Happy 4th Birthday!!

Dear Abigail, 

Wow.  You are 4.  Four years old.  Believe it or not, Mommy is at a lost for words.  I keep typing things out then deleting, typing, then deleting.  I can't get out what I want to say in an eloquent way but the bottom line is this, Abigail, you have been in my life for four years and every, single day with you in it has put a smile on my face.  As Ash-ash says, you march to the beat of your own drum.  You are Miss Independent and I love it.  You are so confident in yourself, so sure of who you are and what you can do, and no one stops you, trust me, I've tried.  You know when you are right because you are persistent in telling me and you also know when you are wrong because, you, also, are persistent in telling me, usually after the fact.  You are friendly to everyone and offer your beautiful smile to anyone who looks your way.  And speaking of, man alive you are one beautiful girl.  You are no longer a baby and I have no doubt you will continue to be a beautiful young girl.  You LOVE to dance, like love it.  Like "you dance when no music is playing" kind of love to dance.  You also love your little sister.  I know there will be times in the future when you may not believe it, but when she steps in the room, your face lights up and all attention goes to Kate.  You love to 'wake her up' when she wakes up from naps by jumping in the crib with her and you are right there with Mommy and Daddy trying to get her to walk on her own.  You scream out "Mommy, I think she's going to do it this time" all day long.  You  are such a good big sister.  

I cannot get over how smart you are, either.  It impresses me every day, little stuff, big stuff.  Constantly Daddy and I look at each other and think "Holy Cow is she for real only 4."  If you are this smart now and can figure out my tricks now, what will you be like in 5 years, 10 years?!!  Let's see, at 4, you love to play games, but also love playing with your babies.  You often pack up your babies and everything else you can fit and 'head to the beach.'  Quite the imagination.  

I'm sure I am leaving things out, but overall, you are one ridiculously sweet baby girl who's not really a baby anymore but will always be my baby girl!!!!  

And boy did we celebrate this big birthday.

Things started off a bit, well, messy.  On Tuesday, the day before your birthday, you went to school.  However, Daddy stayed home from work because he got sick to his stomach the night before.  I wrote it up as 'something he ate' after most of the day passed and no one else got it.  I picked you up from school at 1 and quickly came home and fed Kate some lunch while I got you ready for gymnastics.  Well, you decided you needed to cut Kate's food up a little bit more and as I had my back turned, ended up cutting Kate's finger, pretty bad.  Kate screamed about the same time you screamed (because you knew you did something very bad) and all I could see was blood everywhere.  I panicked a little but realized it was just her finger (and not her mouth which I first thought).  It took a good bit of time, and we were late for gymnastics, but I did get it to stop bleeding, and you to quit crying.  You at first told me that she picked up the knife but by the end of the car ride to gymnastics you had confessed that you handed her the knife.  Although when I told Mimi that "Abby cut Kate with a knife" you got VERY mad at me and started crying and saying that she grabbed it.  You were very sad that you hurt your sister and told everyone at gymnastics that I was taking her to the doctor.  Really we went to Costco, but not for long because I got a phone call from gymnastics saying that you threw up, twice.  So it looks like it was a stomach bug making its way through our house.  Ugh and with your birthday the very next day AND your birthday party on Saturday, this is so not what we need!!

I got you home and cleaned up and had to put Kate down for her afternoon nap.  While I was in her room I thought I heard water running upstairs but wasn't sure.  When I came out of Kate's room you were sitting on the playroom steps and said "I threw up in the sink but I cleaned it up and washed my mouth out."  Well, aren't you something.  You handle throwing up better than your Daddy!!!  You clearly were not feeling well so I put you in Mimi's bed (after cleaning you up a little bit better) and eventually you fell asleep.  Well, around 5ish I heard you crying and ran upstairs to see you in the bathroom.  Unfortunately while you were sleeping that stinkin' bug got you again.  This time it took a bit longer to clean you up, but once we did, things were looking brighter.  Daddy was feeling better and you were feeling a little better.  I thought all was well, but that night that bug got you one last time before your birthday, this time in your bed!! I feel like I washed and cloroxed a million different rooms that day.  BUT, good news was A) you got to sleep in Mommy's bed and B) that was it!  You woke up on your birthday feeling brand new and ready to roll!!!  

