Eli (aka Birthday Boy) is FOUR!!

It's true. Eli is again the "really oldest" kid. He is now four and I can't understand where all the time has gone. I'm pretty sure he was just turning 2 a few minutes ago, getting back teeth and learning how to say three letter words. I ADORE how he can hold conversations now, he is seriously fun to talk to. And full of questions. Love the questions (well, at least the real though-provoking ones, the one-worded "why"isn't always so fun)! "What day is it today?" "Why are eyes brown?" "How does a superhero fly?" "Who will I marry when I'm big?" "How many sips until I'm all done?" "Why do the sun go behind a cloud?" "What kind of bug is this?" "Watch me jump!" "When will I be big enough to drive?"

Eli,

One day, when you're old enough to read this I hope you will look back at this year, the year you were four, and remember lots of fun and laughs and blessings. I hope you will know that mommy and daddy and the girls adored you and loved waking up to you every day. You make our house fun and silly and loud. I couldn't imagine a world without you and I'm so thankful I get to watch you wake up on your birthday grinning from ear to ear to see what kind of festivities we'll have. You are the sweetest big brother and I don't know how other moms with three littles do it without you. You love being my helper and really get excited to go get a diaper or toy to bring to Mika. I adore the way you wake up and get dressed in the craziest outfit you can create and look so confident and sure of your choice. I love the silly dances you do when Rio is on and the karate kicks you're practicing almost non-stop. I can't get enough of your English accents and watching you "cook" has been entertaining me for over a year. You love to be outside, especially if Maci is with you, but dirt is not your favorite. You could (and do) play with cars for hours. Dinosaurs are amazing and mysterious and you love pretending to be one of them. Pancakes are your favorite food, lasagna a close second, and strawberries a solid third. You know all of your letters and the sounds that they make, can write your name without help, and counting to 12 ain't no thing. You are a coloring machine and can almost stay in the lines. You claim green is your favorite color, but let's be honest, you love pink and purple way more. Talking to you on the phone is really fun, especially when you're not distracted. Your favorite animal is the elephant. Socks that don't match are awesome. And you still sleep best when Fluffy is next to you. You think you can play Wii but you can't and you're really amazing at posing for pictures. I love your silly faces and how you talk with your hands. You are so, so, so, so, so, so, so special to me.

I love, love, love being your mommy. You challenge and bless me in ways I would never have imagined and I'm SOO looking forward to seeing the man you will become. I would like it to not come so fast, though. I'm so proud of you, sweet Eli.

I love you more.
Mommy