and then she was ten

My baby girl turned ten years old last week.

It has been such a big year for her. She’s grown in leaps and bounds. The girl who was once my most deliciously chubby baby has stretched and stretched into a lanky, energetic, confidant girl.

I remember turning ten. It was huge. Double digits. One decade! Almost, almost a teenager.

This year eliza joined karate and soon became the star of her class. She’s a natural athlete. She flourishes in that environment. Confidant, quick and strong. She got her yellow belt and moved into the adult class. I hope she keeps up with it, mostly so she can kick some ass and i won’t have to worry quite so much about her.

Eliza has the kind of beauty that makes me think of long summers running around barefoot, ponytail’d hair, popsicle stained clothes, freckles and giggles echoing through walls.

She is the kind of child that makes you smile just watching her skip by. Many times this year i would look out the window from work and see her walk by with one of the dogs on a leash. I loved watching her this way, when she didn’t know i was watching. I could see how confidant she was becoming. Comfortable in her own skin.

I can’t believe how strong and healthy she is. When eliza was just a baby and toddler we spent months in the hospital. Her in a giant bed, me sleeping on the floor beside her. Pneumonia, asthma, mystery ailments. It seemed for awhile there that the emergency was our second home. I remember so much worry. Such fear about ongoing illness, fear that she would always struggle. And somehow, somehow, she outgrew it all. She still has asthma and she still has life threatening allergies. But, it’s manageable. It is manageable and she is a happy, healthy girl.

I am so happy for her. I love her so much. Happy Birthday Eliza.