Time is Fleeting

{Time moves slowly, but passes quickly}

As I was out running errands today with my little man, I started thinking about how much Parker has changed already and how quickly time passes. Time is free, but those moments in time are priceless. It's not something you can own, but you can use it to create those precious memories with the ones you love most. There's no way for you to keep time, but you can spend it...spend it with those closest to your heart. But, once you've lost time, there's absolutely no way to get it back. 

A few days ago, Bryant told me about a comment that was made to him while he was holding Bryson. As he was helping Bryson into the car, someone said, "um...he can walk" (in that negative, condescending tone) and went on to tell Bryson that his dad was an idiot. After sort of laughing to myself at the immaturity of it, I began to ask myself, "how miserable can some people be?" Common sense tells anyone that of course he can walk! He's almost 7 years old. Of course he is capable of walking to the car on his own. Just like he can go to bed by himself at night, tie his shoes, fix his own food, run his bath at night and the list could go on and on. But, as parents, why wouldn't you want them to still need you. One of the sweetest things I see during the day is Bryson running up to his daddy, leaping into his arms, wanting him to hold him. [There's something about being in your daddy's arms. There's nothing like it!] As parents, you want to cherish every minute of the time you have while they're young; when they're still running into your arms after a long day of school, jumping up and down when they see your car in the car rider line, smiling from ear to ear when you walk into the house from work, sleeping peacefully in your arms. When they still need you to tie their shoes, hold them as they get into the car, run a bubble bath for them and stay in the bathroom to play superheroes with them. Of course he can do things by himself, like walking to the car, but...time goes by too fast.

If there's anything I want for Bryson and Parker in this life, outside of them coming to know, love and serve Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, it's to create an environment of love, security, sweet memories and for them to always know that Bryant and I are going to be there for them no matter what, regardless of the age they are. 

When Bryant and I started dating, Bryson was only 2 years old. This December we will celebrate his 7th birthday! I've always heard parents say, "time passes too quickly", and although it has seemed that time continued to get faster as I became older, I've never truly understood the weight of that statement until I become a parent. 

 {The very first pictures Bryson & I ever took over 4 1/2 year ago. Look how little he was!!}

We've spent years at the ball fields (and will have many more to come with both boys). We've cheered for the Mudcats, Blue Bombers, Phillies & Marlins. 

 {Mudcats: 2012}

 {Blue Bombers: 2013}

 {Phillies: 2014}

{Marlins: 2015}

We've celebrated all life's big events together, such as our engagement, buying our 1st house as a family, promising forever to these two precious boys & the birth of Bryson's little brother, Parker James Davis. 

 {Engagement pictures}

 {The first few days in our new house}

 {Our wedding day: 11.9.13}

 {Bryson & Parker meeting for the first time}

{Parker James Davis 7.28.15}

We've made some of the best memories celebrating birthdays. Every year I look forward to throwing Bryson the birthday party of his choice. I can't believe it's time to start planning his 7th birthday! This year he has requested a science party and he wants his very own chemistry set...not sure where it came from, but I can't wait to start making everything! 

 {Bryson's 4th birthday}

 {Bryson's 5th birthday}

{Bryson's 6th birthday}

This year will mark our 5th Christmas together as a family! I am so excited about this year, having both boys with us is going to make for the most wonderful holiday season! 

 {Christmas 2011}

 {Christmas 2012}

 {Christmas 2013}

{Christmas 2014} 

And finally, we've walked through many firsts together throughout the years as a family. We've walked into the first days of school, caught our first fish together, went to Disney World for the first time for the boys (and will be going back for Bryson's Spring Break this year and for Parker's first time), went to the boy's first Braves game, watched Bryson lose his first tooth and many, many more!  

 {1st day of Kindergarten} 

 {1st day of 1st grade}

 {Bryson's 1st fish}

 {1st trip to Disney World}

 {1st Braves game}

{1st tooth to come out}

Time goes by faster than I'd like it to. It seems like we've been home from the hospital for only a few days with Parker, but our little man is almost 1 month old! 

Time literally slips through my fingers. I remember my mom would always give new mothers, as well as myself, this advice as they prepared for their new little bundles of joy: 

{Remember what's important. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if the house is spotless, if the laundry is done, or the dishes are clean. What matters most is the time you spent with your kids, the memories you made & the love you poured into them. The house, laundry and dishes will still be there; your kids grow up too fast!}

I wish they could stay little forever, but we all know that can't happen. They have a destiny to step into; a purpose and calling the Lord placed on their lives they must fulfill. I pray Bryson always wants his daddy to hold him. Maybe not literally as he gets older (and taller), but hold him up in prayer during down times; in encouragement during hard times; in support during good times. I hope he never gets too old to ask for me to scratch his back as he goes to sleep at night or start jumping up and down when he sees our car in the car rider line after a long day of school. I hope Parker always keeps that sparkle in his eyes (we call him "bright eyes" because of how alert and awake he has been since day 1). I hope he keeps that precious smile on his face, always choosing joy throughout life. 

To all my mama friends out there, here's my challenge to you (and to myself as well): cherish every moment with your babies while they're young. Don't wish the time away. Hold on to the times they still let you carry them, rock them to sleep, scratch their backs, or even just sit down and tell you about their days. Before you know it, you'll be watching them walk across the stage at graduation or packing up their cars for college. Time is fleeting. 

~ All my love, 
         Chelsea