I’m sad today. I took a good look at my boys this morning and realized they are growing faster than I’m willing to let them.

They change everyday. The things they say. The things they do or stop doing. It’s exciting and amazing to watch, but some days I wish they could stay my babies forever.

Lee is feeling it too. Last night as I snuggled Gavin on the couch Lee told him, “Gavin, you have to stay little forever. You can’t grow up.” Gav looked at him with the oddest expression and said with concern, “But Daddy I want to drive the racey car when I’m big like you.” So, it’s settled. Gav has decided he must grow up so he can drive fast like his Daddy. This thought doesn’t make me rest easy.

Ethan is my tiny mite whose body doesn’t seem to want to let him grow, but his little personality changes every minute. He watches his big brother and wants to be just like him. He follows him around. He sits next to Gavin and copies everything he does. Their great-granny calls them Peat and Repeat.

Ethan is turning into a great helper, something Gav still isn’t. In fact, Gavin will tell you he isn’t a good helper. When I ask them to clean up their toys, Ethan starts picking them up and putting them away. Gavin just watches. One day he said with a grin, “Mommy, Ethan’s a great helper! Yea…I not.”

Gavin is ready to grow up. Besides driving a fast car, his latest ambition is to be a rockstar in outer space. Confused? So am I. Nonetheless, I still tell him he can grow up to be whatever he puts his mind to being. (Side note to NASA: Get to work on constructing a city in outer space for my baby. Don’t make his Mommy a liar.)

Eva Faircloth is a former newspaper editor and current Mary Kay independent sales director who resides in Loxley with her husband, Lee, and two sons, Gavin and Ethan. She can be reached at eva@cyrisoft.com.