What a big year this year was for you! I hope this little letter will again capture for you a few pictures and memories to tuck away for safe keeping from this special year.
First up this year, you welcomed your baby brother! As predicted you love being a big sister. You loved it so much you didn't even really deal with much jealously at all. Watching you take him in during that first meeting was one of the best moments of my life. You are a natural nurturer and care taker. You have been so sweet, gentle and protective from day one. I love that you both light up when you see each other in the mornings or after naps, even the smallest separation gets an enthusiastic reunion from each of you. You've already been asking me about a sister and named a doll you got for your birthday "sissy". I think if it was up to you would love to have lots and lots of little brothers and sisters because you enjoy them so much.
Not long after you turned 3 you gave yourself a pretty drastic hair cut. It was one of our first days home with just the three of us after Rhett was born. You didn't understand the permanence of your new short hair do, asking often when if we could "cut it long again". We followed up the same day with a professional cut to even things up. So slowly but surely it is growing back and once we both got over the initial shock it has grown in nicely and you looked pretty cute in your little bob.
You also started at a little preschool 3 days a week and you love it! You are always excited for school days. Even your first day since you are often unsure about new things I thought it might be tough for you but you literally skipped down the hall and waved goodbye with no tears. You are learning letters and can now write your name! I love when you come home singing a new song or telling things about your friends, or fun art things you did. You often play school at home where you are the teacher and we are the kids. You have this new little world that is all yours apart from us. When we talked the night before your birthday about being four your first question was with deep concern in your eyes... "but when I'm four can I still go to school with Ms. Robin?" Yes you can, we signed for the same program for next year. I hope there are many Ms. Robins in your future and I am so glad you've had this great experience with your first one. You have thrived here and even though its one of your favorite places I still love that you run with open arms to me excited to see me at the end of your day.
One of my other favorite things right now is when you read cards to us or say the prayer for us at dinner. You read several birthday cards to Rhett that he got recently. You usually go on and on with much confidence about what they say including lines like "love you also" and in your prayers "help me to be kindly" and other interesting sentence combinations that crack me up but also warm my heart because I can tell you get it.
You were a princess fairy for Halloween this year. You love dressing up and this costume has been worn and worn all year long along with your other dress up dresses, wings, crowns, etc. Even when we come home from church on Sundays you are eager to stay in your dress for as long as possible.
You are a daddy's girl through and through. You only want him to put you to bed these days. I can hear you and him laughing and singing songs at a crazy volume and I am not sure how that prepares you for the transition to sleep but it works. He surprised you and picked you up from the school the other day and you went on and on about it. Recently you also go to go to his office with him for part of the day and you were so disappointed when I came to get you and asked me if next time you could stay all day with him there. I love the way you love one another.
You love to be at home in what you call your "comfy clothes". You prefer being home rather than going out most days. I find you are inward, thoughtful and prefer smaller settings with familiar faces. You love your family and close friends fiercely and are cautious with new people and places. You seem to test limits mostly at home with us or those your comfortable.
I love your spontaneous "I love you mommys" and when you are sick you often want me to be the one to hold you. While we've had lots of fun and beautiful moments together this year, you and I have also had some rough days and moments with your will and mine intersecting. At this stage you have an emerging natural drive towards independence, at times you are very strong in your own ideas, preferences and your emotions can be hard to regulate. And even though I am a professional in the field and have lots of professional parenting training there are moments I have felt lost, unsure and sad that I lost my patience or didn't handle things the way I wanted to with you. I decided one of the best things I can model for you is to say sorry when I know I made a mistake and get back on the train to being the parent I want to be for you. I pray you know my hearts desire and intentions and that will cover the mistakes I make along the way.
So as we say goodbye to year three it is another bittersweet time. Time seems to keep flying by when I think about you being 4! Just the other day I was putting away a cookie monster that your brother got for his birthday and I had small wave of sadness that you already seem done with your sesame street phase. Then I changed your clothes in your closest out for summer time and packed up another round of clothes that your little body will never revisit again. But for these few waves of sadness of letting go there is a vast sea of joy and excitement to behold where we are now and all the promise the future holds. So happy birthday sweet girl! I wish you all the best in your adventure into year four, excited to share it along side you!
love,
you mama
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