I’m not sure I was ready for this. So much is already shifting in our world, with me starting work in just a few short weeks that will go by in the blink of an eye.

But man, this kid? He’s growing up. And while so much of our lives is atypical and different, and my motherhood is just – more – there are some things that are the same.

Like – I had to buy Kiran deodorant this week. Not something that was even on my radar, until it had to be. Ugh. He’s getting so big, and it was time. Thankfully, like so many things in his life, he has been completely unfazed by this change.

He is choosing more alone time. While he has always sometimes chosen to have alone time when given the choice between that and hanging out with me, he is choosing it more often now. Very typical. A little heartbreaking.

But today – today, Kiran was baptized. This has been a long time coming. When he was an infant, he was baptized in his father’s religion because it was required for him to even attend religious gatherings within that religion. I have wanted to get him baptized in my faith – Christianity – for awhile. Barriers existed that I won’t get into because it isn’t a relevant part of what today held.

Today, friends and family gathered with us, attended a church service with us, and witnessed his baptism. We all celebrated afterwards with lunch at our house. It was meaningful and beautiful, and I couldn’t have asked for a better day. Kiran did fantastic – it was a “scoop and pour” baptism, and he flinched a bit with the first bit of water but engaged in the rest of the ceremony like a champ. I am so thankful it was on the end of his week at Vacation Bible School, because he was surrounded by the music, the love, the community of our church all week.

It was so important and so, so good. It amazes me, sometimes, to see him coming more and more into his own independent self, because it’s always existing in juxtaposition with his care needs. It’s a new phase of parenthood and a learning curve for sure. I’m here for it, and I am so thankful we have so many people along for the ride loving on and supporting him – and us.