He Remains.

Light up shoes have long been on H's list of wants. And finally a little over a week ago now, his dream came true and we took a trip to the shoe store where his simplest desire was met.

Not only do they light up, they are his favorite color, green.

He was so excited to have them that that night he asked to sleep with them on. Considering he hadn't yet worn them outside, we obliged.

Later on that night, when we headed to bed ourselves we found that H had relocated himself to our bed. With his shoes.

I stood looking at my boy. My superhero in a 3 1/2 year old body. With his giant, green light up shoes hanging at the end of his long and lanky body.

Underneath all that, the facade of the tough boy who's testing limits and pushing buttons, I see my boy. Underneath it all, he remains.

And my heart nearly beats out of my chest booming with love for him.

When I feel I'm losing the battle and worried for the war that is parenting, I see my sleeping boy and realize he's still here, right where he belongs. Saving the world with his innocence, his belief that he is indeed Batman and now, his brand new light up shoes.

As sure as the sun sets each day and rises the next, on the hardest of days and all of the rest, my son, my little boy, he's still here. He remains.