Happy 4th Birthday, Lizzy!

Yesterday was Lizzy's fourth birthday! Really, I can hardly believe how time flies. Lizzy was a baby five minutes ago, and now she is a lovely little girl. I would hate how fast it all goes, if I wasn't having such a wonderful time watching this little girl grow and learn. We started off the day with a "birthday breakfast" and Peter and I sang Lizzy "Happy Birthday." We visited Grandma and she made Lizzy her favorite egg salad sandwiches for lunch- yum! Lizzy had her swim lesson in the afternoon, then we went to Safeway and got to pick out a princess cake for dessert. Wow! What a fun way to celebrate a very special little girl.

Lizzy, from the day you were born, you have been a light to everyone around you. Your big, beautiful smile, warm eyes, and contagious laugh fill all of our hearts with joy. You love life so much! You love to explore your world and you are curious about everything you see. You appreciate the simplest of things. You love nature in all it's forms. You are awed by the beauty of flowers, the wonder of sea creatures, and the curiosity of bugs and animals. You love to collect "shiny things," and have an uncanny ability to find a sequin or jewel pretty much anywhere. You love to draw, color, cut and glue, and you will sit for a long time and patiently create a beautiful art project. You love running, climbing, jumping, dancing, and playing games. You are a "joiner" and are ready to participate and have fun in whatever activity is happening around you. You love your brother, your mommy and daddy, your cousins, grandmas, papa, and friends. You love princesses, dolls, ponies, and "pretty things." I love being around you! You are very interesting to talk to, have wonderful things to say, and have a fantastic sense of humor. You are always ready for an adventure and eager to have fun. You also love to snuggle and be cozy, and you create the most amazing and complex "houses" for babies and animals out of blankets, chairs, and boxes. Pretty much, I think you're amazing! You opened my heart to a love I never knew existed, and you have taught me so many lessons on kindness, love, generosity, and living joyfully in the moment. I am thankful everyday for you, and the boundless love you bring to our family. We love sharing our lives with you, and look forward to another special year of learning and growing.