four!

My sweet birthday girl,

Where has the time gone?  Didn't you just look like this yesterday???

Last week I read this letter I wrote to you last year on your birthday, and I thought to myself that so much of it still applies this year.  In many ways, you haven't changed a lot since then.  And yet, you're so much more grown up this year at age four than you were at age three. 

*You still love playing outside, but this year you are so much more independent in your playing.  You climb up and down on the playset with such confidence, can swing by yourself (though you'd rather have Mommy or Daddy push you higher!), and ride your tricycle up and down the sidewalk as fast as can be while Mommy or Daddy watch, instead of walking alongside you (this year you're getting a big girl bike for your birthday, and I can't wait to see your face light up when you ride it up and down the sidewalk instead!).

*You're still a chatterbox!  You say the funniest things and make Daddy and me laugh all the time.  

*You're still a princess fanatic--probably even more than you were a year ago.  Your favorites change from day to day, but you're completely in love with Tiana and The Princess and the Frog at the moment.  Your love of Thomas isn't quite what it used to be, though you still enjoy playing with your train table every few days.  But you'd much rather play princess or a game or color pictures these days.

*You still love letters, and this year you've learned to write your name.  Just the other day you asked me, "Mommy, what letters spell dog?"  I said, "Why don't you tell me?"  So you said the sounds, "d...d....d.....o....o....o....g...g...g."  So I asked you what letters those were, and you told me, "D....O....G!"  You're well on your way to being a reader.  You're also counting much better than you were a year ago.  You can count up to 14 without any mistakes, but have a little trouble getting from 14 to 20, but you're learning quickly. 

*You are such a social little girl, and love people.  You ask me almost every day, "Where are we going today, Mommy?" because you're so anxious to get out of the house and into the world with other people.  You love preschool, and every day when you walk in the classroom your classmates get so excited and yell, "Rachel!  You're HERE!"  You love them, and they love you.  Every couple of days you say, "Mommy, I have to tell you something."  When I ask what you need to tell me, you say, "I like everybody!"  And it's so true!


This past year has been a hard one for your Mommy, but you've taken it all in stride and become a much more independent little girl because of it.  You help Mommy whenever you can and are such a good girl.  You're also such a happy girl--enthusiastic and excited about every day.  You fill my days with such joy and laughter.

This next year has some very big changes in store, and though you're super excited about being a big sister soon, I know you really have no clue just how much this little sister will change your little world!  In the past week or so it's just started to hit me that these are the last weeks I'll have with just you and me, and I've been sad and nostalgic about it, trying to savor every last bit of it.  For the last four years my life has been almost completely about caring for, playing with, and teaching YOU, and in just a few short weeks, that will all change.  I know that I'll still do all of those things, but now I'll have to figure out how to do all of those things plus care for, play with, and teach your little sister, too!  And unfortunately, out of necessity, her needs will have to take prescedence over yours sometimes, and that will likely leave you disappointed and sad at times.  I hate the thought of making you feel that way and don't want any of this to change who you are.  But I know that with time we'll all figure it out together.  That's why I'm so glad you've become so independent in the last year--putting your clothes on, going potty by yourself, washing yourself in the bathtub, cleaning up after yourself (sometimes!), and on and on.  You're such a big girl and a cheerful helper, and I know that you'll be a huge help to Mommy in caring for your little sister.

I can't wait to watch you become a big sister, and know this will be a year full of both joy and change for all of us. 

I love you,  my sweet four year old.  Happy, happy birthday!

Love,
Mommy