Surprise!

I was feeding Charlie last night, and Ella was coloring on the coffee table. Very casually she said, "Hey, mom, look at this." I glanced at the picture and said "That's nice", but she kept insisting that I LOOK AT THIS RIGHT NOW NOW NOW. I finally looked closer at it, and lo and behold, the little toot had written her name. I've never taught her how to write her numbers or letters or her name or ANYthing like that, so to say I was shocked is an understatement. I'm sure some other kids her age have been writing their names and doing calculus and translating the Iliad for months already, but I still felt like HOLY CRAP, I have the smartest kid on the face of the planet. It made me realize just how fast she is growing up, and before too long she will be in Kindergarten, oh Lord, and I will have to make all of the area bars open extra early on her first day of school so I can make the rounds.