Breathe

She stands in wonder at the geese that are flying overhead. Stops with mouth wide open, eyes wide, and frozen in her tracks. I still get excited when I see Canadian Geese and I was excited to introduce her to this feeling. I wanted to capture the "newness" of this for her when she becomes "tainted" to all the other things that happen in this world. Geese overhead? Oh, thats great. Let's go to the store. Not in that moment.

Going to see Santa and she is standing tall and grasping her list. "Mom, can you go up there with me and sit beside me? Yes honey." As much as I want her to be independent I don't know that I am ever ready for her to do something and NOT ask for me. To not ask for me when going into a new situation. To not ask for me when she walks into first grade, into second grade, into middle school, and into high school. I am not ready. I walk into school this afternoon and she is playing with two of her little gal friends. "Let's pretend that we are reading a book and then trade. Okay?" So she flips through the book, pretending like she is reading, gets to the end, and proclaims "This is a great book, you should read it! O.K. Switch!" I smile and wonder will she always play this well with others, will she always have such a great imagination, will she always have her love of reading?

Everyday she grows up and everyday those moments I capture get older and are replaced with newer. I want to freeze time, I want Emma to know how much I love her, how hard I will work to keep her safe and happy. I want for her to always remember the geese, the parking lot, and her breath in the cold air- as I always will.