Today’s Love Thursday post is more of a Love / Hate post. In the past few weeks in particular, Ella has been growing up right before my eyes. On one hand, I am thrilled to see her new developments, new skills and new vocabulary but on the other hand, I am already missing my baby. She’s not even a year and a half yet, how did this happen?!?!

Having never raised a child before her, every stage of development is as exciting to me as it is to her. She is honestly thrilled when she masters a new toy or discovers new foods, books, animals, anything! The fact that she shares her excitement is what makes it so much fun for me. She has recently learned the color yellow and is exuberant with herself when she correctly replies “lll-ellow” to my “what color is this?” Her exuberance is marked by her instant clapping as she scans the room to be sure that everyone present is applauding her brilliance :)

I keep catching her exploring and loving her world when we’re not looking. I’ve witnessed her walk up and down the sidewalk in front of the house stopping at each bunch of impatiens to bend down, sniff them and let out a huge “AHHH!” I’ve caught her exploring water by taking scoops of it from her pool and depositing it in the hampers I had brought outside to clean.

It really feels like she went from baby to little girl overnight. She looks, feels and acts like a toddler. I have caught myself referring to her as “my big girl” quite often lately. She likes to sit in a big girl chair and drink from big girl cups and play on big girl toys. I am excited and sentimental about the time that has passed and the time we have before us. But when I get a hug that involved two arms wrapped around me….the kind of hug that a big girl gives her mama, I feel nothing but pure love and gratitude that I am lucky enough to watch my girl grow and have my heart break because of it.

photo © Rebecca Hess 2007

Read more of this week's Love Thursdays:
Unconditional Love from the birth/first parents blog
That Mars/Venus Thing from the older parents adoption blog
My Daughter the Tree Hugger from the Guatemala adoption blog