Little Bits of Our Life: Four!!

My sweet baby girl, you are FOUR today! FOUR! You tell me all the time you are not a baby, but you will always be MY baby.

Thinking back to the time you were born, I am so thankful you were such a laid back baby!

You were the perfect addition to our family! Your older siblings have loved you right from the start.

You were such a teeny tiny girl your first year. I don't think I realized just how small you were until I looked back at pictures.

You started gaining weight pretty quickly once you started eating table food and you're average height and weight now. You're just the perfect size for you!

You've had a lot of personality right from the start! You can be so stubborn and you definitely want to do things your own way! I still hear, "my do it myself" all throughout the day. ;)

We feel like your speech is a little delayed but I can almost always understand you. Your big sister is probably your best interpreter! We might have you assessed for speech therapy for the next school year just to get you help if you need it. I feel like being in preschool this coming school year will really help!

You can count to ten and we are working on your ABC's. We don't practice with you as often as we should! I'm confident you will catch on quickly if we work with you a little more. Lucky for you, your older sister loves to play teacher and you are her favorite student! ;)

The zoo is one of your favorite places. Your request to celebrate your 4th birthday was to go to Bob Evans, all 5 of us, and Grandpa Ken and Grandma Pam and then to go to the zoo so you can feed the giraffes. :)

You love to be outside! You try to keep up with your older brother and sister as much as possible.

Some of my favorite things that you say right now; that will be "perfect"; you ask if things are going to take "forever", it doesn't matter if it will realistically take 5 minutes or 5 days. ;) When you're ready for a nap or bedtime, you tell me "my too tired, my need to go to sleep". Lately you have been telling me you like bedtime because you're too tired. Ha ha! I don't try to correct you saying "my" instead of "I". I know you will figure it out soon enough. Your big sister reminded me that you're always saying things are "disgusting". It's hilarious to hear you say it in your sweet little voice.

You can be a Momma's girl but you are also a Daddy's girl at times! Everyone says you look more like Daddy and his side of the family than mine and I would agree. You love music like your Momma and will get mad at me if I'm not singing along with some of our favorite songs on the radio in the car. You have an eclectic taste in music.

A few of your favorite songs are "Jesus Messiah" (Chris Tomlin), "Something in the Water" (Carrie Underwood), "Mama's Broken Heart" (Miranda Lambert), "Somethin' Bad" (Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood), "Shut Up and Dance" (Walk the Moon), "Shake it Off" and "Bad Blood" (Taylor Swift), "Uptown Funk" (Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars). We really have to make sure you're making the N sound when you sing, "Uptown fuNk you up". Grandma Pam always said "shut up" was the same as swearing when Mommy was growing up and you aren't allowed to say it either. You try to get me to let it slide when you're singing "Shut Up and Dance".

You love to go bowling, to the park, to the indoor trampoline park, and to visit family and friends.

You're always great about running errands with me while your older brother and sister are at school. Your favorite is when we go to the WalMart that gives out free cookies at the bakery.

You're very picky about having things a certain way. If you want to get a bottle of water from the refrigerator and someone gets it for you, you will put it back in the refrigerator just to get it out again yourself! You're always doing things like that. If I kiss you on the forehead you will wipe it off and tell me to kiss you on a certain spot on your cheek. ;)

You also love to go to the library and look through the books. It is fun to stop in for a visit with you.

You are probably the least picky eater in our family. You love Mexican, like your Momma. You always request Moe's if I ask you what you want for lunch. You love their lemonade. You also love to have chips and pretzel crisps with guacamole for a snack.

Lately you love to have your picture taken. I think this is a result of having a member of the Mamarazzi for a Mom. Ha ha!

We didn't have cable for about 15 months and you have loved having Disney Junior again. You love Doc McStuffins, Sofia, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Your favorite is Doc McStuffins. You love Frozen (what girl your age doesn't?) and playing Lalaloopsy with your sister. You also love to play with your big brother's race cars when he is at school! You know just how to push his buttons!

There are times when you fight like crazy with your older brother and sister, but you really do love them so much! You love that your brother calls you "chubby cheeks" but I'm pretty sure you said you will only be chubby cheeks until you turn 4. ;) You think it's about the greatest thing ever to chase your brother through the house. Your older sister is your best friend! You look up to her so much and I love seeing the bond you two have.