She's been four for 10 months

Is it bad to start a year with a post that is 10 months overdue? Maybe it is more of a statement that 2012 was a bit helter skelter, and I plan to stay on top of life a little better in 2013!

So I totally missed telling everyone about who Abby Jane is when she turned four last February. For the sake of records, I'm going to try to tell you about the four year old and not just my current almost-five-year-old. These were in the early fall, so they kind of split the difference.

Turning four was revolutionary in our home. The little girl who had high highs and low lows as a three year old suddenly became a young lady almost instantaneously after her birthday. Suddenly if the twins were having a conflict that I was having difficulty settling, she'd quietly make a suggestion that was both brilliant and effective. She understood delayed gratification. We had fun playing games together, legitimately, and not just because I like being with my kid and doing things she likes, but because she suddenly was like hanging out with a little buddy. 

 Her sense of humor blossomed this year. She can get a joke and respond to it in kind.

Every now and then I'll get a glimpse of my little baby girl and am reminded that four is still really young.  She sneezes exactly the same as when she was a newborn, and she stretches the same, too. 

But then she'll launch into a deep spiritual conversation and I think she's on the cusp of truly understanding salvation in a genuine way and I realize that four is actually quite old and capable of so much.

So here's some more fun facts about the younger four-year-old Abby Jane...
-Stats at 4 year well check: 36 lbs (60%), 42 inches (89%)
-loves, loves, loves playing with her little sisters and is truly a precious, kind big sister
-drinks 2-3 sippy cups of kale and fruit smoothie/day, yet LOVES ANY kind of treat since we have a slightly sugar-deprived home :)
-favorite color is pink
-L.O.V.E.S. ballet
-loves playing dress-up, princesses, dancing around the house, and coloring
-loves preschool
-loves listening to our Slugs and Bugs CD (get one if you don't have them- so cute)
-loves to be read to and look at books, especially books about ballet and princesses! Sensing a theme here?
-sleeps with her Ally Alligator and Annabelle doll (who is big enough that I measure dresses for newborns against her, haha)
-does not miss a thing, do NOT talk about adult things around her that you expect her not to hear!
-sensitive heart towards spiritual things and asks great questions

My word for the age of four is DELIGHTFUL! We are so grateful for our delightful young lady! It is a privilege to be her mama.