Playing dolls.

I have a very distinct memory of playing dolls.

I was too old to be playing with them.  None of my friends did.  (Not that I knew of anyway!)

But I still had one doll left.  And for a couple of weeks, I pretended that I was a real mommy.  I got my baby up when I woke up in the morning, fed, changed, and played with her, and then put her to bed again at night.

Before long I was done and had moved on to other games.

And now I am watching it with Juliana.

I see my girl, physically looking like the tween she is, spending time with her friends, listening to music, playing computer games, dancing, singing, and doing all the things that tweens love to do.

And yet.

Secretly, away from her friends, she is still playing with her dolls.  Having one last hurrah with her "little girl" games.

Sometimes I wish that I could stop these fleeting moments, slow down the time, and keep her little for just a while longer.