Miss Independant

I just finished arranging a play date for Caroline for tomorrow - the kind where she goes all by herself. All of a sudden her life consists of go-it-alone classes and play dates. Preschool starts in two months. Now when we go to parties, instead of passing her back and forth ("here, you take her while I eat") she's off playing with the other children the entire time. When I was a new stay-at-home mom holding my brand-new baby that refused to take a bottle and I felt like I would never have any freedom ever again, I just didn't believe these days would ever arrive. Yet somehow I have this beautiful, independent, confident little girl who is just starting to explore the world on her own. I'll admit I enjoy the extra free time, and I think it is the best thing in the world for the two of us to have some time away from each other. But I also know this is just the beginning of her moving slowly away from me. This precious, precious time of having babies in the house will be over before I even know it. And I'll miss it like crazy.

I love you so much, big girl.


PS, Oh my goodness, getting this child to cooperate for a picture. I even offered a bribe of M&Ms. Still couldn't get her to look at the camera and smile. Sigh.