a lesson on moving on....

I knew this would be hard.

When my daughter would out grow the things that remind me she will always be my baby girl.

The first thing to go was her Little Tykes Country Kitchen. I knew it had to go, becuase it was collecting dust and well, she was taller than the kitchen.

That hurt.

This next one is a doozy.

After much pleading on her part, I had to come to a tough realization.....

Hannah's room needs to be painted.

Here is a little back story...

When Hannah was born, she roomed in with Tom and I because we lived in a 2 bdrm home.  The boys shared a room and I knew someday she would have a room of her own and I KNEW how I wanted her room to be designed.

We bought our first home when Hannah was 2 and I had her room done within a month of moving in!

I painted the room a soft periwinkle color, and then spent the next 2 days painting a garden in her room. Complete with a picket fence, a hidden fairy, ladybugs, butterflys, birds, birdhouses and a giant tree in the corner. It was a true labor of love.

Hannah loved it. When she was little we had to say goodnight to every bird, butterfly and the fairy before she went to sleep.

As she grew, so did her bed, and her toddler bed was replaced with a twin day bed that covers up most of the work I did on the walls.

Two things that aren't covered is the big tree, with the fairy doll hanging as if she were swinging on the branch, and the tiny pixie fairy sitting on a fence post.

Now, she thinks it is a baby's room and it is, it is my baby's room.

I know it is time to paint over everything, and start a new phase for her but it is hard!

Physcially I see she is growing, changing, becoming more beautiful everyday.

But I don't want to see that she is growing up on the inside, out growing baby dolls, princess dress up clothes, care bears, my little pony, still believing in magical things and yes even her garden themed bedroom

Now, she is into webkinz, barbies, Hannah Montana, doing lots and lots of arts and crafts, and she talks about when she will wear a bra, shave her legs, what cute outfit she will wear the next day, what ear rings to wear, what she kind of prom dress she will wear someday, and yes, what kind of wedding she will have.

I try so hard to keep these thoughts of hers at bay, but she can't help it. I was thinking of the same things when I was 8 1/2.

But, it's time.

I know it.

So last night we bought new bedding for her bed, and bought a new paint color and this weekend we will paint.

Paint over the little girl things in her room and prepare for a little bigger girl she is becoming.