Left Behind, Growing Up

Poor little guy. This image has nothing to do with what I'm about to write, I fear. Yes, um, sorry about that.

Today is the first of March. If this were 44 B.C., I would perhaps consider a forewarning of danger to Julius Caesar. Thankfully, it is 2012 - the burden of forewarnatation is long gone in regard to that circumstance. May the Roman ruler rest in peace.

That is the past, and the future is what matters at this moment. Particularly, the future involving my littlest of daughters, E.C. Wade. In a mere 29 days, she shall have been on this earth for 16 years. My lovely, lovely little girl! I cannot believe that we have come to this point. This is the turning point. No longer a little girl, she is now of driving age, dating age, thinking age, and nearing ever-so-quickly the age of adulthood.

I don't like it.

But I cannot stop her forward progress. Nor should I even attempt to stand in the way of it. No one really knows what this feels like until you are here, watching them grow up and grow away. It is hurtful while beautiful, and there is an internal battle of wanting them to grow and learn and wanting them to be your baby forever and ever.

Nothing in the world can compare to looking into those baby eyes and seeing unabashed love so perfectly reflected. You can't replicate that kind of love and connection. There simply is no substitute for it. But to know that it once existed in such a pure form and has now transformed into something greater - the choice to love - that should fill the heart.

Oh, and it does. I just know what these milestone birthdays mean. The separation is near. And I miss her already. xo