She Really is a Big Girl Now

     "Thank you all for coming, Mommy."
     This was one of the many wondrous things my daughter has said to me lately.  I smiled as my heart melted, then gave her the biggest hug.
     "You are welcome, KZ so very welcome."
     KZ has taken to dancing lately.  She likes to perform impromptu dance recitals at random moments during the day.  This morning, after she finished her latest performance, she clasped her hands, bowed ever so slightly, then said, "Thank you all for coming, Mommy."  I don't where she gets it.  Is it school with her Kimmy Schwimmy Music Classes or her Strawberry Shortcake DVDs?  I know they have dance with Mr. Ray once or twice a week at school, depending on the week.  We don't particularly dance at home.  We are not trained dancers, nor do we even play music that often.  But KZ does seem drawn to music and movement.  Considering how many little kids are obese or overweight, we consider this a good thing.  She has a Mozart Cube, which is a toy that plays Mozart either with a full orchestra or just one instrument at a time.  She can press several sides and hear up to seven instruments at the same time.  She loves it.  She plays it constantly as her dance music.  She twirls in her beautiful princess dresses in front of our large foyer mirror as she sings and dances. 
     She's a big girl.

     A few mornings ago, I woke up in the dark.  As I went to grab my iPhone to see what time it was, I knocked over a full glass of water.  
     "Shit!"
     KZ sat up next to me.
     "Shit!  Don't worry, Mommy, it happens sometimes."  
     I wasn't sure if I was dreaming on two levels.  One, I had no idea that she was in bed with me.  She's taken to stealthily crawling in bed with us in the middle of the night.  Two … don't worry, it happens?  Out of all the swearing my husband does, her first swear word had to be mine.  But the "don't worry, it happens" part, where did that come from?  When something bad happens, I always tell her, "Don't worry, it happens."  I have just never said that "shit happens."  The fact that she put the two together, I find priceless.
     She's a big girl.

     From everything I could tell, KZ was ready to be out of pull-ups at night.  She was so over diapers … they were for babies.  But, the pull-ups we had stuck with for night sleeping.  I had been told by experienced mothers that children hit this milestone at different ages.  It really has a lot to do with how deeply they sleep.  KZ has been an amazing sleeper since she was born.  She was sleeping through the night at seven weeks.  I have had no issues here.  She was also potty trained by her second birthday.  So, at three years, four months, and ten days, I decided to pull the pull-ups.  I didn't talk to her about it, or make a big deal.  I just put her in underwear, tucked her in, and kissed her good night, like every night. 
     Right before I went to bed, several hours later, I tried to wake her up to use the potty. 
     "Mommy, what are you doing?"
     "I'm just going to take you to the potty."
     "I don't have to go potty.  I'm sleeping!"
     Alrighty then.  I tucked her back in, kissed her goodnight, and turned off the lights. 
     And in the morning, she was dry.
     She really is a big girl now.