Nelson News: For Harper on your 4th birthday

My Darling Harper,

Our Fourth baby turned four!! I'm not very sorry to see the age of 3 be gone forever from our home. You knew it all at 3---how to work my phone, what times you should sleep, if you need a nap, how to pour (cereal, milk, water, juice), what makes a nutritious meal, what you should wear, how to do your hair, etc. etc. etc. You knew a lot when you were 3.

But now you're FOUR. You're a growing girl and I'm sure this year will give us lots of challenges too, but I hope we have a better way of communicating this year. The kicking, hitting, screaming, and whining fits didn't work out too well for us in that 3rd year.

You have been my little shadow this year, perfectly content to be in my company. You often say to me, "you're my best friend mom". On school mornings you loved to drive with me to drop off the kids, and we'd stop sometimes for coffee for me and hot cocoa for you. On the mornings Dad was home he would bribe you to stay with him by promising to let you watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Sometimes you'd be crying as we walked out the door.

You absolutely burst with personality--some sassy, and lots of sweet. You still love your blankie, Kee Kee (its never far from us), and you still suck your thumb, especially when you're tired. You're a fashionista, often changing your clothes about 482 times a day, breaking many, many hangers as you pull dresses, shirts, and pants down to create some unique outfit. You do not like shorts, preferring dresses and leggings even in the summer. You like your hair down but will put it up for gymnastics. You like to accessorize and usually have an armful of bracelets going up your arm. You love dancing in your sparkly white high heel princess shoes and your princess dresses. We've had many dance parties this summer to Taylor Swift and Katy Perry songs and Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines. You do play well with your siblings, but will scold them by calling them a "cheater-cat" or a "meanie-peanie" when something does not go your way. You like to play house with all of them and will only be the baby or the pet tiger. This summer, the kids and I have tricked you into taking your afternoon nap by telling you they were all laying down for a rest. Your favorite places to eat are Nicdonald's (McDonald's) and Wocky J's (Teriyaki J's). This is now the way all of us pronounce the names of these places. Your favorite movie is still Tangled, which surprises us because you ask us to take you to get a haircut about once a week. You refer to my mom as "little Grandpa" and it always makes us laugh. You are a climber and can get up on the kitchen cabinets, often for gum and cups. You can write your full first name now, and refer to the letter "H" as a "Harper Jeanie". When we pass your pre-school you'll say, "that's where Miss Becky is" and at your birthday dinner you counted backwards from 9-0. We didn't know you could do that. You like the game where something is in our hands behind our back and you pick a hand. Daddy teases you and you never win. Sometimes you'll play the game and tell us which hand to pick so we won't win. You say funny and sassy things like "Awkward" and "Whatever", usually at completely inappropriate times. You've learned to scooter very well this summer and seem to like gymnastics class much better than dance class. You loved swimming lessons and swimming this summer. You love going with me to Logan and Ry's soccer practices, especially if there is a play area nearby. You are looking forward to seeing Samee's baby and being a flower girl for Tricia's wedding. If I buy something for you that you don't like, you'll say "lets keep that for Samee's baby." We got your flower girl dress in the mail and you loved trying it on and twirling around in it.

You are all things wonderful Harper--we love you!!