If time could stand still

Lately all I've been saying is how the days, weeks are flying by. Well, now I realize how the years are flying by. My baby girl Nicole turned 16 today! Sweet 16..... I looked at her this morning and it hit me hard. Held it in till now, and now I'm blubbering. Heard a song on the country station this morning, and had to turn it off. But I felt it was sooo appropriate for today. I've added it to my playlist to play first. It's called It won't be like this for long by Darius Rucker.

I sat here this morning wondering what I'd put on the blog today about her birthday and how she's grown. I guess pictures speak a thousand words. I could have put on so many, but just picked out a few. Oh geez, I'm blubbering again.

She has a brother who loves her:

Such wonderful friends: way too many pic's to choose from...

And a boyfriend, they seem crazy for each other:

Being partial, I can say she was the cutest little thing growing up. One thing she always liked was hats. Always wore her grandmoms hats......


I think the infatuation with hats has always stayed with her. She's always putting someone's hat on, and her Dad is always teasing her about her BIG hat and calls her the "towel monster" lol.

All that being said, I wish I could just hold time still. Just for a little bit. But I know that would be selfish. And yes I know.... It won't be like this for long.

I was up on the computer late last night playing around with a really silly picture to put on the computer as the desktop background. Took me a while to put some words on it. I'm not good with the computer. It's a picture that I will NOT share with you or she would have a fit. But something that just makes us laugh. During all of this, my son comes home and he has his girlfriend Lake with him. A short time later he surprises me by telling me that he has found an apartment and is looking to move out soon. I was speechless (knew it would happen some day), just not prepared for it I guess. Are we ever? I felt bad this morning because I didn't show more happiness towards him. I AM happy for him, (Craig I LOVE YOU), he's growing up and I'm SOOOO proud of his accomplishments. Just so dang hard to let go!!! You think you get through one phase, and another one comes along. But you know what? It won't be like this for long.....

So this morning Nicole wakes up and I make her some pancakes for breakfast. She opened up her gifts this morning before school. She just wanted money to take to the beach this summer. She's going with her boyfriend Brandon and his family. She also got a purse she wanted and a book, along with a hysterical card from her brother and Lake. I got her a little something just from me. A memory box from the Willow Tree collection. It has a mother/daughter on it. So here is just a few pic's from this morning.







Tonight we are going out to dinner, her choice. She chose Cracker Barrel, and then we will go to Cold Stone Creamery which she has a free coupon for her birthday. Brandon will be joining us. Craig has to work tonight, so he won't be able to attend. We will miss him.
I'll be taking her on Tuesday for her physical so she can take her test for her drivers permit! Look out World, here she comes!! So another phase to go through as time passes on. It's funny how when the kids were young, I would always say, it's a phase and it will pass. Easier when they were younger. Not so easy now that they are older. I guess some might think the opposite, I don't know.
My goodness, I've never blubbered like this for my own birthdays. I actually welcome them with open arms and an open heart. Guess I need to take a page out of my own book and just rejoice in each of my kids birthdays and for each of their accomplishments. God willing, there are many more to be had! And just imagine for a second how God feels about each one of us. He must say that over and over again when we are going through some tough times, and even in good times............. "It won't be like this for long".... We just need to hang in there and persevere. Happy Sweet 16th Birthday to my Dear Sweet Nicole!!! I Love You!!