Proud Mama

Last week we were heading to the park and Ella asked if she could make her own sandwich to take. I was pleased with her initiative and started working on packing the rest of our lunches. I was sure it would only be seconds until she couldn't reach something, couldn't spread something, or just got distracted and wanted me to do it. But, she shocked me! She diligently got out everything she needed (including a wooden "knife" because, in her words "this is the right kind for kids mom, it can't hurt you"), expertly put the whole sandwich together as if she'd been doing it her whole life, and then with not a word from me the whole time, put everything away (including putting the knife in the dishwasher!). I was in Mommy heaven marveling at how resourceful she'd been to reach things, find things, and make it work. I was also literally in tears because she actually can do it without me! I'm sure this is the first of many things where this bittersweetness of my baby growing up will hit me like ton of bricks. As cheesy as it is that I took pictures of her first solo sandwich-making experience, I wouldn't give them up for the world.








At the park later that day-look closely and you'll see the sandwich is in her hand :-)