January 20, 2008
Somehow, we ended up with a four year old on our hands. Without even asking, she continued eating and growing and now we have a four year old on our hands. Which, is so incredibly KID-ish, to be four.
When I imagined myself as a Mom, I always saw me with an infant and then I could see me with teenagers (because every teenager likes to envision how much COOLER they will be when THEY are the parent which is SOOOOO much cooler, like, ten TRILLION times cooler). But the whole in-between stuff, I never saw. Basically from 2 years old to 14 years old, I figured I’d wing it. Which, I suppose is what all parents really ever CAN do which is on the contrary to what I envisioned as a Teenager which was that my parents had a PLAN to make my life utterly un-livable. But wisdom will tell you (and I am incredibly wise) that there is hardly ever a plan and if there ever was one, it’s gotten revised and worked over too many times to consider it legible anymore.
I suppose there is beauty in not having a plan from the beginning because then you can’t beat yourself up over not following it. And in that regard, I have succeeded. If there is a category for not following a non-existent plan, I win in that category. I feel I should get a prize for that.
So, considering there was no plan to not follow, she turned out pretty darn great. Not bad for two amateurs who thought having a baby would be cute and fun.
I mean, we’ve gone down the checklist and we feel we have fared fairly well. (I’ve always wanted to say “fared fairly well” and it was just as awesome as I thought it would be). Here’s the checklist.
Says please and thank you. check.
Loves books. check.
Can order a strawberries and cream frappucino. check.
Rides a pink bike with training wheels. check.
Knows her letters and can write her name. check.
Skilled in the ways of toilet-using. check.
Knows all the words to “Fergalicious”. check.
Thinks peanut butter and honey sandwiches are the most delicious things in the world. check.
Calls Bob Dylan “Uncle Bob”. check.
So, I mean, CLEARLY she’s on track here, right?
It’s hard for me to leave the Threes behind. The Threes were good to us. We had a good time, it was a good year. I can’t imagine the Fours being as good to us as the Threes were, but I’m hopeful. I just don’t want her to become all jaded yet. When does that happen? Do four year olds ask to be dropped off a block before the mall?
The year of the Fours. It’s the year she will become a big sister. Little does she know, the year of the Four will be a big year for her. And here’s hoping that we as her parents can continue to wing it another year. As planned.
Posted by Jamie @ 10:17 pm • Delaney
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January 20th, 2008 at 10:42 pm, erinthebeekeeper Says:
Any kid who knows Uncle bob, will at some point soon I’m sure be introduced to Uncle Jack (Kerouac) and hopefully she’ll love Uncle Kurt (Cobain) like the bee does.
January 20th, 2008 at 11:14 pm, dcrmom Says:
Yeah, kids have a way of doing that. Growing, that is. She’s a cutie! I’d keep her.
January 20th, 2008 at 11:39 pm, Lindsey Wheeler Says:
Delaney is the cutest 4 year old in the world!! I laughed out loud picturing her being dropped off a block before the mall. I don’t think that happens for a few more years…..thank goodness!
January 21st, 2008 at 12:01 am, Valerie at Home Says:
I have about 2 more weeks before my little girl hits that 4-year-old milestone. Delaney’s doing fabulous if she can write her name, as our little one thinks her name is spelled with a strange combination of Hs, Is, Ls, and Ts. It’s far more astonishing to see our 7-year-old and realize that she’s tall enough that she doesn’t have to stand on the stool anymore for me to fix her hair, thankyouverymuch. How do they get so big?!?
January 21st, 2008 at 1:28 am, Nicki Says:
Yepper, she’s on the right track all right. The next thing you know she’ll be asking for the keys to your car. Not that I would know about that yet, but I’ve heard stuff. Yikes!
January 21st, 2008 at 1:36 am, Jess Says:
I just really, really like your family. Seriously, you guys are great.
January 21st, 2008 at 10:36 am, Jennifer England Says:
Happy Birthday Delaney!!!!
What a cutie- patootie you are!!!!
January 21st, 2008 at 12:47 pm, Stephanie Says:
I have a 4 year old and an almost 9 year old. I feel incredibly old right now.
