A Letter To Avery On Her Birthday

Dear Avery-

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! You are four. Honestly, I am freaking out a bit. In a little over a year, I will send you off to kindergarten. I know you think you are already ready to go, but your mommy may never be ready. Sometimes I ask you to stop growing up and stay my little girl forever. You always giggle and tell me that you will soon be as big as me. I have no doubt that will happen before we know it.

As much fun as your birthday is for you each year, Avery, it is also a special time for me. Your birthday marks the day I became a mommy, the day YOU made me a mommy.

The second you were born, my heart burst open with love, and I haven't spent a moment since without the strange, full, burst-open heart feel.  You truly are a love of my life.

Avery, I know moms are supposed to lead their children through life, but at times it seems that you do most of the leading, most of the teaching. You see, as my first-born, you taught me how to be a mom to an infant, a mom to a 1-year-old, a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old and now I follow you into 4.

At four years old, you are a kind, caring, silly little girl.  You love superheroes and trucks even more than you love princesses and dolls. You currently hate shopping because you say it's "born". You have a great group of girlfriends and already bicker with them like sisters. You watch out for your little brother and almost always share with him.  When you get to pick a prize out of the treasure box at school, you often choose something to give to Logan. You have your mommy's song-lyric memory and daddy's love of all things outside.

Everyday I get to spend with you is an adventure.  Sometimes we are princesses in a castle or professional kick ball players and other times we are race car drivers or chefs or mommies.  I love your imagination and your free-spirited nature. I love your random hugs, cuddle requests and "I love you's". I just love you, sweet girl.  To me, you are the most precious, kind and beautiful girl in the whole world and I feel so proud that you are mine.

So, happy day, goosey girl.  I can't wait to see what four has in store for both of us!

Love,

Mommy

...And She's Four

• What is your name? Avery Musselman
• What is your favorite color? Blue
• What is your favorite song? A,B,C,D,E,F,G
• What is your favorite sport? Kickball
• What is your favorite TV show? Backyardigans
• What do you like to do with daddy? Ride bikes
• What do you do really well? I'm really good at not hitting my friends and helping my friends do things that are really hard.
• What is your favorite outfit? Dress
• What is your favorite book? Curious George
• Who is your best friend? Josalyn and Audrey
• Where do you want to go on vacation? Stay at a hotel in St. Louis
• What is your favorite cereal? Ball Cereal
• What is your favorite fruit? Peaches
• What is your favorite food? Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Who is your favorite person in the whole world? Josalyn
• What do you like to do with your friends? Play house
• What do you like to do with Logan? Wrestle
• What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a mommy and do what you do (mommy) and work with you.
• What is your favorite toy? Trucks and blocks
• What do you like to take to bed? Iguana and "B"
• What is your favorite thing to do outside? Run
• What is your favorite animal? Walrus
• What makes you laugh? Clowns because they juggle and ride on elephants.
• What do you like to do with mommy? Play trucks.

Just like every other toddler on the planet, Avery often comes up with funny things to say. The following are a few of my favorites from the past year:

• Avery on diversity: "Some people have white skin and some people have brown skin and some people have skin with itchy red spots just like me."

• Avery on family: "Logan is Scout's (cat) daddy and I am Scout's mommy so she has to listen to us."

• Avery on being short: "But mommy, I've stopped growing. Everyone is bigger than me and my legs are never going to be as long as Cinderella's."

• Avery on dresses: "I don't like to wear dresses because I don't like to be pretty."

• Avery on listening: "But mommy, I just don't know how to listen.  My listening ears keep falling down.  They won't stay up."

• Avery on sleep: "Someone needs to teach me how to sleep.  I don't know how to close my eyes."

Happy Birthday, Avery!

Happiest Birthday to my favorite 4-year-old superhero!

Look-Alikes

From the day Logan was born, there was no mistaking the physical similarities between Avery and Logan.  Still, I think it's funny every time someone asks me if they are twins.  And then I saw this picture...