Sassy Times Three

Remember those days when your infant became mobile and began to explore? You would have to follow him around and monitor everything that went into his mouth, ear, whatever...You were a pro at operating in stealth mode, making yourself visible when necessary so that they could feel independent.
Now, my "little girl" is nearly 5. Suddenly, I am reminded of what those days were like. I turn my back and she is getting milk and chocolate syrup to make her own chocolate milk, by herself. She is picking grapes off the vine and putting them in a bowl, serving them to her guests...unwashed. She is getting dressed the way she wants to, matching or not, and is completely confident in her choices.
She is exploring, without looking over her shoulder for my approval. She is venturing out on her own, telling me things like "I got it, I can do it by myself", "Mom, you are such a drama mama", "OOOOH, Lexie, you cannot have that, it is sugar and sugar makes you cranky!".... What I love about her is how she asks to set the table, wants to help with dinner, will kiss me on my head when I have a migraine, cannot wait to hug her Daddy when he gets home, lovingly kisses her sister's cheek for no reason at all, holds the door open for her friends, offers her hand to her little sister when she is getting out of the car. She is smart, bossy, wacky, fun, respectful, sweet, loving and she's MY little BIG GIRL.
I am so proud of both my girls. I find my heart aching at how fast it is flying by. I reach out to grasp those memorable moments and file them in my memory bank...
So, when they are 15 and seemingly do not need me AT ALL, I can open my bank and remember what it was like when they did...