On Tuesday, I had mentioned that the birthday fairy may visit you tonight and bring you something special - I was kind of just kidding but had intentions of putting balloons in your room so when you woke up you'd be surrounded by pretty balloons.  Well you freaked out at the thought of a 'fairy' visiting your room so I immediately said that I was the fairy and I was just going to have a surprise for you.  So, as I said, your bed was thrown up on and you got to sleep in our bed so that next morning I put 2 balloons on your pillow.  I was already awake in the kitchen when you woke up, but Daddy said you got really scared and wasn't convinced that I put them there!!!  You and your fears.  But, thankfully a couple birthday presents cheered you up!  

Katie Bug got you these fancy dancing shoes for you!!!

And yes, you got an ipod.  You call it a phone, and have told everyone that you got a phone and I quickly have to respond with "No, I did not get a 4 year old a phone."  Then I mumble "but I did get her an ipod."  You LOVE listening to music, love it, and now you don't have to use Mommy's or Daddy's phone to listen to it.  I recognize it's a little much, but we have strict rules with where the "phone" goes, although you worry about it like it's a pet.  When I said you could not take it to school you said "but who's going to make sure it doesn't get lost."  So far it's been safe and hasn't gotten lost :)
After your excitement over your birthday presents, Mommy fixed you a birthday breakfast which included chocolate chip pancakes with whip cream and sprinkles, a side of fruit and chocolate milk to drink.  Yummmm!!!  Except you made me take the whip cream off, and then only took a couple bites.  I think that bug made your stomach hold back for a few hours...

After breakfast, we headed to the Y where you enjoyed telling everyone it was your birthday.  We got cleaned up and after Kate woke from her morning nap we headed to your fave, Chick-fil-a!  Again, you were super pumped and told everyone, like EVERYONE, it was your birthday, and often through that 'I got a phone' comment in, too.  This one sweet, sweet lady at CFA even sang Happy Birthday to you and you just grinned, ear to ear.  She told us to come back in 2 weeks and she's sing for Kate's birthday, too!!
After CFA, you got to pick out a cover for your 'phone' and settled on none other than pink - bright pink at that.  You came close to a purple and black sparkly zebra print but Mommy was able to walk you out of that one :)
Soon enough we headed home, but just in time to get ready for a big birthday dinner!!! Mommy and Daddy took you and Ellie to your first Japanese Steakhouse experience!
Mommy dropped Kate off at Aunt Steph's and we picked up Ellie.  I surprised the two of you by making a pit stop at Gigi's Cupcakes so you both could pick out your choice of dessert.  Both of you went running into Gigi's screaming "CHOCOLATE!!!! I WANT CHOCOLATE!!!!"  I'm pretty sure you scared the guy working.  I could barely get the 2 of you to sit still to pose for a picture you were so excited!!

We made it to Shogun and you two were super excited about this fancy place with water, but had no clue what was in store for you.

The chef came to the table and you two were mesmerized.  You loved watching him flip his spatula around and twirl eggs and throw them in his pocket.  You were NOT crazy about the fire and as a matter of fact you asked him not to do it again!  And while it was a little loud at times, you both loved watching him make the food.  AND, you both loved using the chopsticks!  Mommy was the only one at the table who wasn't - I am no good at it.  Both of you loved the japanese salad, which Mommy LOVES, too and you both went crazy on the fried rice, although it didn't look like it from the leftovers we took home!  

One other couple at our table, and older couple celebrating their anniversary and they were quite amused by the two of you.  They have grandkids, so I think that helped :)  

After our delicious meal, we all clapped and then a VERY loud drummer boy came out banging away. It frightened you at first, but then when they started singing you were all smiles! They were actually singing to the anniversary couple but you totally thought it was to you!  We didn't stop you from thinking it, you were so happy.  You even told me that night when I was tucking you in bed that your favorite part of the day was the singing part!  I thought it would be this part...

