Body Odor

So, I have a big lump in my throat and tears running down my cheeks right now. Wanna know why?

Body Odor.

I know. It sounds a little extreme, but when have I been known for my laid back reactions?

So I guess I have been feeling this for a while now... The urge to hit the brake pedal, to press "pause" or slow motion or call for a Time Out. Life is just moving too, too quickly.

So today, I picked Isaac up from soccer practice and finished giving the girls a bath. As they were getting out and he walked by me to take his turn in the bath, I smelled something.

I looked around, thinking Matt must have come in from mowing the lawn....

I turned and just saw Isaac. What!? I didn't say a word, but I walked over close to him and bent down to smell his arm pits.

And there it was....

Body Odor.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I covered my mouth and composed myself long enough to listen to a recap of Daphne's play that she invented in the bathtub. I made my way out the door and the tears spilled out onto my cheeks. I walked over to Matt, now planting flowers for me.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Isaac's arm pits smell." I say, my voice cracking.

"Do they really smell that bad?" He asks, his eyes laughing at me.

I can't talk, so I just turn around to walk back inside.

"It's okay, babe. We can get him some deodorant!"

Then he said, " I'm sorry you're an old woman."

Let me be perfectly clear: I was not crying because I am getting old. (He was just teasing me!)

But my baby, my baby!! Every phase of his life as a baby couldn't come fast enough for me. I hungered for each milestone to come, to see for my own eyes that he was developing normally. And now? Now I seriously cannot believe how fast it is all passing. My heart aches a little with each new step. His feet are as long as mine now. He is at least 5 feet tall and he's only 9. But deodorant? I'm not ready for this. Not one bit.

I am so utterly humbled to be his mother... to be a mother to all three of them. He is a precious, kind, compliant, respectful, athletic and bright boy. I cannot say enough good things about him. He will probably hate me for recording this story... it may even be deleted at a later date. But just so that I can hold on to each minute, I am trying to preserve this one by writing it down.

Back in March, Matt brought him this Scorpion model kit from California. It was for ages 12 and up, but Isaac put it together (almost) completely by himself. He's so proud of it!

And I am so proud of him! I love you, Isaac. Body Odor and all.