Dear Sydney,

This year, you turned 4 years old. Little girl, you are so much fun!  You have personality in spades, and you are not afraid to shine.

This year, you started gymnastics class.  You were so excited on your first class, and you lined up with the other little girls, eager to get started.  You love the balance beam and insist on practicing on every curb in every parking lot.

You love princesses, dressing up, make-up, high heels, jewelry, and all things girlie.  You're starting to like to color and paint.  You take it so seriously, scrunching up your eyebrows and frowning in concentration.  And you get quite upset if it doesn't turn out the way you'd hoped.

This year, we visited Disney World.  You rode on an airplane for the first time; you did a great job!  You walked through security very calmly, and you sat very still on the airplane.  We played games and ate snacks, and before either of us knew it, it was time to land.  When we actually got to Disney World, you were SO not into the characters.  While Sam wanted to meet all of them, you wanted absolutely nothing to do with them.  But you loved the princesses and the parades and the fireworks and the Under the Sea ride.  You've asked me at least once a week since we got back when we are going again.  I can't wait, either.

This year, we got a couple of really big snows.  You were so excited to play in it!  We bundled up and got ready to go out and have some fun.  Exactly 5 minutes later, you were ready to come back inside.  It seems you like the snow as long as there's only a couple of inches.  But when it gets thick enough that you have trouble walking in it, you just get annoyed.  So while Sam and I ran and threw snowballs at each other, you would just sit and make snow angles.

You and I also got our first pedicures together this year.  It was so fun! When we walked into the nail salon, the technician pointed to the wall of bottles and told us choose a color.  Your eyes grew wide.  So many colors!!!  You were very proud and sat very still while the lady painted your nails.  I have a feeling that was the first of many pedicures you and I will get together.

You love to play outside.  I love that you love to play outside.  You have been a great garden partner this year.  You favorite jobs are watering the garden and picking cherry tomatoes.  (Although, not many of the tomatoes you pick actually make it into the house.  They're pretty tasty eaten right off the vine.)  But the thing you love most is to swing.  I think you would swing for hours as long as someone stands and pushes you. But not too high!  Nice and easy is your favorite.

Sydney, I love how silly you are.  I love that you wear your thoughts on your face.  I swear, your expressions absolutely slay me sometimes.  I love that you are always trying to convince your brother to play "get married."  I love how you sing and dance and make up words to songs.  And I love how you snug me...you climb in  my lap and settle against my chest and weave your fingers in my hair as you heave a big sigh of relief.  I love being your safe place to land at the end of the day.

Love you big,
Mommy