What does it mean to have a 9 year old? It means that 9 years ago, Freckles entered the world.  (You can read about that here) It means that in order to be his biological mother, there is no more pretending I am 21. It means milestones like sitting for the first time…. Standing for the first time… That adorable ‘wounded soldier’ crawl… And finally learning to walk… Have all been reached. He’s been potty trained.  He’s mastered cutlery and he’s done the first day of the first year of school He’s lost his first teeth, he’s learned to make his own KD and he’s conqured the TV remote. He was born days after his dad’s first deployment ended and he’s seen him off on 2 more in his lifetime. He’s held both his siblings right after they were born   Having a nine year old means a lot. It means I have to actually remember that he can hear AND understand me if I talk when he is in earshot.  And he will remember and possibly repeat what he heard me say. It means I have 3 more years before I have a live-in babysitter. It means for the first time, that Kid Kamp shirt that only comes in one size per age group that goes to his elbows and knees embarassed him enough that it meant I spent my night hemming so he didn’t feel like he was too small. It means he is able and more than willing to defend his siblings and his family.   It means the hero worship he has for his dad…