Happy 4th Birthday, Grace!
Every year on my kids’ birthdays (or several weeks later – oops) I write them a letter to celebrate the past year.
Happy 4th Birthday my darling Grace!
You are getting so big and the bigger you get the more precious you are. Thank you for being such a delight. I am so glad I get to be your mommy!
We have had so much fun this past year…
You went trick-or-treating for the first time. We visited 4 houses and you were delighted. Everyone thought you were the cutest thing ever in your popcorn costume.
You discovered the joy of taking selfies. You even posted a couple on Facebook without me realizing it!
You are obsessed with art! Sidewalk chalk, coloring, painting, and drawing are the only thing that comes close to your love for books. I couldn’t be happier. Of course, you also get easily obsessed with watching videos and I’m constantly trying to cut back on your “screen” time.
You are my little fashionista. This year I started posting pictures of you online to share with my friends what you are wearing. You’ll hate me for it someday. You’ll look back on your layers, upon layers, upon layers of skirts and wonder why I ever let you leave the house that way.
You crave time with other little girls. Honestly, it kind of breaks my heart. You have claimed Claire and Kaliey as your best friends and both are living very far away.
You have developed into a really sweet big sister. Yes, you and Noah have your moments, but more and more everyday I see you becoming friends. You spent hours together in the sandbox this summer. You still smush his cheeks daily. You crawl into his crib after his naps and play while I make supper or lunch. You ask me to “lock your door” so you and Noah can play together in your room. Please be friends forever, ok?
YOU ARE POTTY TRAINED!!! *insert happy dance here* Grace, someday you will have children (at least I hope so because I can already tell you would make a wonderful mommy) and you will go through the battle that is potty training. You will then call me, thank me, and apologize for the horror of trying to convince you to go #2 in the toilet. Yet today I am rejoicing that you are almost 100% self sufficient when it comes to going to the bathroom. It was the magical potty chart that finally made it click for you. I gave you a sticker every time you went “poo-tinky” in the potty and then you got to pick out a new dress. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah and AMEN! We are done!
Little one, do you know just how much you have your daddy wrapped around your finger? He took you to work with him a few times this year and then out for lunch at Subway. You l-o-v-e it. Sometimes you’ll run errands together and he gets you strawberry smoothies from Wawa. Your father adores you. We are so lucky we have him for a daddy.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Grace Renee is going to put on a show for us!!” I have said that line enthusiastically over and over and over this past year. You are constantly putting on a show for us, doing pirouettes, and singing at the top of your lungs. We would love to put you in dance classes, but we don’t have the money for that right now. Maybe someday, but until then Daddy and I will continue to support your artistic endeavors with lots of clapping, cheers, and admiration. We really are proud of you.
Other memorable highlights from your year:
- beach vacations
- a week in Ohio at Grandma’s
- the tiniest of freckles started to dance across your cheeks
- attending Roxy’s wedding
- your first time bowling
- getting your toe nails painted
- holding brand new babies
- all things pink!
Have fun being 4 this year, Grace. You are going to rock!
Hugs & Kisses,
Mommy
Our girls are so much alike! My daughter could spend all her time reading books & drawing. She loves her brother and always climbs into his crib when he awakes. She’s constantly wondering when he’ll wake up from his naps. She loves clothes but I can not get her to wear pants, it has to be a skirt or a dress. She adores her daddy too — I love their bond. Anyways…
Happy birthday Grace :)!
Oh goodness, Miranda! They DO sound a lot alike. They would have so much fun together.
Dear Grace Renee,
Happy 4th birthday! Grandpa & I love having a precious granddaughter in our family. You are all girl – with your favorite pink & purple colors, your frilly (layered) skirts and ‘pantyhose’ and your graceful ballerina dances. You are sweet and gentle, polite, and have such good manners.
But what we also love is that you can hold your own when playing with your ‘all-boy’ cousins, Andrew, Brandon and Matthew. You love running with them, being silly, and having a good, let’s just be kids and get crazy time. They love having a girl in the family too, all sugar & spice and everything nice! And I discovered this summer when you were at my house that you are very good at hitting a baseball. You go girl!
So you see Grace, you are just a perfect, well-rounded, fun to be with, wonderful, beautiful, smart, bundle of preciousness that we delight in and thank God for. You make my heart happy. Thank you for loving me. For running to give me a big hug when you see me. For wanting to spend time with me.
I look forward to many more years of memories. Of play-dates with the boys at my house, and sleepovers. And more family trips to Bitter Goose Lodge, the Outer Banks, zoos, the Jersey shore – and who knows what else we will think of to enjoy together as time goes on. Remember all the fun our family has whenever we get together for a family meal or a birthday celebration or a holiday, and our wonderful Christmas weekends at Grandmas house.You are in a family that is always so happy to see you and that LOVES YOU so much, Miss Grace Renee.
Never forget that, and walk in that love always.
Grandma Hoffer
Thank you for the sweet letter, Anita! She loves you so much.