play. He may get restless with his pile of toys in the house, but never nature.

Thus, when I see my shadow next to his smaller one with the sun behind us while he is playing in the grass, and I witness the glistening of his sweat on his scalp and upper lip, I know he is our boy.

I know it in a way that couldn't be realized with the expulsion of his wriggling body from mine. It comes from watching him grow and seeing the personality and traits that only a combination of myself and Dave could create.

Jackson is nearly 10 months old now. 10 MONTHS! That is absurd to me. How did this time go by so quickly? He is his own little person now that becomes more evident every single day. And I am his mother; holding his hand as he is learning to walk, reading him books while he mimics the tones of my voice, pulling him close when the pains of growth are just too much, I am his mother.

We struggle together, but nothing in this world is as sweet, pure, and wonderful as the weight of his body against my chest as he gives in and rests against me.