4 years old
34 pounds
3 ft. 4 in.
My little girl! You are four! This birthday arrived with more anticipation than ever before. You started counting down to your big day as soon as January arrived. Each morning, you would wake up and squeal with delight as you announced how many days were left until your birthday. On the morning of your actual birthday, you woke up to streamers and balloons hanging from your door and a few special presents from Mommy, Daddy, Ella and Ashley. For your special birthday breakfast, you requested chocolate chip pancakes and a cherry chocolate smoothie.
Ella is still new to the whole idea of birthdays. After all, we just celebrated Christmas and at Christmas everyone got presents. So, she didn't really understand why she didn't have her own stack of goodies to unwrap at breakfast. She did love yummy birthday breakfast and after every "birthday" picture I took of you she made sure I didn't forget to take a "sister of the birthday girl" picture too.
You were excited about your Sofia the First necklace, Strawberry Shortcake I Spy book, Skippyjon Jones sticker book and Fresh Beat Band DVD.
 |
| "my my my" = my turn...take a picture of me! |
I'd say you were most excited about the last card we gave you. Your big birthday surprise was dinner and games at Chuck E. Cheese! This was something you had been hoping to do for months, so this surprise was enough to keep you on your toes and smiling all day.
Ella didn't know why, but she was pretty excited too!
You are one of the most caring and kind-hearted four year olds I've ever met. You love people. A room full of people (especially people you love) energizes you more than a bowl full of M&Ms. You love to perform shows, as well as direct others in the shows you create. Your natural tendency is to take control and give orders. We continue to work on helping you learn how to use that bossiness to lead people lovingly (as mommy and daddy can relate and continue to learn that as adults). You are quick to notice how others are feeling and find ways to care for them. We are blessed by your encouraging words daily. "Daddy, I love how God made you." "Mommy, I would never want any other mommy but you." "Good job Ella! Guys, did you see that? Did you see how well Ella just said that new word? Good job Ella! I'm so proud of you!"
You have so much love in your heart for people. We can see the way God is working in your life and pray that He would continue to draw you to Himself. The ways you remind us to pray for others or remind us of God's truth is humbling. The way you asked us to stop and give the homeless man some food the other day reminded our whole family to see people the way God does.
Did I mention how funny you are? Your silly jokes, imagination and big personality make us laugh or as you like to say "crack us up". Just like your mommy, you love to learn and often ask to do learning books or reading lessons multiple times a day. You started to read before you even turned four, which has fueled your love for books even more. I wasn't even sure that was possible, but our stacks from the library keep growing!
You love to spend time with Ella. Sometimes you ask me to leave the room because you want alone time with your sister and assure me you are a great babysitter. You also crave family time in general. Not only do you love any time we spend together as a family (whether it is out somewhere, watching a movie or playing board games on the living room floor), but you are quick to exclaim, "This is the best guys! I love our time together as a family! I was we could do this all the time everyday!"
You look forward to ballet class every week. In class, I love to watch you as you listen to the teachers very intently and learn what they are teaching you. Then, you come home and teach us what you've learned. Your recital in May is going to be really fun!
You are full of joy and while you challenge me in ways no one else can (similar personalities can do that to you), you remind me of Jesus and his joy daily. Thank you for not only teaching me to be a mommy, but also teaching me to love Jesus more in the process. I love you, Abs-ca-Dabs!
A 4 year old conversation with Abby:
Favorite food: peas
Favorite sport: basketball and hockey
Best show on TV: The Fresh Beat Band and Strawberry Shortcake
Favorite movie: The Sound of Music
Coolest person on earth: Mommy and Daddy
Something you are really good at: learning books
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? NYC
Favorite color: pink (a recent change from blue and you have informed me that when you turn five it will be yellow)
Favorite toy: dollhouse
What do you want to be when you grow up? A mommy and then a grandma
Favorite song: anything on the Sound of Music soundtrack
Favorite book: Jesus Storybook Bible and all my library books
What are three things you want people to know about you? 1. I love people. 2. I love stickers. 3. I love my sister.
Three words that describe you: pretty, funny, smart
When I was little I used to: crawl on the floor and swing
Favorite season: winter
The snack I could eat all the time is: goldfish
Food I do not like: peppers and onions
If I had one wish: to meet the Fresh Beat Band and go to their concert
Best memory: the night last summer when I was on your bed reading Pinkalicious with Daddy and all of a sudden there was a big boom and the lights went out. Then, we went outside in the street and talked to all of our neighbors.
What is something Mommy always says to you? I love you.
What is something Daddy always says to you? I love you.
What makes Mommy happy? me!
What makes Mommy sad? when people die
What makes Daddy happy? when all the socks match
What makes Daddy sad? when a sock is missing
What does Mommy do to make you laugh? tickles me
How old is Mommy? 28
How old is Daddy? 30
How tall is Mommy? medium like me
How tall is Daddy? really big
What is Mommy's favorite thing to do? be with me
What is Daddy's favorite thing to do? be with me
Mommy is really good at: Zumba
Daddy is really good at: running outside
Mommy is not very good at: walking into a big mess
Daddy is not very good at: glitter
Mommy's job is: folding laundry
Daddy's job is: printing paper
How do you know Mommy and Daddy love you? I just do...and they give me lots of hugs and kisses.
Where is Mommy's favorite place to go? Zumba
Where is Daddy's favorite place to go? Panera for a date with me
You didn't think I would end this post without sharing some of the highlights from Chuck E. Cheese, did you? We had way too much fun to not!
Seeing this sign as we pulled into the parking lot started a frenzy of excitement in the car. Seriously, who needs Disneyworld when you have little girls who have never been to Chuck E. Cheese? ;)
I thought it was pretty amazing that we were even able to get you girls to sit through dinner. After all, you did have a cup full of tokens taunting you to spend them on the games flashing all around us. But, pizza is pizza! Daddy did take a longer time to finish up than you would have liked, so while you would have liked to have been done after one slice, you decided to eat two more very quickly, so Daddy wouldn't finish them up and take more time. Very strategic!
You took Ella's hand and led her right to the ride you thought she would want to see first. Then, you handed her a token. I love that you girls always take care of each other.
It was the Barney car! I'm pretty sure Ella would have sat in this car all night, but we encouraged her to try other things after her third ride. Barney did talk to her the whole time. She would rest her arm on his leg and look up at him like he was chatting with her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33lptDjKJGU
Happy 4th Birthday Abby Em! We love you so much!
.JPG)
.JPG)