A Complicated Dynamic

I've been in a DDLG relationship for about two years now. It's been mostly stable but recently things have taken an odd turn. I'm 23 and my caregiver is 27. We started as friends, then moved into age-play, which was something we both really enjoyed. The dynamic has always worked well for us. I feel safe with her, and she provides guidance and care that feels nurturing. Lately though, there's been this weird shift. Sometimes I'll just want to push boundaries in ways I never thought possible, asking for more discipline, acting out more often, even pretending to be younger than the little I usually am. It's not that I'm unhappy; I still feel cared for and loved deeply. But these new desires have me questioning whether something is off with our relationship or if this is normal growth in a dynamic like ours. The other day, after I acted out quite a bit, she disciplined me more than usual and it was... intense but also incredibly satisfying. Afterwards though, there's been a lingering sense of doubt. Am I being too much to handle? Is she getting tired of this role? We've talked about our feelings generally but never really these specifics. I'm not sure if seeking advice from others is the right move here or if I should just be honest with her about my doubts and ask for more open communication. Thoughts?