My four year old!!

My baby girl turned 4 years old! What is it about 4 that sounds soooo much older than 3?? When I think of a three year old, I think of still crying when told "no," still cuddling on mommy's lap, still needing lots of help with things, still wearing little pajamas. But four is so biiiiig. Four year olds don't need help. Four year olds don't have much time for snuggles, and four year olds certainly do not wear tiny pajamas. Four year olds don't need someone there checking on them all the the time, and they like to ask lots of important questions, like "Mom, why do you have an attitude that is so bad?" Ugh. My teeny tiny little baby girl turned 4. She is truly too smart for her own good. She rides on a scooter now, and dresses herself (picks out her own clothes, of course), chooses her breakfast, orders for herself at restaurants, and reminds me to take a deep breath when I am "frustrated." She surprises me every day with her communication skills (sometimes to my dismay), and her complex thinking skills. She is clearly not a baby or toddler anymore. Now I know why everyone says that "it goes fast." Certainly, some of the days are indeed long, but the years are short. I sometimes still sneak in some snuggles, and tell her I used to rock her (like this) when she was a baby. She smiles and likes it when I talk about times when she was teeny tiny "like Owen." I can honestly barely remember very many exact moments of her as a baby, aside form the videos and photos that I have, of which there are literally thousands. I like to revisit them sometimes, and remember all of those firsts....not hers, but mine. All of my firsts as a new parent.

Thinking back to even the day Raegan was born, she is still the exact same person. It is true that temperament is what one is born with. She is STUBBORN. She knows what she wants and doesn't want. She has no patience for waiting or discomfort. "Waiting is hard," she says to me. It always has been, Raegan! And she is smart, and clever, and so very thoughtful. She says at the most random times, "I love you mommy and daddy. I love my family" with the sweetest and sincerest voice I've ever heard. It just doesn't get any better than that!

Happy birthday sweet girl!!