I have been reading in the various baby-related books and magazines that the little angel will now begin to realize her free will AND try to emulate me all at the same time. Ah, irony IS is inherent to the human condition - I always suspected that to be the case.  Last night, she balanced on her little tippy toes next to the bathtub, watching me fiddle with the ancient bathtub handles to achieve warm, yet not hot, water perfection.  I would touch the cold knob, stick my hand in the water, touch the hot knob, stick my hand in the water, and so on.  She watched me do this for a while.  Then she touched the knob closest to her (the hot, unfortunately), and gave me a huge, two-toothed grin.

"No," I said. "HOT."  Then I feigned a third-degree burn.  This made her laugh.

I touched the knob.

She touched the knob. 

"NO!  HOT!  Owie!" I said.  She looked at me like she'd just scored front-row tickets to The Producers.  She touched the knob again.  Smiled.

I grabbed her pudgy little hands and swooped her up, football style. Thankfully, the water was already done anyway.  She was not burned.  I am trying so hard to protect her from herself, but I have to admit, it was really funny to watch her imitate me like that. I can't wait until she starts correcting my beloved in my tone of voice.