4 is a good year, they start asserting their independence more, but its a fun year. My 4 year old REFUSES to practice her name, she REFUSES to try anything new at dinner, and REFUSES to listen if your trying to help her. And while I bang my head against the wall repeatedly and hope that I’ll become amnesic, its a good time moving from little girl to big girl.
As for my 9 year old, she’s starting to act like a pre-teen, would you like her? LOL
January 21st, 2008 at 1:08 pm, misty Says:
well, let it be said here and now that four was the worst… Bad… Bad, bad. and for most of our friends too…
however, technically parts of it just continue to get worse so it’s a good place
she is beautiful!
January 21st, 2008 at 1:32 pm, Melissa Says:
Happy happy big four Delaney! I love four! My almost four year old is asking me for a cup of diet coke right now. I may send her to your house for a while to get the whole writing your name thing down. Right now, she thinks her name is spelled…lllllsquigglesquigglesquigglecc.
It’s not, by the way.
January 21st, 2008 at 1:50 pm, Renee in Seattle Says:
The day we arrived at home with our newly adopted child, our 4 year old son suddenly looked enormous, I mean, a giant. His ears, which had been completely cute and normal before we left on our flight to retreive child number 2, had suddenly gotten HUGE. And his nose. Also enormous. His hands were giant. It was so weird. Just see if this doesn’t happen to you. Your daughter will turn into a giant the day you take custody of your new ones. It is a weird and not-often talked about phenomenon.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm, Chandra Says:
Happy Birthday Delaney!! You are a big girl with lots to look forward to this year (including two new siblings). My birthday was yesterday but I’m a wee bit older than you.
Have a wonderful day!!
Chandra
January 21st, 2008 at 5:27 pm, my minivan is faster than yours Says:
Happy Birthday, D! And I don’t mean to brag, but my 3 yo knows that xjpioa8a4 spells “dog.”
I’m just sayin’.
January 21st, 2008 at 5:35 pm, Ami Says:
Yeppers, they grow up too fast! Happy 4th, D!
January 21st, 2008 at 7:15 pm, Lori Says:
She is adorable - I’m glad to hear that the three’s were great! I was overjoyed (last Nov) to be rid of them as they were Nick’s worst year!! Four…. since he turned four I’m seeing daily changes in him and his behavior/personality… It’s like having an infant again with the constant changing! It’s scaring the H*LL out of me! Great post -
January 21st, 2008 at 8:58 pm, Missy Says:
That is, indeed, a great checklist!!
Happy Birthday to the little one!
(Oh, and by the way, 5 is the year when you become uncool!)
Missy
January 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pm, emily Says:
You are a genius with the whole TWEAKERS thing!!
Happy Birthday sweet girl!! I think 4 will be awesome- especially with such cool parents.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:53 am, chou2 Says:
Happy Birthday to Delaney!
And I am totally going to copy your checklist to make sure my own child is on track.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:20 am, mandy Says:
What a great checklist! You have an adorable four year old! Happy Birthday Delaney!
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 am, Ericka Says:
Happy Birthday beautiful girl!!!!!
Jaime, you crack me up. It IS amazing that they ‘turn out’ pretty good, huh??? I have two birthdays this month too!!! My little guy turns four also and my middle turns 10 (or as he calls it, he’s a ten-ager now). Oh Lord, here we go…..
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 am, Emma Says:
Shucks, she’s a delight
Hope her bday is super spesh. Cute kid and an amazing mum (”mom” I guess… being Aussie it’s kinda strange writing it that way)
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:16 pm, Marlene Says:
My son will be four in a month! It is amazing how much they grow in such little time. He is nearly 50 lbs now. I swear, the last time I checked he 38 lbs and he stayed that for about a year. I miss my baby boy!
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm, Rae Says:
Oh geez. We’re WAY behind! Good thing we still have 6 months before my big guy turns 4. Strawberry frappacino, write the name “Delaney”, ride pink bike, Uncle Bob…can we have til age 5?!
January 24th, 2008 at 8:58 pm, Erin O' Says:
Happy b’day Delaney — she is super-cute, and your new ‘do is super-sexy — I feel that the wait will end soon, by the way… I’ll go double-check my Magic 8 Ball. Which the boys like throwing down the stairs.