It’s after church and I’m busy making lunch for everyone, and Abby is sitting at the table with her box of crayons- which is her constant companion of late. Her birthday is next week, and she was given a new notebook from her teacher, with a pretty flower pencil. She’s was tickled pink, and told me “I’m going to write in my journal, Mama.” Okay, knock yourself out, babe, lunch will be ready in a few minutes.

While I was cooking, she kept asking me about letter sounds- “Mama, what letters says kuh-kuh-kuh?” and I would idly answer as I poured more milk and checked the oven. When I called the boys for lunch, and went to clear the table, this is what I saw:

Sure enough, she’d begun her journal. I didn’t move a thing to take this photo- let’s take a closer look:

Okay, my daughter will be FOUR next week. Am I wrong to be dumbfounded? I mean, I don’t go around yelping about my kids being smart- they’re regular kids- but does this seem a little… uh… um…  insanely cool to anyone else??

Then I see her, the sweet little girl with pizza all over her face and her white sundress. She has no idea what cool even means- and I hope to keep it that way for a long time. She told me she wants to write and draw. I’d say she’s well on her way. *pitter-patter goes my heart*