My baby is 4

My baby is 4.  Oh, how the time does fly.  I've never had so a clear a picture of just how fast it goes until she came into my world.  Everyone always said it would happen, that she would grow up so fast... they were right.  I can't believe it was 4 years ago that I was in that hospital in Carbondale out of my head with pain and excitement, ready to meet my long awaited little girl, Evangeline.

She couldn't have changed so in just the past week, could she?  All of the sudden she isn't saying "Ebangeline" anymore.  She is pronouncing the "v".  She is clearly saying new blends like "th" and using more and more big words in the right context.   Today while we were cat and dog sitting for Peggy she insisted that she could feed the cat all by herself.  She marched upstairs, got out the food, fed the cat and put everything back.  She did it!  She's 4!  Did she really go from a toddler to a big kid in just a week? Maybe I am just noticing it more because she has just turned 4 and 4 sounds so grown up.

This is what she requested for her birthday breakfast. 

We had a special little play date with some of her buddies on her birthday morning;  Cooper and Caroline, Molly, and Kie.  Her little pals are so sweet and it's a bonus that I am friends with all of their mommies and grandma's.  It's always fun when we get them together.

More cupcakes and singing....

A present frenzy....

A little dress up....

This birthday girl was exhausted after her party. 

After she napped we went to the park.  When Kyle got home she opened her presents from Mommy and Daddy.  There just happened to be 4 of them. 

First, there was Rosie.  I made her.  Evangeline was in on the whole process and knew that she was going to get her for her birthday.  She picked out the fabric for Rosie's dress and the yarn for Rosie's shawl.  She picked her name too.  (She named her Rosie because of the rose pattern in her ears.) She watched me stitch her together piece by piece over the past month or so. 

 

My heart melted when she opened her.  She loved her.  She thanked me over and over for making her.  It was a priceless moment.  I'm glad I included her on the process.  I felt that she really appreciated the sentiment and treasured her over the commercial gifts she received.

 

One of her favorite gifts were her sewing cards.  She spent a lot of time playing with these that evening.  After she laced up all of the cards she told me, with pride, that she could sew now and that she was ready to use the sewing machine and the spinning wheel because she was 4, and 4's a big girl. 

We also got her a few books and a monster coloring book.  

And the big splurge....the Rapunzel wig! 

 

For dinner she requested hotdogs, mac and cheese and baked beans! 



 

Oh, my little daughter, my love, I cherish you every day.  I thank God for entrusting you into my care.  I pray that I do not let Him down.  May you continue to bloom into the kind and precious soul that you are.  I pray for you good health, happiness and the wisdom to make smart choices as you grow.  I am constantly amazed by your compassion, kindness, humor, cleverness and sensitivity toward others.  I am blessed beyond measure to be your mother.  May God bless and keep you always...