FOR MY JADE

I lie here staring at the newborn face
of my brand new little girl,
I touch your cheek, and hold your hand
as love around you swirls.
I kiss your head and breathe you in
I can't believe you're mine.
I'll cherish you and teach you
and love you for all time.

In my arms you fell asleep
so I laid you in your bed,
I covered you, and touched your face
and kissed your little head.
I breathed you in just one more time,
I love the way you smell.
You looked so small in your little bed,
so precious and so frail.

When I awoke with the sun today
I went directly to your side.
What I saw there touched my heart,
I both celebrated and cried.
Things had changed so drastically
some time in the night.
Your little jammies shrunk,
and gotten very tight.
Your bed had gotten smaller
and you no longer fit.
I watched you as you rolled to your back
and then began to sit.

My heart just soared, I felt so proud
as you got up on your knees.
The time it goes so quickly now
I wish that it would freeze.
I watch you while you're sleeping
and I can't help but mourn;
when I think of how tiny you were
the night that you were born.

I've watched you as you've grown so fast
you're trying now to walk,
one more morning I'll awake
and you'll know how to talk.
Being a parent is so bittersweet
I love my baby so,
but it makes me smile and breaks my heart
to see my baby grow.