“Mommy, I’ gunna grow up!!”

These words were stated by my two-year-old as I once again did the bedtime battle with her.  This little girl, so full of love and spunk, stopped me in my tracks.  Now, to give full disclosure, there is an added level of cuteness when you learn that what she actually intended to say is “Mommy, I’m going to throw up” because she knows that when her older sisters have said that I stop everything and go with them to the bathroom.  Without the concept of how incredibly un-fun it really is to throw up, she figured this ploy would at least delay bedtime a bit.

That being said, what I heard…and I truly heard it… “mommy, I’m gonna grow up.”  And BAM, just like that, my rushing to just get the last kid in bed so I can FINALLY have some grown-up time came to a halt.

She is right.  Whether she meant to or not, she brought it to my attention again that she is not so little anymore.  My little baby, my last precious child is going to grow up.  She will assert her independence more and more over the years, pulling further away from me as she becomes her own incredible self.

So, sweet Jules, you will grow up.  And yes, you got some extra cuddles out of me that night.  But remember this – never, ever forget this:

You are, and always will be, my baby girl.  And I vow to remind myself of this daily.  Your beautiful sensitivity and compassion for life and everything in it, your silly faces, your oh-so-loving hugs and kisses, and your incredible smile and laughter…I promise to hold this close to me, to remember it in the trying times, to cherish your love and your words on this night, holding a two-year-old while I sing your lullaby song “just one more little bit of time” and do not one, but two “snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rugs”.

Go to sleep, sweet Juliet, go to sleep all through the night, go to sleep, sweet Juliet, wake you with the morning light.

I love you my precious precious girl.

*Photo credits to Jessica Sloan Photography, who got some darling photos from an especially ornery little girl that day!