All by my very own self

Ever since the departure of her older, wiser, more independent friend Neely, our little girl has decided she'd like to be a big girl too. Changes we've noticed, in the past 24 hours since Neely left, include:

• She now wants to do a number things "all by my very own self." Putting on pants, putting cups and plates on the table, and getting in and out of the van now take about four times longer than they did when I was allowed to help her. When something proves too difficult, she simply states, "It's hard, Mommy" and waits for me to come assist (i.e., do it for her).
• She's developed a sense of privacy. Her little singing potty moved from the kitchen to the bathroom (finally!) and going potty is now a solo activity. Any hesitation on my part to leave the bathroom is met with a firm, "Mommy go out there and close the door." Frankly, I'm relieved. It's kind of cramped in our guest bathroom, and being stuck in there while she reads her magazine and does her business is not all that fun.
• She second-guesses me. If I suggest the bright pink bow, she prefers the light pink one. If I suggest a pair of leggings at naptime, she wants sweatpants. If I suggest she use the little potty, she'd rather use the big one. It didn't take me long to wise up to this one. I now know to suggest the opposite of what I'm preparing for breakfast in order to avoid the battle of wills that might otherwise ensue.

These new big girl tendencies came in handy when we visited the dentist for her six month check-up this morning. Without my prompting, she climbed up into the chair all by her very own self, requested a Clifford movie to watch, and showed incredible patience and endurance as the hygienist "tickled her teeth" and made them sparkle.

She walked away with a new toothbrush, a pink dinosaur, and a certificate of membership for the No Cavity Club. But not before she asked for one more ride "up and up and up" on the magic chair.