One minute she's this:
And the next minute, she's this.
You're also aware that she's growing up. That next year she'll be in the double digits. Two whole hands.
So you start to wonder if it'll be the last time she dresses up....
You start to wonder if it'll be the last time she thinks dolls are cool....
You start to wonder if this will be the last time she calls you Mommy....
You start to wonder if this will be the last time she holds your hand in public....
You start to wonder if she'll want to do the Bippity Boppity Boutique the next time we go to Disney World. Will she still have the same expression of intense joy when she sees herself done up for the first time? Or will it be no big deal?
You start to wonder if this will the last time she'll let you dress her for a holiday....
Will there be a warning? Or will these things suddenly stop?
I don't know the answers. She is my first girl. My only girl, who still calls me Mommy when her friends are around and who reaches for my hand when we're at the store without embarrassment.
Yes.
It's her last year in single digits.
And I intend to enjoy every moment of it.
Posts
Awww. Lovely post. My daughter also turns nine this year and I am wondering all of the above things, too! It's crazy how fast they grow up isn't it?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
happy birthday to her!! it flies by, doesn't it?? i still call mine, mommy! such a sweet post.
ReplyDeleteWishing her a very very Happy Birthday!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your baby girl!! All of her pictures are so cute!!!They grow up so very fast!! All I want to do is smell my daughter's head. I swear if they put that smell in jars we would all be "Hooked"!! I often say to my friends, go ahead, smell her head and they give me weird looks... But I swear it is addictive!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your sweet baby girl. I can't answer your question because my step daughter was 10 when I met her but I can tell you just a little about O. When I met her almost 3 years ago, she hated boys and makeup. She didn't care what she looked like or what she wore as long as she was comfortable. If someone didn't like her that was her problem. She was stubborn and a total tomboy who hunted and fished.
ReplyDeleteFast forward to now: Totally stuck on finding cloths every time we shop. Likes boys but doesn't want either of her "real" parents to know. Wears makeup when she goes to a school dance and actually cut her hair. Hasn't hunted in 2 years but she still loves fishing. Oh and she is still totally stubborn but who she is now is a country girl. Go figure.
Aw... now I want to cry. Scarlet is six and that seems so huge. I have seen Natalie grow up a lot! We've been blog friends for awhile.
ReplyDeleteYay!! Happy Birthday Natalie! Hope her birthday in the Big "D" was as fun as mine! xxxoo
ReplyDeleteThe days do fly by and we have to remind ourselves to stay focused 'in the moment' with our children. If you blink or turn your head, they are moving across country to go to school or for a job! You can't say "I love you" enough.
ReplyDeleteI love this! My boy just entered double digits and things are starting to change! He doesn't want to go to the McDonald's playland anymore and he says, "I'm not that into LEGOs anymore."! However, he still says I love you, holds my hand and hugs me in public.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Natalie I remember when your mum used to write about you when you were a baby and reading about all the shenanigans you would get when you were a toddler and pre school aged.. Wow 9 yup Amber Natalie will start to change after she hits the double digits but in either case continue to enjoy Natalie's unique personality. Looking forward to hearing how Natalie's actual birthday had went on your blog
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteSo sweet!! Enjoy. I'm right there with you, Mama, wondering the very same things about my 9yo.
ReplyDeleteSo this definitely made me cry. It sounds like you have the sweetest girl, and I hope you have many, many more special moments with her :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Natalie! This post brought up lots of great memories with my mom. So sweet!
ReplyDeleteWOMAN!! Here I go again with the waterworks. This was such a sweet post. They seriously grow too fast. And when you have an older daughter and a younger daughter the younger daughter wants to be a little more grown like her big sister, so some of those things mentioned above stop sooner. :(
ReplyDeleteI hope Natalie had a wonderful birthday!
XOXO
www.mrsaokaworkinprogress.com
Awe. She's beautiful! Happy birthday pretty girl! My oldest is 6, and that seems way too old to me, so I don't know what I'll do when he's 9 or the double digits. Love all the pictures!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet post. Hey, I still call my mom Mommy and I'm 37!
ReplyDeleteHope she has a wonderful birthday!
