Little Woman

Dear Olivia--
Last Sunday you shocked us all by turning seven. Seven! I gotta sit down.
Five minutes ago you were all chunky arms and legs,riding on my hip like an adorable chimp. Now, you're sporting all kinds of Hannah Montana gear and your limbs are lanky and slender; willowy even!

Monday morning while you were getting ready for school, I noticed you were a little bummed. The day after your birthday can seem a bit like the day after Christmas, huh? So, I took a minute in between helping you comb the back of your hair and chasing your brother into the bathroom to interview the new seven-year-old you.

Me: So, now that you're seven, what's your favorite thing to do when you're not in school?
You: I like to play with Anna (our neighbor) and Emma. And go to Chuck E. Cheese (the scene of your party---only your second time there ever).
Me: What's your favorite food?
You: Macaroni and cheese, tomatoes and strawberries. But not mixed up together.
Me: Describe your brother.
You: He annoys me. But he's fun until he has to go in time out.
Me: How would you describe Mommy? (I cannot help myself. I am an insecure quivering mass).
You: She smiles a lot and has two big teeth in the front. She smells nice. She's always in a hurry. (Owwwwwwwch. That's me. Conking myself in the head V-8 style)
Me: How would you describe Daddy?
You: He likes to play games and take us places. He's funny and kind of gross like when he burps.
Me: OK, Thanks for talking with me. How does it feel to be seven?
You: The same, I guess. You're welcome.

Here's some other stuff I already know about you:
-Your favorite color is purple. Blue is still for boys in your opinion.
-You like reminding me, and everyone we know, that I am thirty-eight.
-You love capturing bugs and observing them, even the creepiest ones, which is decidedly un-girly. But I won't tell anyone.
-When you were two, you used to tell me you loved me no matter what I'd say to you. For instance:
Me: "What do you want to drink?"
You: "I wuv you, Mama."
Me: "Milk or orange juice?"
You: "I wuv you, Mama."
Me: "Which book do we want to read tonight?"
You: "I wuv you, Mama."

Sigh. I miss those days. But you find other ways to tell me, and even better, to show me and the rest of us, all the time. Even that annoying brother.
Tuesday night, when we all got home from school and work, I was cleaning up in the kitchen when Nate said he had a tummy ache. You informed me that you would handle it. You took him over to the couch, propped him up on a pillow and brought him some ginger ale, then came back to the kitchen to report "He's feeling a little better now. I think we should let him rest until storytime." I had to document this because the next time you're ready to kill your brother, I'll have to show it to you. And, when you're a teenager and you hate me, or when you've grown up and moved away, I can read this and know how profoundly lucky I was to share every day with you.
xxooo