What Rachel does after Drew puts her to bed

Tonight after Drew told me about how Rachel was worried about the wrath of the universe coming down on the two bullying boys, I was inspired to go upstairs and give her a big hug and kiss.

When I opened the door, her night light was on (it's across the room from her bed) and she was SITTING UP IN BED, READING.

"RACHEL!" I exclaimed.

"I like to read because it helps me get to sleep," she explained. "Reading is my favorite thing to do. When we have our choice of stations, I always head for the books."

"Reading is my favorite thing to do, too, sweetie!" I exclaimed. I made her promise twice not to stay up too late, then I gave her a big hug and kiss and she seemed very happy I'd come all the way upstairs to do so.

As I closed the door and went downstairs, I thought: Wow. She really reminds me of myself when I was a kid.

***

Drew also told me that Rachel has begun doing the following after he reads from the current book they're reading together at night: If there's time, they cuddle. Afterward, she has started asking Drew to give her MATH PROBLEMS. Addition AND subtraction: What's 19 plus 7? Or 22 take away 3? She can usually figure them out, Drew says.

He says she has this weird system that he assumes they're teaching her at school -- 8 is a set of 5, plus 3 extra, and that helps her do the math without using her fingers. Last night she also wanted him to give her "questions" -- fill in the blank knowledge questions. He gives her fill in the blank knowledge questions about science: What are steam and ice both made out of? Things like that.

Looks like the science, math, art and reading parts of her brain are all developing nicely. Now we just have to work on sports and music....