Bittersweet Milestones

I love milestones. I'm not the overly sentimental type, and probably don't make a big deal over the BIG milestones, like most people may. Birthdays aren't huge events, first steps were captured with a few photos, first lost tooth was cute but without much hoopla.
However, it's the little ones that just do my momma heart in! Like, the ability to bake brownies without any help at all from Mommy. Cait just did this a month ago. Read the recipe, got the ingredients, CRACKED THE EGGS with no shells!, poured into the pan, and put it into a PREHEATED OVEN! All without needing me! It was wonderful and terrible all at the same time. My baby is growing up.

Cait is really maturing into a very pretty young lady. We've let her start growing her hair long (as she as been begging for the past few years) and it's probably 2 inches past her shoulders. She is brushing it and fixing it on her own,which was the deal! She has a simple beauty, not glamorous, but that natural kind of glow that each woman wishes she had! I don't like to dwell on external beauty, because honestly aside from a few enhancements, there's not much you can do to change your look. And really, it's not what matters anyway, right! The heart is the key. She is growing hugely in that area too, but that's not what I wanted to write about here!

This past month has brought a new milestone to the forefront.
First, you must understand, Cait (along with Brent and Grant and Jake) take Karate. And, they are NOT wallflowers. They all get into it and and work out hard. She has the biceps and quads to prove it. She is one fit 9year old! But, with the hard work has come "the glistening". You know what I mean, the shine on a proper lady's face after physical exhertion! I mentioned to Cait that ladies glisten. To which, she, in her tomboyish way retorted, "I don't know about you, mom, but I SWEAT!"
So, to help her in her new maturing, we took a trip to Target for some deodorant. Not an antiperspirant, but merely deodorant! Would you believe it is virtually impossible to find!! Finally, I spotted an all natural brand with no harmful chemicals and we got that. I think she was a little bit nervous about the whole thing, but refused to let on that she was. I tried to downplay the momentous occasion, but inside I was Screaming, "NOT YET! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! SHE'S ONLY 9! MY BABY!"
Well, I guess I need to just deal with the changes. I know they are going to come, but I sure wish it wasn't such a slap in the face when they did! Thankfully, that's the only "body change" going on right now. I need to get myself prepared before I face the future ones!