I can do it myself mom!

I know I have already expressed the growing up that Jaden is doing these days but I have something else to share...
Last night Jaden wanted a juice box before supper. Normally she gets the juice box from the fridge and will ask me to open it and stick the straw in the pouch. Well Last night I went to put the straw in and she said " I can do it myself mom! Let me do it!"
I watched as she opened the little plastic straw and fumbled around with it until punching it into the silver hole where the straw belongs. She then sat on the couch. crossed her legs and commenced to sipping her juice. I don't know why, but at this moment I was floored by her. My little chubby baby is now putting straws in her own juice boxes! She used to need me to do that. She used to follow me through the house holding the juice box up in the air saying " mom I want a juice box mom I want a juice Mom open my juice box!"I am starting to wonder why I miss that....
But now she doesn't need to do that anymore.
As I was strolling down memory lane to Jaden in her Pampers taking her first walk around our old apartment complex in her little pink Velcro sneakers and tiny pony tail on top of her head smiling shouting "momma momma!" the three year old Jaden interrupts me to say " so, lets talk about our day mom. How was yours?"
I start to tell her it was okay but I really missed her all day until she interrupted me and began talking all about Jack Duncan and how they played Spider man and shared their snack. She went on to tell me how at craft time they made big dinosaurs with sparkles on them and hers was red and Alexis's was purple. She told me all about the book of the week, The lost mitten. She recited some choice lines and described the tone of the book and how it made her so happy and smart.
She told me it was January and it was Wednesday. The talking went on until bath time when I started to read my magazine while she played and splashed.

Long story short, time goes by so fast. I miss my little chunky monkey baby who slobbered on me and only wanted to eat green beans and sweet potatoes. The baby who used to fall asleep in her highchair. I miss the mornings waking up to her little body climbing on me. I just miss her. In the same note I am so happy to know this three year old girl. This youngster that loves animals and painting and a boy named Jack Duncan (public enemy #1). This girl that talks about everything she knows and who just wants to know everything about everything. Who will she become? What is she going to do in the years to come? I know someday I will look back down memory lane to these times and miss them just as much.

Anyhow, that's it. My baby is not a baby anymore. Shes a Pre-schooler. Life is a fast ride so I hope we all take the time slow down and enjoy it when we can.