You and Ellie tried using your chopsticks to eat the HUGE cupcakes, but you clearly saw the issue with this and went at it with your hands!  

After we dropped Ellie off and picked your sister up, and got soaked doing so, we headed home and got snuggled in bed.  You came downstairs about an hour later and said in a very sad voice "Mommy, since it's my birthday can I sleep in your bed tonight?"  Well, how could I say no to that request?!!! So off to Mommy's bed you went!  I will say though, you are doing fantastic otherwise with your bed.  Sleeping every night, all night long - I'm so proud of my 4 year old!!!  Ahhhhh!!!  You are 4 years old?!  What a great 4 years and what a great birthday day you had!! Happy Birthday Abigail Faye Clark!!! Love you to the moon and back!

Mother Gothel

Dear Abigail,
Well, you have a new obsession and her name is Mother Gothel.  Yes, Mother Gothel, as in "Tangled's mom" or rather, Rapunzel's mom, or, well, the lady who kidnapped Rapunzel and claims to be her mom.  And Disney movies are rated G why???  Anyway, so you seem to think that Mother Gothel  came to our house and cut Kate's hair when she was in her crib. I'm 99.9% sure that you dreamed this, but you are certain that it happened and have told me a million times about it.  You are also genuinely concerned that Mother Gothel is going to come back and cut Kate's hair again.  I have tried and tried to assure you that it is not going to happen but we've shed many tears over the fear of Mother Gothel coming.  At one point I tried telling you that you dreamed it and you said that "No, it is true.  You were there and Mimi was there."  So I thought I could prove you wrong, or I mean, show you that you were dreaming, by calling Mimi and asking her.  Whoa - that was a mistake.  You screamed and begged me not to call Mimi and you caught me on the phone with her and about had a complete mental meltdown. I convinced you that it was Daddy, but you were still very concerned about not telling Mimi.  I still am not sure what that was about, but Mimi came up this past weekend and you still did not want to tell her but finally caved.  She assured you that if she saw anyone cutting Kate's hair she'd put an end to that immediately.  You, now, like to show me how Mimi will hit Mother Gothel on her hand if Mimi catches her cutting Kate's hair.  Not sure Mimi helped too much as you are still, to this day (a week later) convinced that Mother Gothel cut Kate's hair and, still to this day scared to death she is going to come back.  Sometimes you say "Oh, it was just a dream," but then at times if you hear a noise and you randomly say "Is that Mother Gothel??" and get super scared.  I don't know... I got nothing...
But, I did do something a little sneaky.  See, you've been chewing on your hair, as in putting it in your mouth.  Gag, right? So Mommy has been thinking that we just need to get your hair cut because I cannot handle you eating it, constantly.  BUT, thanks to you and your dream, I told you that if you put your hair in your mouth again that I personally will ask Mother Gothel to come over and cut your hair off.  Ohhhhhhh.  I know.  I'm totally going down as the worst parent ever.  But... It is working.  Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha!!  You haven't completely stopped, but it's not as bad and when I catch you in the act you say something goofy like "I was just showing you how long my hair was" or "I was just counting how many hairs I have." Uh-huh.  I bet you were.  Anyway, a couple fake phone calls to Mother Gothel and  you are scared out of your wits to put that hair in your mouth.  What can I say?  If I can't win (i.e. convince you it's a dream) then I might as well join it, right????
Even tonight at bedtime you asked if Mother Gothel would come in Kate's room and I said no because Kate doesn't chew her hair.  And then, to be a good mom I added that she isn't real and it was all a dream :)
I'll keep you posted on how long this obsession lasts.  Just keep the hair out of your mouth so we can all move on, k?!!!
Love you long hair girl!

First Day of Preschool

Dear Abigail,

Well, well, well... What a crazy week it has been with you and your school.  Let's start from the beginning...