ReplyDeleteStop making me cry! I am so not ready for these things!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Natalie! It does seem like things start to change a little bit when they turn ten - but I have boys, so I have no little girl advice. She's adorable.
ReplyDeleteAww, happy birthday to Natalie! Love all of the pictures... We had some of the exact same Gymbo outfits - I totally recognize them - makes me wonder all of these same questions about my 10 yr old. We need to figure out how to slow things down a little!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! She'll always be your little girl no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI understand the sentiment! Mine is 15. She would never hold my hand in public :) Happy Birthday wishes to your daughter.
ReplyDeleteSeriously we dont even know how time flies. You daughter is so cute :)
ReplyDeletehttp://perkymegs.com/
Aww! Happy birthday sweet Natalie!!! I sure have lived watching her grow up via blog!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute post - time does fly and yes, make the most of the time with Natalie during this time period... I hope the terrible teen years don't change her!! Happy birthday, Natalie!!
ReplyDeleteAww bless, it'll stop for a bit. But then she will become an adult and then things will change. I know now I will reach for my mums hand when shopping
ReplyDeleteAww, your daughter is adorable! Happy belated birthday to her! :]
ReplyDeleteYup, get ready mom, she is on her way up and out. But that's what you've worked so hard to get her to that point so be proud.
ReplyDelete13 going on 30 is it... or is it now 9 going on 21? she is absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHow great that your documenting these years. You and your daughter will always cherish these photos and this blog.
ReplyDeleteawwww so cuteee she is...wish her a very Happy birthday and lots of love <3
ReplyDeleteSuch cute pictures of her! On a random note, did you take these pictures with a real camera or an iPhone camera? They came out so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteI guess a better question is, a real camera or a phone camera? (I realize now that not everybody uses an iPhone, haha!)
DeleteI use my iPhone and my "real" camera. When I took these photos, I had my Nikon!
Deletethis gave me all the feels... my daughter just turned 4 and I am already wondering where all the time has gone.
ReplyDeleteI guess it must be really overwhelming at times having kids. Especially wondering about all these things. You daughter is so adorable in her baby pictures. I bet she took after he mommy! Nice eyes too!
ReplyDeleteThe happiest of birthdays to your little cutie! I love the picture of her in her cute little purple tutu. Time flies but I'm glad you are taking pictures to cherish these special moments :)
ReplyDeleteTime definitely flies, continue taking pictures and enjoying your daughters journey. She's absolutely adorable and I am sure you'll be appreciative of the moments you've captured as you both become better.
ReplyDeleteAw she is adorable! hope she has a wonderful birthday! They really do grow so fast!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh this is such a beautiful post Amber. It almost made me cry because I felt the same way when my daughters were that age. Don't worry though because you have a strong relationship with your daughter just like I had my mine at that age. My daughters are all gown up and they still hold my hand, jump into bed to cuddle and watch movies together. They are still my daughters but also my best friends.
ReplyDeleteAlso I hope your little princess had an amazing birthday! <3
DeleteThey really do grow up fast! Happy 9th Birthday Nathalie! 💕🎉 I hope you had a great birthday.
ReplyDeleteI just went through this myself with my thirteen year old, and am heading into it with my seven year old. They're so different, I couldn't even pretend to tell you what will happen ... but with my oldest, those things drifted slowly away, like dust on the wind. It happened bit by bit, the loss of hand holding, the change to "Mom," the new mix of embarrassment alongside what was once only pride when we were together in public.
ReplyDeleteIt has started with my youngest already, but I don't expect it to happen so fast this time - she still kisses her "Mom" on the mouth, and never turns down a hug or an opportunity to hold my hand. Still, the change is coming, slowly. I can see it on the horizon.
But I can tell you it isn't all at once. It's a trickle for the most part, almost so slow you don't see it happening until it's done - unless you're watching. Wish her a happy birthday for me - I love your blog!
Aww, happy birthday! I love all her costumes and that cheerleader uniform is super cute too. I'm turning the big 3-0 this year, so I'm sure my mom is cringing at her own age, lol!
ReplyDeleteLovely post. Great seeing her through the years, lol. Happy birthday to your princess!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your daughter turning nine. She is so beautiful. They grow up so fast so cherish this time.
