Independence Day

Oh, Mia, you are growing up so fast.
It started on the playground a couple of weeks ago. Your Daddy offered his hand as you walked across the 'mushrooms', those elevated stepping stones that up until now have been a bit too far apart for you to navigate comfortably. "Wanna do it myself!" you said as you pulled your hand away from Daddy's.
Your desire to be independent is spreading faster than a melting ice cube. You say "Do it myself!" a lot now. Last night before bed, we were rocking in the green chair and you requested your current favorite book, The Napping House. But then when I started to read it, you said, "Mom can't say it." I didn't mind, because then you took the book from me and read it to me. When I tried to do "Round and round the garden" on your foot, you said you wanted to do it. My favorite moment of all was when I asked you (as I do most nights) if you wanted to hear the story about when you were born in China. You said yes, but then for the very first time you started telling the story, in your own words.
We're proud of your fierce desire to be independent. You aren't our baby anymore, you are our little girl. An amazing little girl.