An amazing moment

Last night Brian and I had an epiphany: we no longer have a baby...we have a little person.

You see, Blair and I were lying on the couch watch Dora before bedtime. She had insisted on wearing her red church shoes with her jammies, and we were laying in such a way that her feet were in my face. Sounds weird, I know, but it's actually not uncommon. Anyway, she kicked her feet - the ones with the hard-soled red shoes on them - and accidentally kicked me in the eye. It really hurt, and before I could catch myself I yelled "Ouch!"

She looked at me with those chocolate doe-eyes and a puzzled expression on her little face. Brian saw the whole thing and told her very gently that she had hurt mommy and needed to say that she was sorry. She looked at him, then cut her eyes at me. He reminded her several more times, but she never said anything. I can't describe the look on her face as she was looking from him to me. She wanted to say something, but she just couldn't. She was so torn!

Finally I told her that it was OK. Mommy was ok, and I knew she didn't mean to hurt me. But even when we hurt people on accident we need to tell them we're sorry. My heart was breaking! She just kept looking at me with this torn expression on her face. About a minute after I had dropped it, she looked me right in the eyes and very softly said "I sorry mommy."

I have never been more heartbroken and proud at the same moment. Our baby - excuse me, our little person - has such strong emotions already! I could not possibly love her more or be more proud to be her mommy.

Somehow, I think she's teaching me just as much as I'm teaching her. And I know that's how it is supposed to be.