Fall?! How did that happen???

The temperature has taken a significant drop, plummeting to the 50's at night and only 70's during the day. It's still dark when I wake up and the sun is setting earlier and earlier. I normally welcome the change of seasons as a breath of fresh air, inviting a new phase of life, reminding me of the opportunity to start anew. But this year I've been adamently opposed to the coming of fall.

Don't get me wrong - I still love the changing colors of the leaves. You simply cannot get a better sunrise than the way an orange autumn sun dawns each day. And let's be honest, there simply isn't anything more scrumptuous than a Pumpkin Spice Latte (rumor has it, Pumpkin Spice creamer has already been spotted at Target!).

But a changing season, a new month, the last quarter of 2009 that begins today is yet another reminder of the time that flies by as my baby doesn't seem like much of a baby anymore. Not only am I switching out shorts and tanks for pants and long sleeves, I'm having to make the change between 12 and 18 month clothes. He's getting so tall.

I know, I know. I shouldn't complain. It's exciting, really. He's doing exactly what he should be. He's doing exactly what we want - everything we pray for...for him to grow in stature, and wisdom, and maturity. But that very answer to prayer is also a sometimes painful reminder that my baby is growing up. The doctor doesn't call him "baby" anymore, by the way. He's officially categorized as a toddler...but she simply doesn't know that he is and always will be MY baby.

I do love fall. As much as I could care less who wins, I love a good college football game. I love that autumn ushers in the holiday season (just a warning, there might be another rant coming in a few more months). I anticipate how excited Elijah will be as we share Christmas together and this year he actually understands more of what's going on...and at the same time, I savor the fact that right now, today, he still doesn't quite get it.

It's a contradiction, really, but also an epiphony. Today, I will embrace September 1, a few short weeks before the official dawn of autumn, and I'm going to keep stealing as many hugs and kisses from my 15-month-old before I blink and he's 15. (And I'm going to hunt down that Pumpkin Spice creamer!!!)