Miss Independent

I'm sure that when Lauren is 30 years old and the head of some multi-billion dollar company I will look back at these days and say, "I knew it was all going to be worth it!" But right now...when I'm in a hurry and I have a list of fifty things to accomplish before I can go to bed...this independence phase is getting real old.

"I DO IT, MOMMY!!"

"NO!!!! I DO IT!!"

"MOMMY, NO!! LAUREN DO IT!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

Those are the typical phrases I hear from the time Lauren wakes up to the time she goes to bed right now. For instance, this morning I took a Pull-Up out of the package while she was going potty. Just that simple task set her into full-on freak out session. After five minutes of screaming, I had to put the Pull-Up back in the package just so she could take it out again. And let me tell you...when you have a baby to feed and get dressed, make-up to put on, a boy to wake up and lunches to pack, I feel like having my own full-on freak out session.

Some of her other new "fun" phrases are:

"I don't wike dis."
"I want gum, mommy."
"I take dat, ok?"
"No, you watch me."

and my favorite,

"No, mommy."

I just keep reminding myself that this is how she learns to do these things. And that in a few months or so, she will be able to do all these things by herself. I'm thinking that in the meantime I should just staple a Post-it note on my forehead that says, "Breathe. She's learning."