My Little Girl No Longer Lives Here
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My baby is ten years old today and I’m in a melancholic state of disbelief. It’s not like I didn’t know her birthday was coming. But it wasn’t until we sang Happy Birthday to her this morning and we ended with “Are you one, are you two, are you three…” that it hit me how many years of her life have come and gone. As we sang and asked which year old she was, I actually pictured my Sweet Angel at each of those ages.
The baby, the toddler and the little girl she once was no longer live here.
Today we are blessed to have a beautiful, intelligent, kind, gracious, patient, funny, stylish, helpful and loving ten-year-old living with us. She is everything wonderful and I am very lucky to be her Mommy.
As I think back on my twenty-four hours of labor and the irony that she was born on the longest night of the year, I remember the heartache I felt the day we brought her home from the hospital. As if it were yesterday, I recall rocking her in the nursery and crying. When my hubby asked what was wrong, I looked up and said, “She’s going to move out one day.” Knowing I was post-partum and not in the mood for humor, he responded gently with “Not for a really long time.” That really long time is more than half over and the thought of her leaving still brings me to tears.
So today to keep from crying, I will focus on what I know to be true:
I know she’ll live at home for years to come.
I know today is a happy day.
I know she will always be my baby.
Shannon Hutton draws on her experience working full-time, part-time and from home with three kids to blog about the universal challenge of achieving work-life balance. She also uses her Master's in Education and professional experience as a School Counselor to address parenting and school issues in her weekly 
Remember she will ALWAYS be your
little girl.
The Joy just continues to grow.
And you are my proof.
Love
DAD
Happy Birthday, Sweet Angel!! Those photos are beautiful. Shannon, I especially love each new and stylish hair cut in the pictures! Beautiful girls — both of you!
I enjoyed walked down your journey of memories! great photos:)
Oh happy birthday to your Sweet Angel! I love the progression of photos - so wonderful to see her (and you) change over the years.
Have a very Merry Christmas!
Happy Birthday, Sweet Angel - double digits, rocks! - don’t worry, Shannon. You done good and the best is yet to come!
Hugs and happy holidays - Liz
Happy birthday to your not-so-little girl! Hope it was a great one.
Sniff. My baby just celebrated her (gulp) 21st. She’ll move out soon.
Today is my son Nathan’s ninth birthday! Hooray for almost-Christmas babies
I hope she had a great day, and I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
That was so sweet. My oldest baby is just turning 5 but I am already feeling like this. I look forword to the years to come, enjoying each stage of her beautiful life too!
Have a wonderful christmas!
Dweet photos! Beautiful girl
Your post made me cry, but then when I read your Dad’s comment I REALLY started crying. Such a sweet family.
Happy Birthday to your baby girl.
What a sweet post! My daughter just turned 10 also. When she was born, we had a pastor that told us to start letting go “now”. I didn’t get it then. The time goes so quickly, doesn’t it?
Happy Birthday to your Baby Girl! Mine is 11 and yes I shed a tear each time she hits another milestone that proves she’s growing up! They grow up way too fast!
a long, long time. And what I have learned is that you are someone’s parent for their entire life. Every day, all day.
You’ve enjoyed just the very tip, the very beginning of the journey. There is so much adventure, arguments, love, joy, tears, relating, screaming rage, desperate hugs, so much to come…. And clearly you do it well. Bless you.
I hope you have a deliciously blessed new year!