My little girl is so grown up. I just can't believe it sometimes. Gillian still loves little girl things like dolls, toys, and video games, of course. But she also loves going shopping and getting her nails done (by me- we haven't done the mother daughter mani/pedi--yet!). And oh my, the child is vain. Who can blame her? The child is unearthly GORGEOUS! Those HUGE soulful brown eyes. Her big, infectious laugh. The smile that never ends.

Just a few days ago she got a new haircut and style. Her sleek chestnut tresses were cut into a smart bangless bob (we'll cut those in the fall). She has asked everyone we see if they like her 'new hair.' Then she swishes the 'new hair' from side to side in order to better show it off. She even interrupted the entire dentist's office to fish for a compliment.

And speaking of the dentist AND Gilly being such a big girl, she was absolutely extraordinary that day. Unlike her Momma, who has an unholy fear of all things dental, Gillian looks forward to her denist appoinments. Since the office does not see all that many children (they are not a pediatric site) Gilly is treated like a ROCK STAR when she is there. So of course, she loves all of the attention. She thinks the automatic chair (or the electric chair as I refer to it-not to Gilly, tho!!) is a fun ride and the sunglasses she wears while being examined are a hoot. I will confess to being quite near tears when Gilly said, "THIS is gonna be GREAT!" as she clamoured into The Chair. The dental assistant had just readied all of the implements of torture. I stuffed a throat-aching sob into a cough and blinked back tears as I spied THE NEEEEDLE!

When Dr. Woodriff breezed in, I about leapt out of my seat and bolted for the door. Baby teefs fall out anyway, right? What's the point of filling them? I was ready to adopt the unhealthy attitude of more than a few of our WIC clients. The dentist calmly explained to Gilly what was gonna happen and she let her touch and explore all of the instruments for as long as she wanted. The doc then asked me if I wanted to "N-U-M-B it?"
I blinked and couldn't answer. Dr. Woodriff looked at me patiently. "Uhhhh...mmmm. Well, what do..er..I mean, well, what doYOU think?" I never knew it was an option NOT to "N-U-M-B it." Dr W. explained that the cavities were just on the surface, it was up to me, with or without. "Wifout!" Gilly piped up. Dr W. agreed heartily. The the doc looked at me and said, "We'll go without and see how it goes."

How it went was AWESOME!!! No needles, very little drilling. Gilly picked her prize and we were in and out of there in less than 20.
While running errands later that day, my good little girl made this statement: "I listen to you now."
"You do?"
Gillian nodded and her "new hair" bounced. "See? I'm holdong your hand in the store and I'm not running around and asking for stuff. So see? I'm a big girl and I listen to you."
I dropped to my knees in the middle of the store and snatched Gillian up in a big hug. "Come on, my big girl. Let's get out of here and go to McDonald's Playplace!"
"YAYYY!" She said. And then, "But even though I'm a big girl, I still want a HAppy Meal and a toy. I still don't like Crabby PAtties."

I smiled and we held hands out of the store. I WOULD say, "They grow up so fast." But it has been a long, hard journey to get here. It wasn't fast at all. It was quite slow and painful at times. Not unlike a long drawn-out dental exam for me. I am just so proud of Gillian and all that she as overcome. She IS my growed-up, amazing big girl.