Goodbye, Three!

Dear Madelyn, 

Today you turn FOUR years old. This birthday has been so very anticipated! You spent many hours daydreaming about what it would be like to be four and you even told me all of the things that four year olds can do that three year olds can't do. Mommy and daddy have teased you A LOT about staying three forever, but we knew this day would come.  We teased you so much over the last few months that you were crying in bed a few nights ago because you were nervous to turn four.  Daddy heard you crying and snuck in to reassure you that we are VERY proud of you and even though we get a little bit sad we love that you are growing into a beautiful, happy, healthy young lady.  

I hope you enjoy four as much as you did three.  You always tell us that you want to get older so that you can hold your baby brother better.  We think it is so sweet. You are the BEST big sister and it melts Mama's heart to watch you take care of Emmitt.  I hope that you and Emmitt always have a very special relationship with one another. I hope you always enjoy spending time together and playing with each other. I hope you have many, many days of playing outside, building forts and riding bikes together. I hope you always look out for Emmitt, even when he grows too big for you to hold him. 

I often tell you that my favorite job in the whole world is being your Mommy and it's very true. I feel like the luckiest Mama in the world. If I could choose any little girl in the whole wide world, it would be YOU. 

I love watching you grow up, and even though I have a little tiny cringe in my stomach and a lump in my throat when I think about how fast four years have gone by it mostly makes me happy. Happy that you have given Mommy and Daddy so many wonderful memories; happy that you absolutely love to live life, and happy that you soak up everything around you like a little sponge. 

I pray that as you continue on your journey you will keep learning about Jesus and how much he loves you even more than Mommy and Daddy do. 

I love you to the moon and back. I love you the mostest, and I love you more each day. 

Mama

Happy fourth birthday, Madelyn! You rock swim goggles like nobody's biz-ness!!!