How Does a Personality This Big Fit In Such a Little Body?

1. My friend Amy sent me a wonderful mix which includes two Beatles songs. That, coupled with my recent download spree of a bunch of the Fab Four’s songs on iTunes has transformed Ellie into a confirmed Beatles devote. She’s announced they are her “favorite band.” One of their songs comes on rotation and she says "Guys, they're my favorite band, you know." No one is allowed to sing along to their songs but her. If there is anything cuter than a 3 ½ year old girl crooning along to “Love, Love Me Dooo” from the backseat of the car, I’m not sure what it is.

2. Ellie has become Miss Compliment. She likes your sweater. She likes your scarf. She likes your necklace. My favorite compliment was given in the bathroom at the grocery store (yes, Ellie loves to visit the bathroom at Shoprite-ugh). A few weeks ago she announced in a small but confident voice to the the Shoprite employee sporting the requisite crimson red Shoprite blazer “I like your jacket.” The woman didn’t hear her at first and Ellie just kept repeating herself (as Ellie is apt to do) until the woman finally realized what was happening. She just stared at Ellie, with an expression that seem to say You Have Got To Be Kidding Me. Believe me, I’m not complaining about this recent turn of events. I far prefer the compliments to the Corrections.

3. We had our first “solo” play date last week. Ellie’s friend R. invited her to play and since I happened to not be feeling well, R.’s mom even offered to do pick-up and drop-off (isn’t that every mom’s secret wish? A kid delivery service?) It was a roaring success. Ellie was there from 1 p.m. until dinner time. As darkness fell outside, it was strange not having Ellie home, knowing she wasn’t upstairs napping (those days are long gone). No, she was just a few miles away, having a little life of her own for a few hours. We had R. over to our place this past weekend. Hosting kids without moms (not to mention sending my kid to someone else’s house!) just seems so big kid. Sniff.

4. Speaking of big kid: The sass. The back talk. It’s BAD. I am chalking it up to three and half. That's what it is, right? RIGHT? Cause if not, I might just need to start researching kindergarten boarding schools. It’s hard to know how to handle it. And she is Queen of getting the last word in. Seriously she does not know when to stop.

5. Bed times have become maddening. Most nights she is in and out of her bed at least five times and often isn’t settled down and asleep until close to 10 p.m. This is not OK! I tell myself it’s a phase and it will pass. I start out the bedtime process patient and sweet but by the tenth “tuck-in” I find my blood pressure rising. Then I feel like a Giant Jerk when she calls for me that one last time:

Ellie: Mommy? Mommy? Mommy?

Me: YES? (snarling and exasperated)

Ellie: Um, I love you.

Then there was the time a few weeks ago that Ellie knocked on our bedroom door, long after the fourth or fifth "tuck-in" to wish us a “Happy Holidays.” Hilarious and yet … Go to bed!

Of course it’s not all hilarious and cute (believe me). Two nights in a row she’s chided me for kissing her. For kissing her. She even went so far as to request a wipe (you know, to wipe off the kisses). Meanie.