As I sit here, I hear the Dude and mini-me in mini-me's bedroom, with the door closed, talking like two friends. And they are. Friends, I mean. I can't tell you how proud that makes me. I used to sit outside their rooms while they were playing as little bitty kids listening to their very elaborate conversations and loved how close they were. They always have been though. So much in love with each other, since the moment Hunter laid eyes on Ivey. Growing up with a gentle, loving brother, how could she do anything but love him and want to be friends? She didn't. So they are.
Now I realize that my days are numbered where I hear this every single day. Don't get me wrong, I have always been aware of this and every step of the way have appreciated the individual minutes and seconds that created the memories that I will forever cherish. But I seriously want a pause button. I actually want to rewind and have the Sunday mornings where both pickles crawl into bed with us and snuggle their cold toes between us and I want to have to read them "just one more" book before I can turn out the light, I want to get them a glass of water before they can go to sleep and I want to hide Easter eggs. I want to hear their infant belly laughs again for the very first time and I want to walk them to kindergarten one more time. I want to always have the chance to tell them every morning to have a good day and that I love them and not to beat anyone up. I want to sit through hours worth of football, baseball, softball, cheerleading, soccer, basketball, kickball, dance routines that never end and band competitions. I want more days like today and I want to not realize that in next month (gulp!) that Hunt will be graduating from high school and moving on to bigger and better things.
I realize the point of all this work was so that they would grow up into the exact amazing people they have, but I'm not quite ready yet. I know this is selfish and I own that. I know they are ready for their lives and I am ready for them to have them on one hand. I am ready to see where their journeys lead them and of course in many years, grandkids! I understand that they are ready and that's exactly how it should be, but could someone please hit the pause button for a little while longer? Please and thank you.
