I am the mom of a 4 year old

When the heck did that happen?! It seems I've been 'the one with 2 little babies' forever. Not so anymore. I've got 2 big kids and my biggest is 4 today. Its bittersweet for her mama too. Sweet because I love her more everyday, she is the sweetness in life. As she gets older she becomes even more fun. Bitter because shes no longer, or will ever be, a baby. That makes me sad. I worry: Did I enjoy it? Did I make sure I stopped to cherish the moment? I hope I did, but I guess no matter how long you cherish it, it still gets away from you. Time still marches on. I've done my best to document their young lives, whether that's more for me or for them.... I guess we'll have to wait and see. I remember thinking to myself while in the hospital that when she starts Kindergarten I will be turning 30!! And it seemed so far away then... but now 30 is knocking on the door, I can hardly believe that! But anyway, this isn't about me, this post is about my sweet baby Allison Rose who quickly went from baby to preschooler in the blink of her mama's eye.

The way you are now:

You are no longer as testy as you used to be. Though you have your moments, you have definitely mellowed out. You understand the difference between good decisions and bad decisions and for the most part you make good choices with a little reminders here and there. You are fun to have conversations with. I can ask you questions about your day and you will tell me all about it, usually with a lot of elaboration :). You are very girly, you like to be pretty, you like dressing up. You already are (already) dying to wear makeup. Your mama has to pull a fast one on you each morning and 'pretend' to put each piece of makeup on you as I put on myself. You are sweetly innocent, just the way a child should be. I plan to keep you that way as long as I can. :) You like to cuddle, you are very snuggly with your mama. You adore your Daddy like no other, but that has been from day 1. You have a love/hate relationship with your brother. He likes to tease you, you take it so personally. You have a sensitive soul. Your feelings can be hurt very easily. In the same sense, you are indifferent to what others think of you. You will dance in the middle of a crowded room without a second thought. You are not shy. You like to play with other kids. You have not mastered the fine art of making an instant friend, because of your instantly loving manner towards others. Some kids need a bit to get used to you before they become your BFF. You have one particular friend, Leah, who gets you from the start. I see a long friendship beginning for the 2 of you, you are 2 peas in a pod. This year has brought you a few firsts: movies (Toy Story 3), Disneyland, writing your name, and reading (not kidding, you can totally read many HFW and CVC words- impressive!). Firsts we look forward to while you are 4 are starting dance classes and possibly a little preschool :) You are extremely routine oriented, you don't like when things go out of order. You have a strict bedtime routine, not because mommy and daddy say so, but because YOU say so, :) its too cute! I have taught you 4 bedtime prayers (Now I lay me down to sleep, Guardian Angel prayer, Hail Mary, and the Lords Prayer) and you know them all! Its so funny to hear you say them, you don't have all the pronunciations of the 'big' words down, so you improvise! You like for me to tell you stories about when you were a baby. Actually your words are "tell me stories about when I was in my cradle". Precious!

Some of your favorite things at 4 years old:
Favorite color: purple. You are pretty partial to pink too, though you won't admit it.

Favorite cartoon: You are a fabulous TV watcher but you have your favorites, Strawberry Shortcake, and Olivia. and pretty much the entire line up on the Nick Jr channel.

Favorite movie: Strawberry Shortcake :) The Skys the Limit or Glimmerberry Ball

Favorite foods: You love dessert most of all, just like your mama. :) You love pasta. Any kind of pasta will do. You have become much more adventurous when it comes to food. So glad that icky picky stage is over! Things you eat regularly are yogurt, honey nut cheerios, powdered sugar donut, pancakes, bananas, strawberries, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, broccoli, noodles, mac and cheese, chicken noodle soup AKA Dora soup, PB and J, cheese, crackers.

Favorite toy: You have 3 toys you take anywhere and everywhere: Barney, Olivia and Dolly. Dolly and Olivia are wearing many of your own personal bows and ribbons, they get fancier by the week.

Favorite board games: You love to play board games; Candyland and Mickey mouse Yahtzee being your favs. Memory is rising in the ranks too.

Favorite thing to do outside: You love to be in our backyard. Pulling petals off the flowers and throwing them up in the air is a past time of yours. You also like hunting for 'Rollie Pollies" and lady bugs.

Favorite thing to inside: You like to keep busy, which I love too. It can be exhausting as you jump from one thing to another. You like getting into our craft cabinet and doing things like paining, coloring and play doh. You and your Daddy have lots of adventures too. He makes childhood fun for you, I hope your memories with him are some of your most happy memories, it is too sweet :)

Favorite places to go: Disneyland, Jumpzone (when there was one), cousins house and Gobbies house :) oh and the grocery store!


You are a fantastic girl, sweet as pie and silly to boot! I wouldn't trade you in for the world. I love love love you a million red M&M's Allie bear!

Love, Mommy