I'm Bigger Now.

Aleah. Age 3.

When my daughter Aleah was three, a friend gave us some hand-me-down, size six dresses. Aleah wanted to wear them right away.

"You need to wait until you are bigger to wear them," I said.

The next morning, Aleah woke up and marched into the kitchen.

"I'm bigger now," she declared.

I have to agree with her.

Because I'm convinced only a day has gone by since she was playing with dolls and Polly Pocket and Littlest Pet Shop and collecting penguins and telling her younger sister to stay out of her stuff.

I swear it was only twenty-four hours ago.

A single passing of dawn to dusk to an answering dawn.

Todd and Aleah

Today Aleah came home with a ring on her finger, a romantic story on her lips, and love for a special someone.

Instead of trying on size six, hand-me-down dresses, we will go shopping for a dream of a gown that will start a lifetime of memories.

Because she's bigger now.