Growing Up

Tonight at bedtime, Marlee said

Mommy? I'm not all tired. Can I read some books?

It's not a completely unusual request. She does it about once a week or so, but tonight was different. Usually, she'll finish reading and call me to sing her a couple of songs. Tonight, I watched silently from the hall as she yawned, put her book beside her bed, crawled under her covers, and shut off the flashlight we use for reading. Something about it just struck me. It seems like such a mature thing to do...what happened to my baby?