my girl turns seven

i cannot believe how big she is already! the years have gone by so fast. i remember when i could hold her in my arms and all she could do was look up at me, unable to say a word! now, she talks my ear off. emily is seven and i cannot believe it. she comes home from school and talks to me about boys. she reads me books at bedtime instead of me reading to her. she swims in the deep end of the pool all by herself. i just want time to stop for a little bit. i want her to understand how much i cherish and love her and how i want her to take it all in slowly. just slowly, and fully, enjoy this life that flies by so, so fast.