Where'd the toddler go?

So I am wondering what happened to the oldest toddler. Where did she go? When was she replaced by this confidant, happy KID? I somehow blinked and missed the switch. She isn't a baby.. she's a little girl... GIRL... who likes pretty nightgowns, playing dress-up and make-believe, going shopping, Littlest Pet Shop toys. She's a little GIRL who likes singing songs I had no clue she knew, who talks a mile a minute about everything, who screams out "Wow, that's AWESOME!", and can hold down a fully cognizant conversation. Some part of me is still refusing to accept that she's no longer a baby... I keep underestimating her in everything. Last night, Aidan was "showing her butt" in the tub (playing too much and spitting water at me) and I finally took away the privilege of story time. She went to bed before Bit. Silly me was wondering if she would understand the whys and wherefores. I was thinking hard about how to explain it to her "at her level" HA! Aidan tells me herself as she lays down...
"I wasn't listening Mommy? I wasn't listening in the tub? I don't get a story? Tomorrow I get a story if I listen? I'll listen tomorrow Mommy and not play in the tub. I sorry Mommy."
I sat there beside her bed feeling stupid. Here I thought I'd crouch down and possible have to calm a toddler down from a tantrum because surely she'll be upset 'cause they don't understand at this age.. and then.. she lays down without a fuss and lets me know she understands and will do better tomorrow.. looking at me with wise and knowing eyes.

Aren't they supposed to be in the grunting, pointing, drooling stage still?

DON'T BLINK!