An amazing thing happened today. Its the kind of thing you read about in parenting books but don’t for a second believe that it actually happens that way. And if it does then it certainly wouldn’t happen to you. But today we had such a moment and it was pretty impressive.

This morning Amélie announced that she was a ‘big girl’ and that ‘dums were for babies’ and that she was going to put her dum in the bin. She then promptly took both dums and took them to the bin* where they still are now. The bin has got quite full since this morning but we didn’t dare empty just in case we needed to do an emergency excavation. But the day has passed with no reference to dums apart from a few reminders that she had put them in the bin. I had been dreading bedtime and spent the day trying to figure out what we would do if she changed her mind. But, Reader, you must believe that I am sitting downstairs with my feet up and apart from Italy v Spain on the tv the house is quiet. Miss Amélie has gone to bed dum-free for the first time in years!

Whilst we are on the subject of monumental changes I should add that Amélie has been potty training for about four weeks now- no more nappies- and we have an impressive sticker chart to remind us of the progress she has been making, At the end of each row of stickers (we do A to Z) Amélie gets a treat and so far we have accumulated dominoes, a loto game, a book and a new pair of wellies. Not cheap but at least its more fun that buying nappies.

Amélie has changed a lot these last few weeks and she has surprised us with new things every day: she is talking in full sentences, knows exactly what she wants and how to tell you, remembers things that happened a few weeks ago, sings rhymes and songs with some accuracy, loves looking at the atlas, can spot the ‘London flag’ (Union Jack) a mile away, wants to learn Dutch, and is showing an interest in writing. She is an absolute joy to spend time with and we look forward to her next new thing.

I think we have to accept that our toddler has transformed into a little girl – and if she was the very hungry caterpillar she would now be a beautiful butterfly.

* I will spare you photographic evidence of the dums in the bin (View image) but I feel it important to record this – if nothing else to remind Amélie where she put them!