This gift.

Yesterday morning, I had to head to work early.  So early, in fact, that my little girl was still sleeping when I left the safety and warmth of our homestead to make the half mile drive to the office.


And I almost cried.


I hated not seeing her before I went to work.  But to wake her up, thirty minutes early, would have just been selfish.  And so, alas, I did not.


But I wanted to.  Just for the record.


Four and a half hours later, as I eagerly dashed back home, I could hardly wait to get my arms around that little girl.  But when I walked in...


...she was taking her nap.


Boo!


First, she decided to sleep in until 8:15.  Then, she has the audacity to fall asleep again?!  What kind of selfish child is this.


Oh, my.  My, my, my - how does time just fly by.


How did my baby go from this:

To this:

How is it possible for her to now say "Mama" and "Dada" and "Hi" and "Hot"...and "I would like to watch Tangled, Mother."


Okay, fine, that last one was an exaggeration.


This past week, it's been blowing my mind that one day soon, I will sit and have a conversation with my child.  My dear child that God designed specifically for me to care for.  My dear child that grew in my belly for fourty (okay, thirty eight and a half) weeks.  My dear child that at one time, couldn't smile.  Or laugh.  Or crawl.  Or walk.  Yet here we are, fifteen months later, and she walks and runs and giggles and claps and dances!  Oh what a joy!  And even though I've been on this life journey with her since the very beginning, somehow, before my eyes, and without my knowing, she has grown up into a beautiful toddler.


WWWWWAAAAAHHHH!


*Sniffle*.  I just love her.  I love her so much.


And I am so grateful for every moment.  Every snuggle, every slobbery kiss, and every smile.


Thank you, Lord, for this gift.