She had a meltdown:

This Baby of ours.

“I don’t want to change numbers!”

“I don’t want to grow up!”

For months, weeks, days she has been 

rising in the mornings with 

a most cheery:

“5 more months ’til I’m 5!”

“2 more weeks ’til I’m 5!” 

“3 more days ’til I’m 5!”

But in the eve of “3 more days…”

it all hit her little mind and heart

well,

like a ton of bricks

I guess.

 I held  her while she cried and cried.

And I listened.

Listened.

Because really,

what do you tell a 5 -year- old about growing up?

Growing old-er?

 I don’t want you to change numbers.

I don’t want you to grow up.

You are our baby.

The youngest.

The littlest.

So tiny.

Even still,

 you have been growing right before my very eyes.

How dream-like,  how surreal.

Just a year ago?

You look

So young.

And it seems

yes, we all say it:

Just

Like 

Yesterday.

 

How we must love.

Even caught up in our own getting old

-er.

We must

Try.

Love the years, love the months, love the days

and love those moments in between

because Baby

 tomorrow you won’t be 5 anymore.

So, Scarlett Eva Hughes

Here’s to being 5 for a moment:

 

January 23, 2009 

Englewood, Colorado

7 lbs.11oz.