I won't cry... I won't cry...

Surrounded by piles of laundry in need of folding, a kitchen counter littered with leftovers in need of putting away and a cozy bed calling my name, I can do nothing but think about yesterday and tomorrow.

Many yesterdays ago ... 11 years of them ... my belly was giantly huge and tiny hand and foot prints were visible as busy twins pressed against their cramped quarters while hatching their early escape plan. I was so excited to meet them! And I experience that moment all over with just a simple thought. Max came first.

"He's perfect," was all I could say. It took an entire 30 minutes before Porter decided he was ready to make his presence known. (He still is hard to get out of bed in the morning.) But when he did, I marvelled at his precious face with sweet features that at the time seemed to mirror his twin.

My love for them grew with every breath and I'd drink in their sweet baby scent and let it fuel me through sleepless nights.

We were parents! And I fell in love with Joel more and more as I watched him grow as a father.

They grew at lightning speed. They became tiny people who may have shared a womb but were clearly so different from one another with strong personalities.

They matched our wits and taught us more about ourselves than we had ever expected.

We grew into parenthood and watched as they grew past toddlerhood and into that pre-tween stage. 

Where did the time go? 

We have packed up Thomas the Tank Engine and all of his 'very useful' friends.
We have set aside the baby books and the Matchbox cars.
We've made room for desks to accomodate computers and study space and traded in Power Ranger walkie talkies for cell phones.

In less than two weeks, they turn 11.
Tomorrow, I will send them off for thier last day of elementary school and try hard not to cry. It won't work, but I'll try. I am just in awe. As my mom would say, my cup runneth over.  I would be lying if I said I weren't a bit scared of middle school. My memories of 6th grade are clouded by being a new kid in a very new place, having just left all I knew in rural Wisconsin for a bustling Houston suburb.  They will only be moving down the street a bit along with many of their friends. They are excited for this adventure and I love their gusto!

So here goes, world ... Max and Porter are middle schoolers. I am the mom of 6th graders. (That hurt, just a little.)