7th Grade.

This boy is taller than me now.  And it's not that I'm not extremely happy he got the tall gene and not my short gene, I am.  I am so very happy about that.  But, he's just 12, and just in 7th grade, and he's taller than me.  My baby.  My little pa-poo-shka.  And he's in 7th grade now.  He's such a good kid.  Gets himself up, in the shower, and ready for school on time.  He slaves over his homework, cause he has the drive inside of himself to succeed.  He's in advanced math this year, and even though he moans that it's hard, he can do it cause math comes naturally.  I'm so proud of him, and remind myself every single day that I better hang on and treasure each and every single time, all the very few and far between moments, when a glimpse of my little boy shine through this child in a man's body.  He's growing up.  Man, there's a pride and sadness all rolled into one big ball of love when it takes a look up to look into your baby's eyes.