First, the sweet:

    Yesterday morning I was getting ready for work when I heard Baby Duck get up and go out to the kitchen without saying a word.  I started hearing lots of cabinet-opening sounds, but I kept myself from going out to check on her.  I remembered that she is at the age where she likes to try to surprise me, but has no idea how to be quiet in order to keep the surprise a secret.  I knew I was risking a broken dish, but I chose to see how it played out.  I got very nervous when I heard her get the 97% full gallon of milk out of the refrigerator, but never did hear any "Uh, oh!" or "Oh, no!" from the kitchen.  Finally, she came to get me and proudly showed me the bowl of cereal on the countertop.  But when I congratulated her on making her own breakfast, she said, "No, Mommy.  See the glass bowl?  It's for you!"  How thoughtful can a 4 1/2 year-old be first thing in the morning?!?

    Now, the salty:
    

    Today I put Ladybug down for a nap, but she was in no hurry to sleep.  While making my bed in the next room about 20 minutes later, I could still hear her babbling.  It turned into her calling my name over and over, with varying levels of intensity:  "Mommy....... Mommy!... Mommy?  MOMMY!!?!?  mommy??.... momMY!!!!!"  Then, she threw me a curve:  "Hey!!!  Wisten!  WISTEN!!!!!  Mommy, wisten!  Come here!!  Now!"  Apparently she put her bossy pants on when I wasn't looking!  I just kept making the bed and laughed at how funny she sounded.  She's quiet now, so I must have done the right thing by not going in there.  She will be in a much better mood this evening now that the nap won the battle.

CL