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A big day...

As I stand here, looking at an empty room, the moment is very real. There's no more talking about "one day" or "soon" or making plans. The day is here. Right now. The day my daughter has moved out. I remember every little decor phase she went through, the colors the walls have been, how excited she was to have such a big room and all the plans she had for it. I remember hearing the giggles fill up the room when she had sleepovers, and the glitter explosion from hell that I'm pretty sure is still embedded in the carpet somewhere. I can still hear her footsteps early on Christmas morning, coming out with her brother to get their stockings.

No more will I hear her beautiful singing from down the hall, the blaring music when she took a shower, the "Oh my God, mom, mom, mom, listen..." as she runs out of her room to spill the latest T with me. No more will she come home from work, and sit on me like a giant lap dog because she's had a long day and just needed her mom. No more leg sweep take-downs in the kitchen, no more headlock defense with Daddy while he pretends to try and steal her food. My heart is heavy with the passing of an era, my sweet Bitto is growing up and starting a new era of her own.

While every ounce of me misses her already, which my brain knows is ridiculous because if she still lived here, she wouldn't be home right now anyway, I'm happy to see her excited about her life. About growth and change, about starting her life as an adult. I know her fiance will learn to never speak to her within the first 15 minutes of her being awake. She'll learn to actually fold her clothes and put them in a dresser. She'll discover the joy you have getting sheets and towels for birthdays, because that crap is expensive. She'll become a wife, and he'll become a husband, and together they'll figure out how to maneuver life as adults, doing it together.

She will forever be my baby girl, my sweet daughter who used to make snow angels in the backyard in her pink Dora coat, and this will always be her home even when she has her own. As much as I love her, as much as I miss her, I know that she's ready to start this new journey. She's always been an independent girl, "I do it myself, mama!" kinda kid. Well, here you are baby, you're doing it yourself. I hope that you remember the lessons we've tried to teach you, even when you didn't want to listen to them. I hope that you make wiser choices than we did when we were younger, and that you seek out wisdom as you go. I hope you know that you're always welcome here, that your smile will still light up our home. I hope you remember that when you fall, God will always be there to help pick you back up. I hope you flourish, I hope you find the path God leads you to and embrace it, because you'll have so much more joy than you can even imagine. I hope she remembers that nothing will ever change our love for her. I hope...

My baby girl, my Bitto, you are my sunshine, now go and light up the world with the talents God's given you...





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