4 Years

Dear Avery,

You are 4 years old today! I just can't believe that my once tiny baby is now 4. Four seems entirely too old!

At the ENT in June, you weighed around 31 pounds and were about 38 inches tall.  You are still pretty tiny but proportionate and growing.  You wear mostly 3T items with a few size 4 dresses.  Your shoe size varies between an 8-9 depending on the brand.

Since your 3.5 year update, a few things have changed. 

We no longer use Pull-Ups or bed mats at nighttime, and you've never truly had a full-blown nighttime accident.

We decided to send to you the preschool program at our YMCA for the 2013-2014 school year.  To get ready for that, you've done a few weeks of half-day camp this summer.  Overall you have done well, but you do have moments during your time there that you get sad and miss me.  You went on a field trip your very first day, riding the bus from the Y to the library.  That was a milestone for us both!  You love school and I can't wait to see what the new school year brings.

You completed your first week of swimming lessons and are going to do more.  You are comfortable using the noodle and kick board.  You don't like to put your face all the way in the water, and you don't like to jump in to your teachers.  My goal this year was to get you comfortable without your Puddle Jumper, and you are doing great.

We took a vacation to the beach, and although you loved the beach, you were ready to come home to our "white house" each night.  That was your first time being homesick, and I think it was a combination of missing home and your fear of storms.  You are still very nervous about thunder, and a string of storms in late June really caused issues at bed time.  At the beach you were nervous about napping and going to bed, and you started waking up during night.  Rest time and bed time are now back to normal, and you're doing better with the night waking, so we're hoping that will pass soon.  These times remind us that no matter how big you seem, there is lots of little girl still in there learning and growing.

While some people may think you're shy, you really can be quite boisterous in situations where you are comfortable.  You gave a stunning performance at your dance recital and were not a bit nervous to get up on that stage.  We were so proud!  You are apparently very comfortable at rest time, because there is never a shortage of yelling and jumping off the bed.  Since the beach, you've only napped 1-2 times per week.

There are times that you are shy and timid, but you are comfortable in most situations if your family is there.  We are still working on your fear of loud sounds and being comfortable in different places when Mommy or Daddy are not right beside you.  A little of "the threes' have appeared in the last few months in terms of listening, whining, and baby talk.  The good certainly outweighs the needs improvement, and we are blessed that you are so well-behaved and easy.

I'm not sure if there has ever been a more loving child than you.  You are always up for a kiss or hug and are usually the one initiating.  You love to cuddle and rock and are always telling us that you love us.  You love your family so much, even when you're loving Sam a little too much.

You still love Pioneer Woman, Mickey and Jake, princesses, cooking, playing outside, and singing and dancing.  We watch your dance recital all the time so that you can see the big girls dance, and you know lots of their routines.  Your imagination is really showing, so sometimes you're packing for Disney while other times you're off to school.  You entertain yourself so well.

Four years have gone by in the blink of an eye, sweet girl!  We love you so much and are so thankful that you are the one who made us Mommy and Daddy.  We love you to bits and pieces!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy