Addison Four Years Old!

My Dear Love Bug Addison,

Wow, how you have grown in this last year. You are turning into a child, no longer in the baby phase. You can hold conversations on the phone. Whenever I am away for work, I can now talk to you on the phone and you talk back and I can understand you! Your imagination is insane! You think up these crazy fun stories and remember absolutely everything (except if I ask you to pick up your toys).

The biggest change in the past year was you started school. You have completely loved school, your teacher, and your new friends. You are so very smart little girl. You catch on extremely fast and thoroughly enjoy learning. You will come home and practice your letters or play school with your stuffed animals. You have learned so many bible verses, the pledge of allegiance, pledge to the Christian flag, pledge to the Bible and so many songs.

You continue to love music, dancing, and dress up. Still there are many days that you will come home and change into dress up clothes or a new outfit for the evening. The amount of "dirty" clothes in your laundry is insane. It reminds me of nana always reminding me when I was little that 10 minutes of wearing something did not qualify it as dirty. Haha! You tried soccer this year and cheered when it was over. You have constantly asked this season when gymnastics starts. You say you are excited to wear your gymnastics clothes. You also love to draw, color, and write. You have learned to use scissors, color in the lines (mostly), and write most letters.

You are a leader, strong willed, and independent. You are so caring, empathic and oh so protective of your little sister. If we are disciplining Lilah post her biting you or pulling your hair, you lose it. "Don't talk to my sister like that!" We have had to do a lot of explaining that when Lilah does something wrong it is our job to correct her. This is so painful for you. I love that you have such a soft heart and pray that you are always so protective and loving of your little sister.

Little girl you are so much like me (and your aunt Jenny), good thing we are pretty awesome ladies! Your mannerisms are mine. When I see you put your hand on your hip, stomp your little foot, and so definitively state your case, I laugh on the inside. Then I think man I sure was a little spit fire, sorry Nana and Pops. I pray that your Dad and I parent you correctly, so that you will use all your determination, leadership skills, and love of people to walk down the path God would set for you.

Addy stories
- The biggest thing you think happens when you are four is that you get to cut with a sword like knife and you can now drive. LOL
- You love animals. You have a super soft heart for dogs, but especially cats.
- You are an extrovert. In big crowds you may start out shy, but you soon will be shining. On Halloween, you wanted to have a conversation with people at every house we stopped.
- We had a parent's night dinner at your school and you were all over the place. You saw kids from your class and asked to go talk to them about coming to your birthday party. You were very polite when you approached and waited to be acknowledge. Then you would begin talking mainly to the parent about your upcoming event. Your dad and I said you should be in fundraising. Watch out world when we have girl scout cookies to sell! One of the parents told us that you were so polite and professional.
- You have become goofier this past year. I am not sure if it is the age or school, but sometimes you get the sillies. It is cute.
- Last Christmas Santa brought you a bike. Since moving into our new house with a wonderfully long driveway, you have mastered your bike and now speed up and down the driveway. Often when getting the mail you and I will race to the mailbox and back.
- You have a big family, lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. You really remember all of them and who goes with who and little tid bits of information about each one. You genuinely love all of them too. When we say nightly prayers sometimes we will lift certain family members up. Your prayers for each family member are so sincere and sweet. You are so lucky to have all of the loving people in your life, but we are also just as lucky to have you.
-Last night as I was tucking you into bed, we were discussing how it was your last night to be three. You were excited to be three, but didn't want to be bigger. You said, "Mom, tomorrow will you squish me down so I can still be little?" As I was walking out of her bedroom you excitedly said, "Tomorrow I am going to be four, YAY!" You have told me often these past few weeks that you are not a baby and you are a big girl. You have to get bigger, but Lilah can be my baby forever.

The other morning I stayed home to meet the internet service repair man. Even though it was freezing (note to self do Addison's pictures earlier in the month), I made Addy run outside to snap a few pictures for this post. It was a grand total of 3, maybe 5 minutes, and most of them are blurry. Oh well, here is my little four year old beautiful girl!!

 

Then a few nights later we took a few more pictures.....

 

 

 

Thank you Jesus for blessing our lives with this wonderful little girl. We are so thankful for her beautiful smile and sweet, loving spirit. Addison, we love you so very much.

 

Love,

Daddy, Mommy, and Lilah