Slow Down!

You were so small,
tiny,
no bigger than a doll.
You cooed,
you cried,
slept and snuggled.
I blinked,
and then you were bigger,
rolling and laughing,
smiling at me.
Not long after
you were up on your knees,
crawling and playing,
learning.
Far too soon,
you stood on your feet,
walking and running,
exploring the world.
You seemed so much bigger,
I could not imagine
how you would grow
even more.
So quickly.
Suddenly,
words were starting to appear.
Hi and Dada
Yow and Bababa.

And now I realize
I'm not ready
for you to grow up.
You are my baby,
and I will miss
all those long,
lazy
loving days
of just holding you,
playing with you.
It will be too soon
that you are grown.
If you could,
I ask,
please,
slow down.
I'm not ready
to fly through these days.
Let's just
slow down,
and play.