Tangled Up in Four Year Old Fun

Happy Belated Birthday, baby. You are so excited to be four. On your birthday, Daddy came home early from work, and we all went out for pizza. We quietly sang to you at the restaurant at the exact time of your birth, and when the people sitting close by wished you a “Happy Birthday,” you were in awe, asking, “How did they know?” When we returned home, we did our annual birthday interview video with you, and you were adorable, with a sparkle in your eye and a desire to make us laugh. We sang to you again over a chocolate chip cookie treat. You were almost edible yourself in your yummy four-year-old pigtails.

On Sunday, we had our family birthday party with you. This year is a tough year of firsts without Grandma, so we kept it simple, with just Grandpa, Aunt Amanda, Uncle Jason, and your cousins. You had requested a Tangled theme just like big sister Emma had when she turned 4. You were most excited about the Rapunzel cake you wanted me to make and the orange boats reminiscent of the floating lantern boat scene in the movie. 

I had so much fun revealing your cake to you before your party.

At your party, we did Tangled themed activities, enjoyed brunch, 

had a reveal of the big girl bed headboard that Grandpa built for you, 

ate cake and ice cream, and watched a bit of the Tangled movie while sharing popcorn with your guests. During our brunch, we lit a candle in remembrance of Grandma. I wore her wedding ring necklace and earrings, and Grandpa brought a birthday card for you that she had picked out. The weight of our missing her was heavy, but we still had much joy as a family, something that would make her so proud. After, we all went to meet my aunt and uncle for pizza and then spent time playing at a park and capturing pictures of our family on your four year old birthday party day. 

And what are you like as a new four year old? You are determined to be bigger, asking Daddy, “Please don’t call me Peanut anymore, Daddy. Just call me Lil Lil. I’m too big to be Peanut.” You often mention “when I’m a teenager” and want to know how big a certain age is and how old your family members are. You decided on your fourth birthday that you wouldn’t suck your thumb anymore, something that we’ve been trying in vain to have you stop for a while. For the first few days, incredibly, you didn’t even suck your thumb in your sleep. There are times now when you forget, but you are still doing really well.

The threes were fun but very emotional for you and therefore challenging at times for me. I already see some hope that your emotions are leveling out. You are better able to use your words to express how you feel, but you still get frustrated, saying, “I’m trying to tell you something! I’m asking you something!” When I remind you to be respectful, you work harder to use your manners. In general, you are very well behaved, but like all of us, you need some help at times.

I really enjoy my time with you. You are home full time with me and haven’t napped for the past year, so we get a lot of time together. We go to library story time together, run errands together, have play dates together, take walks, and do a lot of snuggling, reading, cooking, and baking together. You proudly put the wonton wrappers in the muffin cups when we make lasagna cups or add the flour and sugar when we bake cookies. You know that I wash my hands after touching raw egg, and you can get the vanilla and salt for me when I request it. You sweetly wear your apron that grandma made for you, and you are a wonderful sous chef, running to get your stool so that you are tall enough to be in on the action.

You love to color, play dollhouse, pretend with your Lalaloopsies and other dolls, play school with Emma, swing, and ride your bike. You especially love to read Amelia Bedelia, Magic School Bus, Little House, and Bernstein Bears books, and you look forward to your movie time each day. You are learning to play the recorder and are a very dedicated student. 

You are so easy to love and very fun to watch grow. When we have Friday Family Fun and get to a funny part in a movie, you give the very best belly giggles that make Daddy and me smile along with you. You are really opinionated about what you wear, and you often have interesting ensembles. For the most part, I have decided it doesn’t matter as long as it’s weather appropriate, and you proudly greet your public in various prints and colors, pulling it all off with a smile. You most want to be fancy and short sleeved or sleeveless, a challenge in the winter but something that I can start to allow now that spring is here. For your birthday, you mainly wanted clothes and shoes. 

You are quiet around people you don’t know as well and verbal around those whom you know best. You absolutely look up to Emma but are starting to realize more when she does something you don’t like or when you don’t want to play the same way as her. Still, you two are really good friends, playing together often and usually very well. You look forward to her return from school each day. You are also a Daddy’s girl right now, frequently asking which days he’ll be home from work. You adore him, and the feeling is mutual. You sing so sweetly and confidently while Daddy plays guitar. You go reluctantly to the childcare at my gym but often don’t want to leave once you’re there, and you go happily to your four year old room at church. You adore food, requesting snacks often, having thirds and fourths at meals, and generally working hard to grow throughout the day. You continue to love healthy food and treats with equal fervor. You love your baths, often asking, “Can I play 5 more minutes?” when it is time to get out. You seem naturally athletic when I take you to the gymnastics open gym, and we will explore that more this summer. We called you a little fish in the swimming pool last year, because you were often fearless and would push yourself under the water. It will be interesting to see what you do in swimming lessons this year. You have a cadence to your speech that is uniquely yours, and you speak with a lot of emotion and conviction. You learn quickly and can do so much but want desperately to add, read, and do other skills that are still works in progress. You know your letter sounds, many countries on the map, how to identify cumulus clouds and evergreen trees, and how to give sweet, juicy kisses and warm, tight hugs. I think you’re going to be a great success in life. I am so very proud to be your mommy. If anyone can be fabulous at four, it will be you. And we are so blessed to have a whole year to enjoy fun loving, four-year-old you.