Why can't they stay babies forever?

In one of those rare moments, Alfred and I were hanging out downstairs on the couch on Saturday morning watching TV while all four of the kids were upstairs playing Nintendo Wii in the office. We heard Jacob working his way downstairs so Alfred told me to hide under the blanket. As I was hiding, I heard Jacob asking his daddy, "Mama wok? Mama wok?" (translation: Is mom at work?) and Alfred answered, "I don't know?" and slowly pulled the blanket off so that my head was peeking out. The look on Jacob's face when his eyes met mine was priceless! His face lit up and he even did a little jig, he was that excited to see that I was NOT at "wok" but at home with him!

Later that afternoon, I was busy doing laundry and stitching warm-up pants that have been overly abused on the softball field (in retrospect, I should have just tossed it in the trash or turned them into shorts - haha!) when Jacob came up to me asking for "nas" (translation: bananas). I told him to go ask his daddy and was surprised when he answered "daddy! nas!" and took off running to look for his dad and chow down on bananas.

Late yesterday afternoon, the girls were helping their dad wash the cars while I watched Jacob roll up and down the drive-way on his little scooter. It was starting to get cold so I asked him if he wanted to go inside to watch some TV and he answered, "No... bike." When I asked if he was sure he answered, "No.... bike."

When did this happen?? When did my baby go from barely comprehendable babblings to... um... well, barely comprehendable intelligent questions, the ability to follow direction and form his own opinions?? Amazing. Next thing you know, he'll be asking me to take him to the "cathay" for some lattes. I don't think I can take it... all of my babies growing up.