a milestone: forts

Last night we had a first at our place. Last night after dinner, Noah and I made our first fort together and we had so much fun playing in it. Now this may not seem like a big deal to many but for me it was something I had been waiting for, for a long time. For me, fort building is up there with other quintessential childhood rites of passage such as learning to ride a bike, catching tadpoles and skipping rope. To me, building a fort is the ultimate imaginary game, it's a secret world, a place where being small has it's advantage and where one feels safe and special.

So last night out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Noah playing under our dining room table that had a table cloth on it. He kept peeking out from under the table cloth and would giggle and then go back under and at that moment I just knew he was ready for a fort.

I put our chairs back to back and placed a blanket over them. I then pushed the chairs next to the table which created a nice little cozy place for Noah and I. Oh yes, and I. I got under there too and it was such a joy. We peeked and laughed and gave each other knowing looks, like "this place is cool and it's just for us, isn't it".

It's little things like these that let me know that my boy is starting to grow up. Little babies don't play in forts, no, big boys do. More and more, I am seeing my little boy grow into a big one and it makes me realize how fast time is flying by. I'm seeing a little boy that is full of imagination and curiosity and I'm so glad that I stop to write these memories down. I'm so glad that I take a million pictures everyday of my boy, because man it's going by pretty darn quick.

Lately I've been catching myself being totally and utterly in love with Noah. Of course that's always been the case, always. But lately it's been something dare I say deeper, because lately, I feel his love returned. The hugs and kisses that I give him are now reciprocated, the deep stares exchanged, the laughs shared. And sometimes when we are out at playgroup or the indoor playroom, out of nowhere, Noah will stop whatever it is that he is doing and will come running over to me with arms wide open, with a big smile on his face and shout "Mama!!!" at the top of his lungs for all to hear. And wow, can I say that truly, that is the most amazing feeling in the world?

Yes it's true. I love my boy and I love that we have entered into a new stage of his life and of our relationship. One that includes more imaginary play, more investigating, more learning and exploring. Together.

xox