Staying Strong

Dear Mackenzie,

You could try to be cuter, but I don't think it's possible for you to be any cuter than you already are!

-The other night at bedtime, you stood up on your bed, stretched your arms out as much as you could and proclaimed, "Mama, I love you more than the sky! Because the sky is super big!"

-That same night, you also told me, "I love you. I'm so glad you're my mama."

-You pronounce the word pattern "patterin." 

-This morning, I was mad at myself because I ripped open your overnight diaper before realizing you hadn't peed in it, which I thought you had. I was annoyed because we could have used the diaper again and I'd wasted it. You calmly told me, "Mama, it's okay. Put your anger together in one spot. And what do you do with things you don't want? You throw them away." Mind. BLOWN. Such wise words from my 4-year-old! I was so impressed--until tonight, when I told JieJie and Second GuhGaw what you had said to me and they informed me that you had repeated it from an episode of "Bluey." Why oh why do I still not realize that most of the things you say are from an episode of "Bluey"??

-At dinner, I often ask you and your siblings to tell me the favorite part of your day. Tonight, you answered, "Hugging Mama! Hugging Mama is always my favorite part of every day!" <melt!>

-At bedtime tonight, you said, "I have to bring four books to bed. I used to not like to read but now I do. I like to look at the stories. Before I only liked to play. Well, I still like to play. I like to do both!" (I'm so glad you enjoy reading more now! And tonight's selection of books was The Very Hungry Caterpillar, If Not For You, The Earth Book and Fancy Nancy: Saturday Night Sleepover.) 

-Also at bedtime tonight, I asked you, "Do you want a stuffie? Do you want Bluey? Fluffy? Peppa**?" You replied, "No, and I don't have Peppa. I have Olivia. I don't want them. I only want to cuddle with you."

(**I don't know why but I constantly get mixed up and call Olivia Peppa.)

-You are still the most independent of my kids. One time, you asked me to tie your apron on but I was doing laundry and said I'd do it once I was done. After I finished putting the clothes in the washer and washed my hands, I went into your room and saw that you had woven the apron strings around the neck hole section of the apron in such a way that the apron was staying up and wrapped nicely around you. You couldn't tie the apron yourself but you found another way to do it. I am so impressed by your ingenuity and persistence!

This morning, I walked into your room and saw you struggling to put on your skort. I asked you why you hadn't asked me for help and you said you wanted to try and do it by yourself. When you needed to change your shirt, I said I'd get one for you after I finished cooking dinner. The next thing I know, you appeared in the kitchen with a new shirt you had fetched yourself out of your top drawer. And many times when I say I'll help you with something, you tell me, "I can do it. I'm strong!" Yes, you are, sweet girl!

Love,

Mom