Mother of Love Bugs: ... and then she was 4!!!!

Dear Avery,

Well Love Bug, tomorrow you will be four years old. You are officially no longer a "toddler", rather a full-fledged "little girl". Let me tell you, that makes me a little sad...

For me, this has been the hardest birthday, by far. At first, I couldn't put my finger on why it was so hard. Then I realized that I am sad that you are getting so big, so fast. When you're three, you still are a toddler, still have a while before you start kindergarten and you still have an innocence that is not quite the same at any other age. Now, at four, you are a little girl, will start kindergarten in just over a year and you have morphed into a 30-year-old trapped in a tiny body, with more knowledge than you should have, at such a young age. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving this age, and the new stuff that it brings, but it still makes me a little sad. I'm sure five will be just as hard.

So, let me tell you a little about yourself:

I think that I said it best when I wrote this in last year's birthday blog: "I will forever cherish your hugs and kisses, your jokes and giggles, your stories and voice. Avery, you are one of a kind. You are smart. You are sassy. You are a know-it-all. You are funny. You have the ability to make a bad day, good. You dance to your own beat. You will go as far in life as you put your mind to, for you will not take no for an answer. You are the best big sister in the world. You are a great helper. You love to read, and color, and play. You love to watch T.V. You love school. You love the moon and hate the sun (at least when it shines in your face). You love your friends and cousins. You love family hugs, and kissing your brother. You are inquisitive. You remember things that you shouldn't. You are the best YOU, EVER!" This year is no different. You are an awesome kid. Your dad and I are so blessed to have you in our lives.

So tomorrow when you wake up a four-year-old, I hope that you will always remember how much your parents love you. You have changed our lives and challenged us in so many ways, during the last four years, but we wouldn't change one minute.

Happy Birthday!

Momma

Here are some things we want to remember about you at 4 years old:

- Your height and weight will be updated after you have had your check up.

- You are total girlie-girl - you love to play dress-up all of the time and will opt for a dress over pants every day of the week.

- Your favorite activity is still talking. You ask so many questions. Your favorite word is "why?".

- You continue to be a picky eater - very picky about how things are prepared, and typically won't try new things. Your favorite foods are pizza, mac-n-cheese, noodles, peanut butter sandwiches, applesauce and spaghetti.

- Your favorite thing to do is watch your shows... If I let you, you would watch television all day, every day, and often get really upset when you have to turn it off; however, when it's off, you love to color, paint, read, play dress-up, barbies, babies and you really love playing with your little brother.

- You love to learn. Your favorite games are learning apps on my iPad. You also just got a LeapPad for Christmas, and I can often find you on that, learning lots of new things. You are great at writing letters and can recognize letters from your name. I predict it will not be long before you start reading and writing.

- Your favorite thing in the world is your "gankie" (blanket). You have to have that thing to sleep, but it has to be the "right way".

- You love your brother more than anyone. You love to teach him new things, and you are his biggest cheerleader when he learns them. The sound of the two of you playing and laughing together is the best sound in the entire world. It really makes your momma's heart happy.

- You are a great pretender. The many worlds you create in your head are fun and magical places that you go to often.

-You love to play outside. You love to swing and slide and make mud pies. If there is a pile of dirt or rocks, I can guarantee that you have your hands in it.

- You love your family, extended family, and even some kids you think are your family, but aren't.

- You are terrified of dogs. Terrified.

- You love Olive Garden and Red Lobster... Both of which you can recognize in any town, simply by seeing the sign.

- You love to play any type of chasing game, hide-and-seek, or basically anything else that requires lots of running and lots of laughter.

- This was the first year that you truly understood your birthday (though you did a little in years past, this year was a totally different level of understanding). You did, however, have a hard time comprehending the fact that your birthday party wasn't actually ON your birthday.

- You love to dance. You are enrolled in ballet/tap once per week. You really like it, but have a hard time paying much attention to anything but your reflection in the big dance mirror.

- You still are super bossy and pretty much a know-it-all.

- We know you are in your "fast run" when you arms swing beside you, up near your armpits, and this had us laughing so hard during your first soccer clinic. Oh, you play indoor soccer and love it. Many people asked me if you were timid during play, but you aren't. You get yourself right in there and have a blast; however, sometimes when you can't get to the ball, you decide to throw in some ballet moves instead.

- You either want to go to Disney World or Disneyland... badly. You even tried to convince your grandma to take you there for your birthday. Little do you know that we are going in August with your cousins, Morgan and Lauren, Auntie Tara and Uncle Jay. Florida won't know what hit them, when you arrive.

- At the store, you can't stand riding in the cart, saying, "Mom, I can walk. I'm a big girl."

- You can be very timid and have nightmares easily. We have to watch what you are exposed to, because even just a commercial can trigger a nightmare.

- You hate bath time, because you don't like to get water on your face or in your eyes, but you hate getting out of the bath, because you get cold.

- You have to have both your night lights on in order to sleep.

- You hate to take naps. If you happen to take a nap, then you are up late, but if you don't, you sometimes fall asleep really early.

- You go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and get up at 7 a.m.

- Your best friends at school are Marcus, Eve, Sophia and Evan

- Your teachers are Mrs. MaryAnn and Mrs. Celi

- You still haven't gotten the hang of your bike. For some reason, you just can't figure out the whole peddling thing. Your dad and I are pretty sure you will get, but your little brother will probably have to teach you.

- You are the coolest kid I know. ;0)