Two milestones, of sorts

Last night, Rachel asked if I wanted more milk, since my glass was almost empty. "I pour you some of mine," she said, getting up from her chair.

"Actually, Rachel, could you please go the refrigerator and get some more milk for Mommy?" I said. (I asked her this because I knew she'd be able to lift the milk carton since it was almost empty).

She toddled over to the fridge and tried to open the door. She couldn't get it at first. "Try, Rachel!" I urged. "Pull harder!"
She pulled and pulled, THEN OPENED THE DOOR, REACHED INSIDE, GRABBED THE MILK, BROUGHT IT OVER TO THE KITCHEN TABLE AND SET IT DOWN!!

Now I know how astonishing it is for parents when their kids do things like dress themselves, help themselves to their own food, do higher algebra, learn to drive. We're all so used to imagining our kids as helpless babies, totally dependent upon us to feed them, dress them, read to them, etc. Hard to believe Rachel will soon be doing more advanced tasks!

Before that, she did something hilarious. When I picked her up at daycare she was dressed like a little lumberjack, in a plaid boy's shirt that's a hand-me-down from friends of ours, plus a pair of brown jeans. She looked adorable, if a little masculine. As soon as she got home, she grabbed my fuzzy red hat, put it on her head and marched around the living room, her little face totally covered with the hat.

"I in my costume!" she said. "I trick or treat!"

It reminded me of how Daniella used to crack us all up by dressing in Mom's old clothes, jewelry and sunglasses, with that mop of red hair, then parade around the apartment saying and doing funny things. Rachel, it seems, is a throwback to Tia Daniella!