A Fast Four…

Dear Toddler 1,

I can hardly believe that it’s been almost four years since you entered this world! I can’t keep calling you a toddler because you’re far from it now. You’re a full-blown preschooler, and you think you can do pretty much everything for yourself these days.

Early in your infancy… probably about the time we were feeling exasperated with your refusal to sleep more than 2-3 hours at a time… our pediatrician described you as a “spirited” child. And, I can think of no better description of you as you turn four.

You wake up with more energy than I would have after drinking a couple of Red Bulls. And, somehow, you maintain this incredible pace from sun up to sun down… and then some. You love to run, to jump, to spin, and to bounce. And, you’re most content to be doing it all while wearing a tu-tu. All because…

You love to play dress-up. Whether it be your leotard, your Cinderella dress, your bumblebee costume, or your swimsuit, you are most content if you are “in character.” I was never much into dress-up as a child, so I have no idea where you get this passion for dramatic play. But, I must say,… you make it look awfully fun. You’ve even convinced your sister that stuffing herself into last year’s Halloween costume and dancing around the den with you is a great way to spend the afternoon. You’re really quite persuasive.

And, you’re extremely sensitive. You have a fiery temper and a will that could move mountains, but underneath that fierce determination is a little heart that is easily moved to tears by the slightest hint of violence or suffering. Just this week during the Beauty and the Beast stage show, I looked over to see you wiping away tears as they reenacted the scene where the Beast is stabbed. But, in typical fashion, you hung in there and waited for the redemptive, happy ending. You love a good story, but it’s sometimes all we can do to get through the dark and stormy woods to arrive at the “happily ever after.” I love that you’re so tender.

Most of all, I love the way you bring so much life and exuberance to our family. Even though we struggle to keep up with you, to know how to best discipline you, or how to mold that strong will of yours into a noble passion, we love you more than I know how to communicate in a mere blog post.

So, today, and every day, I thank God for you–spirit, spunk, and all.  And, I pray God will continue to show your Daddy and me how to best love and lead you.  You are a treasure.