Someone put a book on her head!!

Last night I was looking at my Tween (who will become a Teen before very long). She doesn’t like me looking at her. She thinks that when I do something is wrong and she become self conscious so I try to watch her surreptitiously.
As I was gazing at my little girl and remembering the chubby faced cherub with the ready smile she turned toward me and my memories dropped away.
She was wearing her new mint green night dress that happened upon last week in Target and asked me to get for her. This is the little girl who hasn’t worn a nightie since she was about 5 or 6 preferring to wear shortie pjs and t-shirts to bed instead. This is the little girl who eschewed skirts and dresses a couple of years ago in favour of shorts, leggings or jeans.
I looked at my little girl and realised that she is little no longer.
My heart ached and a lump formed in my throat as I gazed upon a beautiful young lady.

In an instant I wanted her to stop growing up and stay little. I wanted her to continue to need me. I like having my baby girl around.
She is becoming so tall. She is almost as tall as her parents (not that we are tall) and that pleases her.
Gone is the baby girl I used to know.
The child who never sat still and was always exploring. The child her filled her pockets with rocks, stones or shells to add to her ever growing collection at home. The child who loved nothing more than to play in her sandpit with her Daddy or older brother. The child who loved creating and making mess.
The same child who constantly kept me entertained with her questions and views on what she discovered in the world around.

She looked up at me then with a questioning look on her face. “I love that colour on you sweetheart. It is so pretty.”
And then she smiled and raced outside to join her father hunting cane toads.