told me she would be 9 soon (true-ish, her birthday is in the summer).
I had no idea she was able to plan ahead and 'see' the future in this way, despite me knowing that she knows the concept of time, and past/future etc.
we ran through the months of the year today - she could tell me whose birthday was in each month (and then went on to quiz me as to which birthday came first/second etc in the months with multiple birthdays) - that really blew me away.
it didn't sound like parrotting known facts, iyswim, really more like proper conversation about the future/coming year.
she then, in yesterday's conversation, went on to issue the following instructions:
she wants a chocolate cake for her birthday (they are allowed to choose their own cakes and designs for me to massacre attempt to make)
in the shape of a car - like her favourite toy car (red)
it has to have 4 eggs in the recipe (no idea why, except she likes ot crack eggs, and count the number going in, and 4 is not a number of eggs we have used recently!)
BUT, I am not to put her car inside - inside it has to be chocolate cake, only looking like her car on the outside.
it made me 
. just a simple, everyday conversation with my girl - one that a couple of years a go (hell, even last year!) I never thought I would have.
she makes me very proud.