semperfiona | A few Rosa milestones

She's been much better about sleeping and going to bed recently. In her own bed, even, and she's been staying there all night. Tonight she even asked to be put to bed. She asked me to read her a story. I told her it wasn't quite time for bed and I'd read her the story at bedtime. She said she wanted to go to sleep now. So I took her upstairs, read her the story, and put her to bed. She did protest a little that she wanted to sleep downstairs, but she took no for an answer, cuddled for a few minutes and then said, "You can go now."

Today I saw a notice on the bulletin board at work asking for girls' size 2T winter clothing for a needy family. This evening when I picked her up I told her we were going to find her old coat and give it to a little girl who didn't have one. Then we went to dinner, and afterward, she asked me, "Are we going to find my old coat for the little girl now?" So we got it out, along with a few other items, and then I asked her if there was anything else she'd like to give to the little girl. She immediately pointed at a shelf and said, "Po!" So the red plush Teletubby is now also residing in the shopping bag with her old clothes. Then I told her we'd write the little girl a card, and Rosa scribbled a bit on a piece of paper which I inscribed "From Rosa with Love". We tucked it in the side of the bag.

A funny-peculiar. Several times lately she has told me, "You don't have to love me." I have no idea where she gets it from. It's true, I suppose, in a philosophical sense, but I can't imagine not loving her.

And then there's the game of "Who loves you?" Sometimes she gives straight answers: "Mommy." "Daddy." "Auntie Jen." "Phaelen." "Grandma." But recently she's been saying, "I do." Or "I love myself again," if it's the second or third time I've asked it.