"I always want to be a little [girl] and to have fun"

there are some days that I cannot wait for Brooklyn to be able to talk. like today. when she is screaming for hours (which she NEVER does) and I cannot figure out why. is it the fever? is it the ear infection? is it something ridiculous all together which, let's be honest, is the reason a lot of people cry? oh how great it would be for her to say "Mom! Your hair is freaking me out!" or even a "Yo woman! Stop singing to me - your voice is horrible!"

But then, I do something like paint her fingernails pink because I think oooo it's going to be too cute and take one look at how OLD it makes her look and I freak out and quickly realize noooooooo. NO GROWING UP! Exactly why I do not want her to have pierced ears till she can make that decision herself. Or dress like a teenager before she can even shave her legs.

Stay tiny and precious and just communicate with me via your own methods. You don't have to start talking yet. I will figure out the rest, honest!

Oh yah, and I won't paint your nails anymore until you are 16 years old at least. scouts honor (for the record I dropped out of brownies so was never really a "scout." but you get where I'm going with that).

no, no, no. no.