Changing, Growing, and Loving

As I near half a year

Of raising my baby girl

My heart is tearing at the seams

So full of love

That has been collecting

Since I learned

I was going to be a mother

That grew alongside her in my womb

And only expanded when I met her

It grows everyday still

Through the difficulties we have faced

From hospital stays that we like

A dark cloud over our heads

To the days that feel like

Sunshine and rainbows

Just because I received a bashful smile

Or a contagious laugh

That is worth more than gold

My heart wears the same

Stretch marks that I do

And I would not want to change either

I consider both to be a gift from her

It is proof that I did something incredible

I grew and cared for her

And I brought her into my world

My heart will never feel the same

That it did before it knew her

I would never want it to

I do not know how I lived without

Those blue eyes of hers

Peering into mine

Or that playful, mischievous, bashful look

That two tooth grin

Her dinosaur-esque screeches

Everything about her

Has a special place in my heart

And though she has outgrown

Those newborn noises and facial expressions

Or the first set of clothes I ever put her in

Each day there is something new to love

To replace what has changed

Though I look back in awe

Mostly through the tears in my eyes

I am loving every bit of who she is

In the present moment

But I do not hold on so tight

To this girl that she is now

For I know that she will soon

Be changed again

Into something just as exciting

I have learned in motherhood

In just five months

There is no time to miss

The previous phase of babyhood

For the next one is already here

To take its place

And be celebrated

Just like the last

And just like the next

.t.a.h-b.