You were at Primrose, member?  And since Mommy now is staying at home with you and Kate, it doesn't make sense for you to go to a 5 day a week day school.  You were going three days since January, but in May, we withdrew from the school, you took the summer off, and Mommy started looking for a new school that makes more sense for us.  Well, our first choice in schools had a waiting list - Franklin First.  It is SUPER close to our house and Ms. Kay, our next door neighbor, teaches there, and, well, it's a good school.  So naturally, our first choice.  So on the waiting list we went.  In the mean time, I searched elsewhere, and low and behold, I found another great school, Grassland Heights, and they had one spot open!  Hooray!  And even more hooray was that Cole was in your class!!  You were rather excited about this, although you constantly asked if Chloe would be there, too, but unfortunately she started Kindergarden.  Anyway, so we were all ready for this school, even though it was a little far away from our house, I knew it was a good choice school wise and also we knew folks there!  Well, that school started on Friday, August 31st.  We went to Open House, met your sweet, sweet teachers, got a nap mat, got your school bag they give you monogrammed, we were ready to roll.  Well... On Sunday, we went to Carnton Concert where Miss Carrie, Chloe's mom - that is, Ellie's Chloe because Ellie introduced you to her, not to be mistaken for Cole's sister Chloe (I know, confusing right, just wait...) so Miss Carrie and Mommy were talking schools and I mentioned how I was on the waiting list at Franklin First but hadn't heard so we were ready to start the other school.  Well, on Tuesday, Mommy talks to Miss Carrie and Chloe has an opening in her class!  So, I call the school immediately.  Come to find out, that's not the class you'd be in as you are a little older than Chloe, BUT, the lady did say they did have a spot in another class that was your age!  So I said "Great, when do we start?" and she says "Tomorrow!" WHAT?!!  So, Tuesday I scramble around and get things squared away as in calling the other school and letting them know we were bailing at the last minute, although they were SUPER nice about it all and I had to let Cole's mommy know, which was probably the worst because we were so looking forward to car pooling!  But, she, too was nice about it.  Sad, but nice :) 

Also on Tuesday afternoon/evening, I had to prep you suddenly for your new NEW school.  I had to try to explain that no, it wasn't the school or teachers we already visited, that it wasn't the school that Cole goes to, but it was the school Chloe goes to, but not THAT Chloe, your new friend Chloe, Ellie's Chloe.  Man alive did that take some work, but I think we got it figured out, and, as expected, you were happy about it all!  So, Wednesday morning rolls around and you were ready for your first day of Preschool at Franklin First! 

  

Well, we get to school and I talk with your new teachers and they are very nice and eager to have you in their class HOWEVER one of the teachers mentioned how EVERY one of the kids were starting kindergarden next year.  Well, you are not.  You have a late (or early, however you look at it!) birthday and so you can either start next year or wait another year (i.e. learn another year!!) and then start!  We chose option B please!  So, when the teach said that, I got a bit concerned and asked the director what she thought.  Well, being awesome like she is, she said that she had a spot come open in the other class where only 3 of those kids MAY start kindergarden next year and she said I was welcome to let you try that out the next day!  SO.... Yep, you got it.  On Thursday, you got ready again for a new classroom, new teacher, new friends.  Your teachers were very nice and concerned for the abundance of changes you had made in the week but after, oh, maybe a minute, they recognized that it didn't bother you a bit. You just jumped right in and got to know everyone!
SO, after a trial class on Thursday, and much debate in my head, Mommy and Daddy made an official decision to keep you in the 'younger 4 year old' class.  I think that's best for you because next year you will go to that other class that you've already been to for a day.  All makes sense. All works out!
You go to school on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9-1.  You get to bring your lunch, which really excites you a lot, and you do not take naps, which really excites you a lot.  So far you have loved every minute of it.  You have done art work and met a few friends and even told me you have a favorite teacher, but it changes on a daily basis.  You always look for Chloe (Ellie's Chloe) at play time and when I pick you up you are super eager to show Kate every part of your classroom, including the chihuahua that you found and became obsessed with.  I'm so proud of you for cooperating so smoothly with Mommy and her indecisiveness and I think you will be the smartest student ever at your new school!!!  You already told me "2 plus 2 equals 4" although when I asked you who taught you that you said "Grover".  So maybe I should just stick you in front of the tv all day???? Nah!  School wins again!!
Love you smarty pants!!!

