We've never had a baby who was three. Our babies always stop being the baby right around two, so this youngest-as-capable-helper thing is very new to me. On this morning, Eli was the first to come join me on the couch. In an effort to delay my start time, I suggested to him that maybe he might surprise Ben and Jack by putting the silverware away before they got up. The dishwasher is their standing job and they fight about who has to do the silverware every. single. morning. Anyway, I heard him banging around in there for way longer than it would take even the baby to put away the silverware, but I was getting to finish my Bible reading and my coffee, so I left him to his work.

He came to get me after a few minutes with a huge smile on his sweet face and a command to close my eyes and follow him. He led me to the dishwasher, told me to open my eyes, and proudly showed me that he had unloaded the entire thing. Without being asked. All by himself. Of course, I did the needful and gushed all over him like any good mother knows to do. But I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't a bittersweet little moment that we had in the kitchen this morning as I saw my baby growing up before my eyes.

The tears couldn't stay for long though, and were quickly replaced by laughter when Jack and Ben saw the good deed and cheered.