F-O-U-R

"Hey guys, wanna hear something cool?"  Annabelle walked up to the table where Jacob and his friends were discussing and showing off their latest LEGO creations.  "It's my birthday today and I'm four!"

Silly face

She couldn't be more proud to finally be four years old.  Everyday, for the entire month of October, she began each morning by running to the calendar and asking, "Where are we now, Mommy?"  I pointed out the date, then she counted the remaining days until October 30.  She knew which calendar square was her birthday because I had written "Happy Birthday, Annabelle!" in pink (her favorite color).

Opening a present on her birthday

Annabelle may be four, but in her mind, she's more like...fourteen  In fact, just yesterday, someone told her a certain sharp gardening tool was not a toy for kids.  She quickly responded, "Oh, I'm four now, so I'm not a kid anymore."  On her birthday, I overheard her talking to Jacob about how she has a loose tooth.  (She does not have a loose tooth.)  "Jacob, I'm four now and I have a loose tooth!"  "WHAT???!!!???"  Jacob exclaimed, seemingly in shock.  "Yes, come wiggle it!" Annabelle told him.  Jacob immediately reached a finger in her mouth to wiggle the supposed loose tooth.  It didn't budge.  "Annabelle, you do not have a loose tooth," he said.  "It isn't even wiggling."  "Well, it IS SO LOOSE, JACOB!!" she yelled.  "It just doesn't want to wiggle right now!"

Doc McStuffins!!

Time for your check up!

I like Lambie the best!!

 Annabelle is one busy little girl.  She has a very full schedule, you know.  Full of what, you ask?  Well, she must change clothes no less than six times a day.  So many cute outfits and princess dresses, so little time.  She must parade herself around the house in each of her princess dresses, spinning and twirling until she is dizzy.  She must care for her baby dolls and push them around the house in a stroller or shopping cart.  She must empty all her costume jewelry from her jewelry box into several different purses, multiple times a day.  She must find time to fit in her beauty routine, which consists of fixing her hair and putting on a little lip gloss...all over her face from her nose to her chin.  She must reserve quite a bit of time to take care of all her pets -- kitty cats, hamsters, pigs, a panda bear.  She has quite the stuffed animal collection and she loves every one of them.  Then, she must take an hour or two to pretend she is an animal herself, most often that animal is a kitty or a pig.  So, you see, she IS a busy girl.  And this list of activities only scratches the surface.  :)

Even in her busyness, she granted me the opportunity to conduct a brief interview -- an interview with the princess.  Here's what I learned.

ME:  What is your favorite color? 
A:  Pink and purple

ME:  What is your favorite food? 
A:  Pizza…cheese pizza 
ME:  What do you like most about cheese pizza? 
A:  It has cheese on it.

ME:  What is your favorite toy? 
A:  The piggy from Cwacker Bawwel. 
ME:  What do you like about this piggy? 
A:  'Cause it walks and it does this **snorts like a pig**

The piggy from Cracker Barrel!!!  I've wanted this my whole life!!

Look, Jacob!  I got my piggy!!

ME:  What is your favorite thing to do? 
A:  Ahhhhhhhhh.  A craft. 
ME:  What kind of craft? 
A:  A fish craft.
ME:  What kind of fish craft?
A:   One where we have to get goldfish and glue it onto paper.  (We glued a school of goldfish crackers on a piece of paper one day for science.)
ME:  Do you like preschool? 
A:  No. 
ME:  Why not? 
A:  'Cause it’s not very fun. 
ME:  Do we do any fun things at school? 
A:  No. 
ME:  What about making fish crafts? 
A:  Yes, that’s fun.

ME:  What else do you like about school? 
A:  Eating my snack and watching my Hooked on Phonics movie.

Technology Masters

ME:  Are you happy to be four years old? 
A:  Mmm-hmm.

ME:  Do you feel older? 
A:  No.

Presents!

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ME:  Do you like to dance? 
A:  Yes. 
ME:  Do you like to spin and twirl? 
A:  Yes. 