Week in Review

Dear Abigail,
Well, you've been home for a week and we've had some pretty exciting happenings!  You started up gymnastics again for the fall and this time you are in a new class, tumbling and trampoline.  You already have learned so much with straddles and pikes and tucks!  And your coach was impressed with your cartwheel!  One day, Mommy decided to take you and Kate on a wagon ride and low and behold look what we found right outside our house!!!

You were super excited and wanted to so badly ride in it, until it made a really loud noise, to which then I had to convince you to stop running back to the house!  You did end up saying that "all I want for my birthday is to ride in that balloon."  I hear ya!  Last week it was a chihuahua, week before, a drum, the week before, well, you catch my drift right?  Although you do still beg for that drum...
You also decided to give Kate a bath outside the tub...

We had a fun play date over at Jacob and Anna's house on Wednesday and Ellie came over to swim on Thursday, although you girls weren't too interested in that but preferred to put on multiple pairs of pajamas...
On Saturday, you and Daddy met Repunzel!!!!!

And then decided to get ice cream at Cece's!!!! Chocolate with fruity pebbles, chocolate sprinkles and regular sprinkles, or so Daddy told me... hmmmmm....

And a bath with your sister IN the bath!!

On Sunday, we went to a Carnton concert where you danced and danced and danced with Ellie and Chloe!!!

And quickly fell asleep soon upon arriving at home that night!

Today, Monday, we had an awesome play date with Jacob and Anna  along with another Jacob and sweet Eleanor.  Shhh!! What a busy week.  One more week at home as school starts on Friday for you and it's going to be another busy one!  XXOO

Houston

Dear Abigail,

Because we can't sit still, we decided to take a end of the summer trip to Houston, as in Texas, as in a 13 hour drive, if you don't have kids, which we had two, you and your sis.  So yeah, we're completely insane, but you had SOOOO much fun so it was worth having a bit of insanity.  Mimi's sister, my aunt, your great Aunt, Lizzy lives in Houston, with Emery and Sarah, of course, so you, Sister, Mimi, Lynnie and Mommy all headed over to spend a week with them before they got started back to school. You had been to Houston before, when you were Kate's age, but we flew.  This time since there were so many of us, we decided to tough it up and drive, so one early Wednesday morning, we headed out from Munford, picked up Lynnie and drove across the great Mississippi, straight towards the great huge state of Texas!  You and Kate did fantastic in the car considering it was 12 long hours (that's not including the 3 it took us to get to Memphis from Franklin!) but by hour 11 and 1/2, you were ready to get out and Lynnie had to pull over so Mommy could sit beside you.  That's all you needed, me to sit beside you.  We finally made it and Lizzy had a nice hot meal for our hungry bellies!  And two certain kids (Sarah and Emery) were super eager to help you burn off that cooped up energy you held onto in that 12 hour drive!!  Once things got situated, we headed to bed to get much needed sleep because Lizzy had a full week of activities planned for us!!!  

On Thursday, we headed to the Children's Museum where you partook in multiple activities, including driving a red mustang (Papa Rob would be impressed!)....

Looking at your skin on a microscope (Piscusting!!)...

Lots of exploring and learning with Sarah...

Then we went to Kid City, or something like that where it's this whole town, ran by kids!  You have to pick a job, earn a paycheck, take that check to the bank to get cashed, put it in your ATM (like for real!) and then go buy groceries, or go to a restaurant, all ran by kids, trying to get their paycheck to do the same thing!  You chose Policewoman as your occupation and after arresting a few folks you earned your paycheck...

