She was an American Girl...

I doubt my parents EVER felt about me the way I feel when I see pictures like the one above of my daughter. Mini Alva had her annual dance showcase event this past weekend and it's hard for me to not get depressed. Where did my little butter bean go? The one who couldn't wait for me to get home from work to play dolls on the stairs. She did well during her performance and naturally I was a gushing proud papa, but inside I was sad about the time passing so quickly. Since she is our only, I absolutely do not take ANY moments like these for granted. It's more like I don't ever want them to end. The only thing keeping me from a slide into deep depression is the fact that she continues to blow my mind with how smart she is. But even that depresses me since the smarter she gets, the less she needs me. I guess I'm just depressed. Nevertheless, each day I wake up and thank providence for my girls. She and her mother are the greatest things that have ever happened to me, period.