He lies quietly on his side as he pushes his tiny hot wheels along imaginary streets in a town that exists only in his head.

She sits quietly on the couch, pad of paper and some markers in her lap, creating her latest masterpiece that, no doubt, will amaze me when she rushes over to show me.

They don’t know that I’m watching them from behind the newspaper that is in my lap. It’s times like these that I can take a step back and marvel at the two not-so-little ones before me. It seems like yesterday that I held them both in my arms at the same time. And suddenly, we’re making plans for a 5th birthday party.

My mind races over the past almost-five years and it’s funny how I remember only the good. Even the bad, incredibly tiring days seem somehow more pleasant than any of those days have a right to be. I remember early morning snuggles with bottles. I remember a lot of firsts. First baths. First solid foods. First steps. First words. And first days.

I remember dancing in the mall. I remember tantrums that were so awful they are now funny. I remember endless days of Swee’Pea chasing Nutmeg the cat. And I remember the day she finally caught her. I remember when TheMonk didn’t say anything and how now we can’t get him to shut up. I remember.

And as I look at these two beautiful children, I feel a sense of pride in having had a role in creating such wonderful little beings. They are well-mannered, smart and a lot of fun to be around. I marvel that their mother and I have been able to do this one thing so very, very well.

And as I look back at the past, I also have an eye on the future knowing that time will not slow down. The next five years will go by just as fast and the five years after that and the five years after that. And when I think of how much further we have to go, one thought crosses my mind.

Don’t screw this up.