And now she's seven and I'm grasping at the quickly fading memories of nursing her late into the night, how her tiny fist fit inside the palm of my hand, how she would twirl and twirl her hair each night just to fall asleep.
I'm yearning for the clock to rewind and let me re-live some things.
Like watching her blow out her birthday candles for the very first time. Seeing her learn to crawl, and learn to walk, and learn to ride a bike. Like watching her get off the school bus after her first day of Kindergarten. Seeing her squeal with glee the first time the ocean swept over her toes. And when she'd snuggle into the small of my back every single night in bed.
I just want to sit down, catch my breath and watch the highlight reel of these past seven years.
Seven wonderful, memorable, amazing, best-of-my-life years.
The young woman that she's growing into - it amazes me. I see so much of myself in every little thing she does and I can't help but feel my heart swell with pride.
I see myself when she sings to the radio with her own made-up lyrics.
I recognize it when she clams up in a crowd of friends and feels so unsure of herself.
I see it when she writes her lists and checks things off, wanting everything to be just-so.
And I see her daddy in her too.
In the way she loves animals of all kinds.
And how she can watch the silliest videos and fall into fits of laughter.
And when her blue eyes twinkle when she's up to mischief.
This child of ours - perfectly made from him and I, yet so distinctly her own self as well.
She is talented. She is compassionate. She is full of drama.
She is energetic. And she never sits still long.
She is creative. She is kind. She is sensitive.
She is so full of life. And of faith in our Heavenly Father.
She is beautiful. She is smart. She is our sunshine.
And now, she is seven.
Happy Birthday baby girl. You are everything we dreamed of and you give our lives meaning each and every day.
