It seems we've entered a new chapter in our lives

Yes, my hubby is officially done with school and the hunt for the new job has begun in earnest, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I'm referring to my three-and-a-half-year-old.

In the past few weeks, he's hit two major milestones:

1) Keeping secrets and

2) Had his first official play date with a neighbor without Jay or I present.

Keeping one secret is impressive enough, but in the past few weeks, he's kept TWO. First, Jay took him to pick up my Anniversary/Mother's Day gift. Not wanting the boy to ruin the surprise, he told Nick it was a secret, then proceed to make up a goofy list of "what we got Mama" in case I were to ask.

The greatest part? He remembered the entire list of fake gifts - Jay made sure I tested him. It included (but was not limited to) various types of fishing tackle, sporting equipment and a new car.

Then, a week later, I was getting down to the nitty-gritty of planning the surprise party for Jay. I had been trying not to mention it in front of Nick so as to keep the secret longer, but once people started calling on a regular basis with their RSVPs, that idea went out the window. His ears physically perked up when he heard me say "party."

"MAMA! We're having a PARTY?!?" he shrieked.

"Yes, honey," I explained, "but we're going to make it a surprise for Daddy!" I went on to explain that surprises were fun, but that he shouldn't tell Daddy.

"OK," was all I got in reply from him. But you know what? He didn't "accidentally" blurt out anything about the party to Daddy.

And when the neighbor boy asked if Nick could come over to play one day, he turned to his Daddy and said, "Daddy, I can go to Caleb's house?"

Now, its good enough that he realized he should ask for permission and not just run on over. On top of it, he was polite about asking. (The swapping of "I" and "can", well, we're workin' on it. He's three.)

He and Caleb have played outside a few times, most often talking through the fence, running items up to show off to one another. (See? My dump truck is bigger than yours.) A sign of things to come? Probably.

But on this particular day it was gawdawful hot out, and the invitation was extended for indoor play. I thought surely he'd be home minutes later, spouting one of those little boy excuses that really meant he wanted to come home but didn't want to admit it.

Will was napping and Jay was fiddling with something outside, so it was an omigosh! moment when I realized that more than an hour had passed and it was time for lunch. I sent the hubster next door to retrieve him, only to be informed that the boys were eating PB&Js and watching ET.

Huh.

I was not needed. By anyone.

Weird.

For the first time in more than three and a half years, I could actually do whatever the heck I wanted.

Then the baby woke up.

Ha! No, actually, he slept a while longer, but my point is I got a glimpse of what life will start to look like a few years from now. Its bittersweet, really. Its awesome to see the results of all the trials and errors you go through with your kids, trying to teach them right from wrong, to be polite, to make decisions for themselves. But its so hard to let go.

If we're so blessed, another baby *is* in the cards for this family. We'll have many more years of babydom. But Nick is my first, so everything that I experience with him is new. It gives me great joy - though it always makes me a bit sad when each stage ends.

And I'm thankful I get to experience it at all!