never change, never change my little one

This past week Eliza turned nine years old. We celebrated yesterday with friends and cake and the first sunny, swimming, lake day of the year.
Eliza has changed this year. She's no longer the shy girl in the corner. She's feisty and fiery and lives up to her red-headedness with every ounce of her being.
The change in her personality has caused a few shifts and rifts in the house, i try to embrace it because i always know she's around now. Not fading into the corners. Always a vibrant presence in the house.
She has also found friendship and has started that inevitable shift from always being by my side to seeking out the company of her friends over family. My greatest moments have been watching her running through the yard playing tag with friends, giggles and screams echoing through the house and the neighbourhood. I have to tear her away from her outside play every single night.
She falls asleep in a heap every night. Bursting forth first thing in the morning and charging the day head on.
She is everything i hoped for when she was a baby and her huge dimpled smile melted everyone around her.