For...Fore...FOUR!

Well Emma Jean, look at you! My oldest, beautiful daughter - You're Four! Holy cow.

You are the 'big sister' and are coming more and more into your role, and getting better at it everyday. While Eden doesn't always take to your style, your new baby sister Eliza is loving every minute of it...to each her own, I guess. You three will figure it out - eventually.

You have matured so much these past few months, I feel like I'm trying to figure you all out again. You still ask TONS of questions (what is Cyberspace? where is the Ukraine? why was there a mouse in my pool? I could go on...) and they are getting much more complex...you want details. Lots of details. You spend your days playing with Eden and our neighbor, your BFF Natalee. You usually play princess and dress-up, family (I'm the mommy - you be the baby/dad/dog/sister/etc.), restaurant/kitchen (aka destroy the playroom), and love having tea parties outside on the picnic table. You also love to ride your bike up and down the driveway, and take your sister for rides around the yard in the power-wheels jeep. Next door, you've been introduced to a whole new world of make-up (which has become your new obsession) and Barbie and all things Disney Princess, and I cringe to think that is what we're heading for...I'm not quite ready for all that, but my current belief is "all things in moderation" and to the best of my ability, I am looking for realistic alternatives to balance things out.

You will be starting preschool in a couple of weeks, and are SO excited. We get to meet your teacher next week, and you've mentioned, more than once, how you think she'll REALLY like your Hello Kitty backpack. I know you'll do great! And will love every second of it. You are so ready for learning, and are getting bored being at home everyday. In fact, you are such a smart little cookie, you have jump-started the reading/writing process all by yourself! You taught yourself to write your name and 'mom'. You love to play with other kids, and are a pro at making new friends. You prefer playing one-on-one though, so I'm wondering how that will be for you being in a big class everyday.

You're no longer a baby, but still need me and your Dad so much. Its a little nerve-wracking at times, letting you breathe and bloom into the independent young lady you are becoming. We have been giving you more responsibilities and trusting you more and more to do things on your own. I can't say that it always turns out well, but we're getting in many learning opportunities and character-building exercises...and I suppose, that's what its all about. Right? The current themes right now are: learning to take care of our things/toys, ALWAYS telling the truth, honoring your parents, doing the wise/right thing even when we don't want to. Its such a 'big' list for a four year old. Its hard to understand now, but all these things will make you into the person you will become for the rest of your life...and you're shaping up to be a wonderful, beautiful inside&out, smart, witty, sensitive, and tenacious young lady. Just the way I love.

I love you bunches Monkey! Happy Happy Forth birthday!