There she goes...

8 years, 3 months, 1 week and 3 days ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She came into this world wide eye and extremely eager to take in everything around her. So eager, in fact, that her Daddy and I seriously wondered if we would ever sleep again. From the very beginning of her days she has been an "old soul". Observant of her surroundings and ALWAYS picking up more than you'd think for a child her age. We've been told many times over by every educator that crosses her path how extremely intelligent she is. Then you add in the beauty of her. She really is something to look at. Always has been. But she is also extremely beautiful on the inside. Wanting to make everyone around her happy. Tonight my "old soul" went on a date with her Daddy. It's not their first date by any means, but tonight I really saw the young lady my baby girl is becoming. There was a new aura around her. I started teaching her the art of anticipation tonight, not letting her Daddy see her until she was completely ready. Right before her appearance I whispered "she looks beautiful" and then she walked into the room. His eyes misted over, as did mine. He put her corsage on her and they posed for their pictures before heading off to meet the other Daddy's and Daughters for dinner and the dance. All the while I felt my heart ache a little knowing that in a few short years it won't be "cool" to get excited about going on a date with your dad. That in a few short years there will be another boy as the apple of her eye. That in a few short years a young man will be standing before us ready to take my precious cargo out the door for her first "real" date. That in a few short years she'll be walking out that door and into the world on her own. And as she got into the car with the first man she has ever loved all I could think is, "there she goes..."