all tied up...Snapshot Sunday...

There are these things...

these things that happen...

These things we measure time with...

firsts...

Things like rolling over for the first time or taking your first steps...

Things like a name being written for the first time...and loosing the first tooth.

Things that we associate with age...

Today...

My baby took another step toward being a big girl.

She tied her shoes. 

by herself...

for the first time.

And boy was I proud. 

She has been working on this for SO very VERY long.

This kiddo...she decided THIS weekend...was THE weekend it was going to happen.

So she started...and she didn't stop.

She practiced on the couch...she practiced in the car...she practiced in her room, she practiced ALL the stinking time...

and she was so very very proud of herself when she finally did it.

and I ...

Well...I found myself in one of those moments where I didn't know if I should smile or cry.

I settled on a little bit of both.

I smiled through my tears.  Enough so that this kiddo...knew I was so proud of her.

All the while thinking that those moments I was talking about...

They are just going to keep coming...

That there is nothing I can do to stop them...

or even to slow them down.

They just keep coming...

and smacking me square on the jaw...

reminding me to take it all in.

To live every moment with her.

To saturate myself with HER moments...

To remember to be grateful that she allows me to experience these moments with her...

To hope that she will continue to let me grow with her...

because lord knows...

that every. single. time. she does something new...

and she grows...

I grow too.

Some days I wonder how I will survive..

these

GROWING pains...

because it would be so wonderful if I could just freeze time...

and keep things EXACTLY the way they are right now...

and every. single. time.

she does something new...she is growing... away from me...

into herself...

and who she will be...

and she is needing me less...

and I know it's my job to teach her all these life lessons...

so that she can go out there...in the real world...and kick some real world butt...

and I will....

keep teaching her...

and all the while...

wishing I could just hold on...

at least a little longer...

to these moments...

because some day...

moments like this...

are going to be a memory...

that I will cherish forever...

XOXO..

Way to go kiddo!