~Elyssa at 4 years~

As my mother says, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with this one.

 She is her mothers daughter. Yet at the same time she really is her own spunky, happy, dramatic, feisty, silly, brave, kind little person.  She knows she has limitless possibilities and she likes to run with them.  She sings and dances her own songs, and makes up the most fantastic stories.  

The imagination on this one is endless!  At times her life is just one big game of pretend.  I have found myself questioning the stories she tells me about kids at school and realized at one point that the line between reality and fantasy is blurred in her vision.  In some ways it reminds me of Anne of Green Gables. 

 She makes up story after story about her monkey, Mortimer, his life, and his family.  That monkey has quite the dramatic life!  Elyssa is so earnest in her story telling and it can be quite entertaining. 

This silly little lady loves to draw, play games, go to preschool, play with friends and be in the middle of whatever is going on.  She makes friends with kids at almost every park we go to, and plays and draws for hours on end with her brother.  She lives with all her energy and sleeps hard every night.  She is sleeping in the same room with Alec and Cordelia, and somehow manages to never wake during Alec's nightly trips to the bathroom, or Cordy's occasional night time wails.  

4 year old Stats: 39 1/4 inches tall (35%), 34.8 lbs. (46%)

She keeps on growing,though she's on the shorter side like her mama.  She takes great pride in being her mothers daughter and loves it when we have matching toenails, clothes, etc.  I think it's sweet that she wants to be like me because I know it won't last forever.  

Elyssa can steal the heart of any guest.  She loves attention and has great company manners.  She loves trying new things, eating anything I give her, and doing anything that "big kids" do.  Sometimes I feel like she is growing up so fast.  I love this little lady with all my heart.  I'm so thankful to be her mother and her friend.  

I love you more than all the stars in the sky, Elyssa Lael!