My Daughter

"Goddness Gracious mee oh my-oh! " (A phrase we like to say to each other whenever we see/do something silly), do I love my daughter. She is the worlds most precious thing to me.

Yesterday was a busy day for her.

We had morning music class which is always a little overwhelming for her at first, but she usually warms up by the end of class...The loud noises used to be an issue as well, but she has become less sensitive and more extroverted in public situations. She is always exhausted by the time we get home. However, instead of napping, we went to a friend's house to see her and her newest daughter, (she has two now, Bless her Heart.) Fa and A, my friend's eldest, played together so nicely. Fa always shocks me because she started out in life quite shy and apprehensive in new situations but she's growing into herself and her confidence is blooming beautifully. My little flower.

They played together for a few hours then we decided to go in the backyard to jump around in the sprinklers. Well...If you could see the excitement! As Fa puts it, "This is the best water game EVER!" They had a full fledged blast. I have never seen her enjoy herself more. The wet grass on her feet didn't bother her, the heat was a non-issue and her shyness flew right out the yard. She was squealing with delight and pleasure and she even talked with my friend and her husband like she knew them forever. (Something Fa only does with a select number of people.) It's amazing to see her come out of her shell like she has been doing regularly this entire summer.

BD and I were worried at one point because she was so painfully shy and cautious in new situations. However, she is coming into her own and discovering that it is okay to have fun and be away from mom to do it. She used to scream and cry (and hit and bite...me) in new and overwhelming situations and in order to maintain sanity, we used to try to keep her away from them. We decided that it wasn't best to keep her sheltered so we started exposing her to new and overwhelming situations much more frequently. Always trying to let her know that it's okay and she is fine. It's working.

This summer has been a giant leap in her development. She is changing from a coy toddler into a bold three year old. I love it.

I want her to know:

• it's okay to be uncomfortable in new situations but she can work through the feeling and have fun with friends
  
• she can enjoy being with friends and with adults that she trusts and laugh and play and sing in public
  
• that I am always there for her (even when I'm not physically)
  
• she can always depend on me to protect her, but she must also be confident enough to protect herself
  
• she has the ability to do anything she dreams and her fears should never hold her back
  
• I want her to feel exactly the opposite of how I feel on a daily basis. I don't want her to fear the unknown or to not do something because she is afraid of what might happen
  
• I want her to learn that she can take chances but must know there are consequences for her actions
• I want her to be a confident and classy woman and be proud of herself and her body

This summer I am watching her evolve and I am witnessing her confidence soar to new heights. I am so proud of her.

She napped when we got home. I love to stare at her napping face. I can watch her sleep for hours. Those are the times I will cherish when she is older. I will never forget that face as long as I am breathing. When she woke up she built this "Sprinkler Tower" with her daddy.

I had gone out. I love when she spends quality time with her daddy. He is going to help shape her ideals and her values and teach her how a man should treat her. With him as a role model, I will not worry.

I love my daughter and I love how she is growing. I will always keep her deep in my heart. I will always cherish her smile, her eyes, her stinky feet and her hugs. When she is older and wiser, I will remember that face and how she was once so shy she wouldn't leave my side. But I know I can't keep her like this forever. She will learn to be more confident. She will become more independent and grow farther away from me. But I will hold these days close and I will remind her that we were once one being and she will always be my heart. She is my soul and I breathe for her. Always. My daughter.