My “baby” turned eight years old three weeks ago. After enduring months of pleading, I conceded and let her get her ears pierced. She was a champ – didn’t even flinch. I, on the other hand, held my breath and had to fight back a few tears. I didn’t expect a superficial rite of passage to affect me so deeply – especially not one that takes place at a mall kiosk amidst a river of strangers with muffled pop music playing in the background. But where we were didn’t matter; I was still struck to the core by how quickly my daughter is growing up. At eight years old she is probably already savvier than I was at twelve.

I know it won’t be long before she begins to refuse kisses goodbye at school and holding hands in public. From there, it’s only a matter of time and she’ll be asking to borrow the car keys and go on dates. For now, though, we still have many mother-daughter rituals and traditions that are close in my heart. For now, I treasure her funny little habits and the way she looks at the world. For now, I can still share those random moments where she lets down her guard and is the little girl again.

Because I know these moments are fleeting, I wanted to take a moment to capture some of the things that I know I will miss when my baby is grown. Some will linger longer than others and some have already faded. I know there will be other moments to share and new facets to our relationship, but these things I will always remember and treasure. These are the things that I will remind her of when she is grown and home for a visit or bringing her fiancé to dinner.

Things I will miss when my babe is grown:

The way she slept – nestled into my neck, smelling of baby sweetness and lavender lotion, her little legs splayed out like a tiny frog across my chest

The way she looks, even now, when she is asleep with her arms curled tightly around her favorite stuffed animals and her face in deep repose

The impish grin she wore as a toddler – sparkling eyes flashing at me from behind wayward curls as she challenged me to outmaneuver her latest exploit

The charmingly mispronounced words – “aminals” and “You Nork”

Endless bedtime stories … and games … and cuddles … and whispers in the dark … and feeling her drift off to sleep as I lie beside her

The way she tumbles wildly into my bed on Sunday mornings looking for a “rassle” and hugs

Her proud presentations of handmade gifts – drawings and paintings and popsicle stick sculptures

Her undaunted faith that she can do anything

Singing together in the car

Dancing in the kitchen

Stopping to meet every dog we pass on the street

Waiting with her for Santa, and the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy

Searching for faeiries in the woods and under the back stairs

The way she runs errands for me at the market – heading out on expeditions in search of fruit chews or granola bars or yogurt

Listening to her read anything aloud

Hearing her singing to herself – in the shower, while she gets dressed for school, while she does her homework, while she plays outside – thinking no one can hear her

The way she stands before me with her arms up and says, “hug – up hug” … even now

Ending each day and every phone call with “I love you – I love you, too”

The incessant “foufing” and burping that sends her into fits of hysterical giggling

Tickle fights

Hearing her call for me in the middle of the night (yes, even that)

The rhythm and routine of our days and nights – a grind at times, but still a comfort

Asking how her day was at the end of school and getting “Oh, fine”

… but then getting a sleepy earful when we’re nestled in her bed after bedtime stories

Bedtime stories – oh, bedtime stories!

Hearing her dreams in the morning.

The way she brings her favorite stuffed animals down to watch TV in the morning

Holding hands

Being able to make you feel better when you’re sick

Cutting the crust off your bread

Making pancakes on Saturday mornings

Long, meandering walks to nowhere in particular

… so may things to miss; so many things to treasure. How lucky am I to have so much love and magic in my life?

Image Credit: Jord and Kels