Yesterday, a funny thing finally occurred to me...my baby is officially past the baby stage!  It is a melancholy realization for me because I think all parents hang on in some form or fashion, to that tiny, precious, helpless little creature that you helped bring into this world.

I know that, to me, part of my daughter Riley will always be that little baby, no matter how old she gets.  But, where do you actually draw the line between a baby and a toddler?  Some sources say one year old, some say two...but for me, the answer came clear as a bell yesterday.

Riley has been getting more and more fussy and temperamental as the last few weeks have passed, but I thought that it could be because of her teething, trying to be more independent, etc.  Then, she threw her first REAL temper-tantrum!  She wanted to play with my cell phone and I wouldn't let her because it has a touch screen and it slides and I was afraid that she would break it.  Oh no!  The fury that can be a 16-month old, came out in full force and she got mad!

I mean, she cried and cried and cried!  There was snot coming out of her nose and it was blending with the tears which were all over her face.  There were boogers everywhere and she eventually even threw herself on the floor and beat her little fists up and down!  I was amazed and sort of sad at the same time.  Yes, my child was acting like a brat, which never makes any mother happy.

But more than that, it finally hit me that she no longer is crying only for the things she NEEDS, like a baby does, she is now crying for the things that she just WANTS.  This is when I finally knew that my daughter was no longer the sweet, tiny, helpless baby that I brought home from the hospital 16 months ago...my daughter is now a full-fledged TODDLER and she's playing for keeps!  :)