“Lala”
I’ve become acutely aware of her turning into a little girl. Her 4th birthday looms around the corner. The frame of her body morphing into a lean and tall toddler on the precipice of losing her uniquely adorable belly. She’s incredibly sweet. I couldn’t even describe it in words. It’s the kind of thing very few people can witness- those who know her well- those who embrace her with open arms and squeeze her just tight enough to fill your heart with joy. And she won’t rush you. She will linger in her embrace, often adding in words, unsolicited, like “I love you, mama”. And when I ask her how much she loves me, her arms spread wide and her cheeks magically double in size, her white teeth on display. Her cat-shaped eyes crinkle slightly. She’s excited to show me just how much. And on other sweet occasions she’ll casually run her small hand over my head, saying things like, “mommy your hair is so beautiful, is like ‘R’punzel hair”. Her compliments. The way she