ReplyDeleteOh she is beautiful. Happy Birthday young lady. Why do they have to grow up so fast?
ReplyDeleteIt's so wise of you to realize what you have while you have it! Our daughters do indeed grow up so fast and turn into such wonderful young women in a blink of an eye. I have three daughters, ages 13, 10, and 7. Each year brings so many firsts and while I love seeing them grow, I find myself reminiscing about their baby days often!
ReplyDeleteIt all just goes WAY too fast! I loved seeing her photos through the years. I wish I had better through the years photos of my kids but we did not have camera phones and digital cameras when they were little. I still have their photos in old scrapbooks. There is something pure about those old things though I guess.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what she may no longer allow you to do, or whatever she is no longer into - there will be new adventures for sure :)
Happy birthday to your daughter, the time flies so continue to enjoy. My baby girl will be 19 soon!
ReplyDeleteShe is so adorable! I understand you completaly, my son is turning 5 in a week and I already have some of these questions in my mind. Time flies for sure and we should enjoy it while we can.
ReplyDeleteAwwww she is beautiful, yes they grow way too fast . Sometimes I tell my daughter so grow slowly and she will just laugh. Happy birthday to you daughter.
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazingly beautiful girl there. My daughter is 10 so I'm trying to be as engaged as possible because I don't want to miss anything either.
ReplyDeleteHappy 9th Birthday Nathalie, its your day. Lovely photographs, love and blessings.
ReplyDeleteThat's the best we can do, enjoy every minute of it because they'll only be at that age once and if you don't treasure it, you're going to miss the chance. Don't be scared though, you will always be her mom.
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious read! My son turns 9 in october I can hardly believe it - where has the time gone!
ReplyDeleteIt goes by so fast, doesn't it? My youngest will be TEN in August and I don't know how that happened.....
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to her! I can tell you that even though I am 26 years old, I'm still mamas little girl. I know its hard seeing your kids grow up so fast but that's the beauty of life you brought to them! Shes so gorgeous. You're definitely gonna have to fight the boys off :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your daughter! My little sister just turned nine as well and it's such a fun age!
ReplyDeleteMy sons independence kinda of blind sided me. I don't have any daughters. So I could only imagine how this feels.
ReplyDeleteShe is beautiful! My daughter is 10 and still likes American Dolls. So there is hope, lol! Nine is a great age. Wish they could stay nine forever.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your daughter.! I can imagine the feeling in you. Mine just turned 7 and I am beginning to have those feeling too.
ReplyDeleteAw. I really got emotional with this post. Happy birthday to her and yes, enjoy every moment. I'm 14 now and my mom can't believe it. Cherish every second!
ReplyDeleteI don't have to remind you to enjoy it while you can but no matter how old she gets she will always be your baby girl and never let her forget that. Richard B
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty crazy how fast time goes by. It is easily measured by kids. We moved abroad for two years. We look the same, the old neighbourhood looks the same. But my niece, she is totally different!! Two years does a lot to a growing child.
ReplyDeleteTime goes way to fast! My oldest turns 18 this year, drivers license and going away to college. I still see him as the little ball with long lashes i used to breast feed when he was a baby. yes, i am in denial.
ReplyDeleteI almost cried. But think about all of the future special moments that are to come. You both are growing wiser. I am excited for you. You have so many more firsts to explore. Happy Birthday to her. And Congratulations and gob well done to you.
ReplyDeleteShe look so sweet. Happy birthday to your daughter, may she growing wise as her mother. Good photos.
ReplyDeleteShe is such a beautiful little girl! You are so blessed to have her!
ReplyDeleteHappiest of birthday to your beautiful daughter! Your post brought a smile to my face. My middle niece is nine, and I have a lot of the same feelings. Enjoy every second! Xx
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful she is. Happy Birthday. Love all her photos
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the nines. Trust me from someone who's kids grew up way too fast. It seems my grand kids are two. I have two that are nine. Your daughter is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAww happy, happy birthday to her! What a special post. This is so sweet - and she is so pretty! You have a lot to be proud of it seems! :)
ReplyDelete