Conversations with Leah

We've just finished dinner. Leah has once again taken residence on my lap. I'm squeezing and hugging her, marveling at how quickly time is going by. I look at our family portrait on the dining room wall. Leah is 8 months old. "Leah. What happened to my baby? Where did you go? I don't want you to grow up! I want you to be like that baby again" I say, teasing her. "I can't believe you're going to preschool next week. What happened?"

Leah looks into my eyes. She cups my face with her petite hands and with all the three year old sympathy she can muster says, "Mommy. Mommy...I'll be a baby on Saturday, ok?"