Who is That Girl I See?

So I'm sure you didn't get the formal press release, but Natalia turned 8 last week. I know, I know. How could you have missed it with the national holiday, parade and half off at Starbucks, but it has come and gone. Yet we are still in the throws of celebration here in Lacowland. As I speak I am typing on a monstrosity of a laptop so Jeremy can labor through millions of pictures and videos to make our annual birthday homage to Natalia. When I put it that way it does sound rather creepy, but we do make a video.

I so look forward to this video every year because I get to reflect back on how much fun we have had and how much my little boogerface has grown up. Usually by now I have taken more time to watch her other videos and cry those proud mama tears because my baby is so cute and growin' up so darn fast. I'll do that later. I know I have whined about some sassiness so I am going to take this opportunity to be all Pollyanna and reflect on the fabulous things that you just can't get out of the baby/toddler years. Deep sigh- and reflection.....

1. Cussing accountability. She knows the words, they spew out of my mouth like pea green exorcist vomit when I get pulled over and not only does she call me out on it, but she tells daddy. Tonight I only made the "shhhh" noise when I burnt dinner. She still told daddy.

2. Girl talk. We talk about nails, hair, shopping, working out, what's going on with her friends, what's going on with my friends. These are real conversations now with a real and very opinionated person. It's nice.

3. She showers herself. This may seem like no big deal, but now I get to cruise Pinterest for 10 minutes and I am pretty sure she will get the shampoo rinsed out of her hair. We still get to bond while I blow dry her hair. It's a test of who can out-sing whom over the loud hum of the hairdryer. We both have excellent range and voices that can carry all the way to the garage. Don't let Jeremy fool you. He loves it.

4. She thinks she knows more than I do and that she doesn't need me, sort of. This is the hardest thing to swallow this past year, but I am determined to embrace it and this is why: She wants to be independant, so we are doing something right. Last night I explained to her what a "mean" mommy really was and that she needed to think of another way to explain her frustrations with me. Tonight she thought of another way (of course). She called me into her room after Jeremy put her to bed to tell me that when she says I am "mean", she really means that I am just "strict". Okay. I can handle that. Then she told me the Icy Hot I put on my neck was burning her nostrils and that she wanted me to get out of her room, but to check on her later.

5. She's happy.

I am starting to see a few personality trends that I don't think will go away for a while. I am picturing a high school age girl crying during homework and singing while blow drying her hair. I'm sure I am going to be "mean" for a few more years and that Jeremy and I could still say the EXACT same thing and she would only argue with me. Then again no one in the family seems to have the same gravitational pull like I do either, so it all evens out. I can't even go to the bathroom without it ending up being a family event. Even the dog makes an appearance. I'll get a book and hide out in Natalia's room in the mommy chair because it is the least used room in the house and all of a sudden every one (including the dog) is in her room rolling on the bed, laughing, barking, then yelling at the dog, then asking me questions. I really only get about 15 minute of hiding before they seek me out.

So this leaves my relationship with Natalia in a strange place. Sometimes I am the person that she can't stand and can't be without. I know it has her just as baffled as it does me and I have enough love to carry both of us through the confusion. All I know is that I like her a lot, and lover her "like five miles much".