The Firsts in Life

 I hope your first smile will be in my arms, your first words will be my name, and that I'll be there for your first steps. I'm imagining the excitement of your first loose tooth, you'll learn to tie your first shoes, and your first sentence will be "I love you." I'm driving you to your first days of school, helping with your first science fair project, and debating your first time being grounded. I seem to fade when you get your first phone, you're driving your first car, and arriving at your first party with friends. At least I'll get a call from your first job away from home, or when you get engaged to your first love, and decide to start to your own family of firsts. I just hope that these firsts we shared won't be our last, when I'm in your arms, whispering your name, and taking my final breath, "I love you."