Dance party time!

ME:  What’s your favorite outfit? 
A:  The ones that spin.

**I start to ask another question when Annabelle interrupts**
A:  You forgot to say what's your favorite breakfast food, Mommy!
ME:  Oh, I apologize.  What is it?
A:  Cereal and milk.
ME:  What kind of cereal? 
A:  Honey nut cereal  (I think she's talking about Honey Bunches of Oats because she had eaten it that morning)
  

ME:  What kind of birthday cake did you have? 
A:  A fish cake. 
ME:  Do you like fish? 
A:  Mmm-hmm.

I love my fishy cake!!

ME:  What’s your favorite animal? 
A:  A cat. 
ME:  Why do you like cats?
A:  'Cause they say meow meow a lot.

ME:  Who is going to win the presidential election? 
A:  Newt Gingwich. 
ME:  Why do you think Newt Gingrich is going to win?
A:  'Cause he’s the most best.
**immediately after answering my question, she starts singing a song called Japanese Banana from the Alvin & the Chipmunks CD**
ME:  What about Mitt Romney?
A:  Oh yeah.  Mitt Womney.

ME:  Do you have a favorite book? 
A:  I have no favowite book.  I have zero favowite books, Mommy. 
ME:  Annabelle, go get your favorite book, please.  (She went to her room and came back with Madeline loves Animals.)

ME:  What do you like about that book?
A:  The cat part.

ME:  Do you like candy?
A:  **smiles**  a wotten tomato
ME:  Really?
A:  No...it is gummies.  It's just gummies, Mommy. (she means fruit snacks)


ME:  Do you like to sing?  What songs do you like to sing?   
A:  Laughing…the Clarabelle song.  What is that ? (I honestly have no idea.)  **begins to make up a song about a fishy**  
ME:  What other songs do you like to sing?  
A:  Zero. 

ME:  What do you want to be when you grow up?
A:  A mommy who gives medicine.  
ME:  So, do you want to be a doctor?  
A:  Yes.  **reaches up and asks me to give her a high five**

Annabelle, you are such a blessing.  I love everything about you.  I love that you love to tell jokes that make absolutely no sense.  For example:  Knock knock.  Who's there?  Orange.  Orange who?  Orange you can't come in here you are not a pumpkin!  I love that you change clothes a million times a day.  I love that you only like to wear dresses and skirts that spin...and I love that you call all such clothes, princess pants.  I love that you run around the house yelling, "Pixiedust away!"  I love that you are so girly, yet not a bit bothered by dirt.  I love that you love to get messy.  I love that you love lip gloss and love to fix your hair.  I love that you love to eat celery and asparagus and other vegetables that many other kids won't touch.  I love that you love to dance.  I love that you make up songs about Strawberry Shortcake and sing them to the tune of old hymns, like Blessed Assurance.  I love that you grit your teeth when I ask you to smile for a picture and you always say, "I AM smiling."  I love that you love kitty cats so much and that you snort like a pig when we're out in public.  I love that you're always pretending to be an animal.  I love how you get so excited when we watch princess videos and Minnie Mouse videos on YouTube.  I love how you add a -y to every animal name (piggy, kitty, fishy, horsey, etc...)  I love that you make up your own stories when you "read" your books.  I love that you love chocolate just as much as I do.  I love that you still love to snuggle every chance you get.  I love that when we have tea parties, every Disney character shows up along with other animals, like a pig who only eats cereal.  I love that you love glitter and other sparkly things and I love how you say clothes without sparkles are not bootiful.  I love that you love to draw.  I love that when you pray, you thank God for food and vegetables...and plates and spoons and forks...and toy boxes with toys.  I love that you only have two speeds:  full speed and sleeping.  I love that you love to be chased and that you love to play hide and seek.  I love that two of your favorite words are "I'm hungwy!"  Annabelle, you are definitely one incredible little girl.  I love you with all my heart and thank God every day for the blessing of being your mommy.  But, I just want you to know...even though you are four, you ARE still a kid.  :)