But apparently this isn't paying the bills because as soon as you saw the waitress job you decided you needed to do that!

Sarah did a great job as a cashier and I see a future for her :)

And I tried to teach you how to be a cashier but a few of our customers were growing impatient..

We also made a pit stop at the art studio...

And Sarah helped you surf!

And fish!

And feed the chickens and collect their egg and go shopping - all in Africa!

All in all, I'd say the Children's Museum was a sweet success!!!

On Friday, we all went to something Pier, I can't remember the name of it, but it's this fair like place, right on the pier.  We probably should have thought about this a little better, as it was SUPER hot, but nonetheless, we had a grand ole time.  We started things off with a little Tex Mex (another mistake on our part, considering we were about to ride rides and be in the hot sun, but whatev!)

And then we walked on the pier to see this...

Yeah, that's a whole lot of fish who were just dying for someone to throw them some food!!  And you found the sea gulls quite entertaining!

So this carnival fair thing had games, right?  Well, they were rather expensive at $5 a game (maybe that's not a lot but to me, wow!), so anyway, I was a little hesitant on you playing any but Emery really wanted to play this one game where you throw the ball in the bin, which you know is rigged so you can't throw the ball in there. Well... HE DID!!!!  We were all super shocked and proud of him and I think he was even shocked.  The lady told him to pick out a stuffed animal and he looked at you and told you to pick!  What a sweet gentleman - and you had NO problems picking!!

You could not have been happier!!  Well, you got a little happier when you saw the two-tiered carousel!

For some reason, you have become a wee bit scared of rides, like as in the last week because remember we just went to the fair in Franklin - anyway, you decided only to ride the carousel but that didn't stop Mommy and Sarah from riding the fun rides!!!

But you were perfectly content with that carousel, over and over and over again!

We did take a train around the pier which was nice but eventually we were all soaking wet from being so hot, so we headed home where we took a bath, I mean a dip, in the pool!!!

Yeah, so if you can't tell, you are totally swimming without floaters.  So proud!!  And you LOVED the idea of waking up to a pool every single day!!  We need to convince Daddy we need that pool sooner than later at our house!!!
On Saturday you went with Mommy and Mimi and Lynnie to IKEA, kicking and screaming that is.  You were not very happy about going and preferred to stay with Sarah but once we got there you saw that they had a kid only play area and you were thrilled!  And you got to play with Sarah that afternoon, too!  You and Sarah had tons of fun coloring, playing Just Dance or as you call it "dance like that girl", and playing with dolls.  Sarah has grown out of her baby dolls but she kept her things out for your visit so you got to play with all the fun doll toys, THEN, she gave them all to you!!  You were super excited, especially about the horse you got to take home!
On Sunday we just chilled all day and by chilled I mean played in the pool!  You had such a fun time with Sarah!!!!

On Monday, our last day, we headed to the History Science Museum.  I was a wee bit worried that you would not participate in this adventure once you learned it was all about dinosaurs, and I even tried to get everyone to avoid said subject but of course Emery had to mention it, in a casual way of course!  It took a little convincing, and a little carrying, but eventually you figured out that the dinosaurs are not real and were actually pretty darn cool!!!!

The museum also had the coolest butterfly exhibit but what's so ironic, and quite funny if you ask me, is that you were totally scared of the butterflies!!!!!  I swear it.  Completely bizarre, but that's how you roll baby girl!

Look at this picture Mimi took! There's a butterfly coming right at us and I think you are trying to catch it!!!

Like I said, you weren't crazy about the butterflies but everyone else loved them, including Kate!  After the museum, we headed to lunch and then home to pack and have one last night together.  Early the next morning, we headed back home but not before telling everyone goodbye and how much fun we had.  You still talk about Sarah and her favorite song, Call Me, Maybe and you still ask if we can dance like that girl!  What a great end of the summer trip!  It's our last one for awhile because we've got a busy couple months at home, including a certain someone's big dance party birthday!!!! We can't wait!! Loves you!