Dear Tessa,

Happy 4 Years 11 Months Birthday!

You are really learning to read and write this month.  I hear you scream out from the table, where you are coloring…  MOM HOW DO YOU SPELL SAMARA I HOPE YOU CAN COME TO MY BARBIE 12 DANCING PRINCESSES BIRTHDAY PARTY LOVE TESSA?  Some words you already know how to spell and if I try to spell them for you, you say I KNOW THAT WORD ALREADY!  While I cook dinner or clean up the kitchen I tell you the letters one by one and you write them down.  Your handwriting is getting nicer, and is much smaller than the giant two-letters-per-page type of writing you used to do.  You are recognizing more words now, and we like to help you sound words out.

There are no words to describe how much you love preschool.  As we walk up to the doors of your classroom you see your classmates waiting there, and you scream out MAYA! SAMARA! KAITLYN! KYLIE!  and run towards each other like long lost friends who have just found each other after years of searching, instead of preschoolers who just saw each other two days ago.  Your obvious love for your friends is very sweet. 

You are very much looking forward to your upcoming Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses birthday party, and this is a topic you discuss with your friends daily.  In this next picture you are showing Maya and Jera pictures of the 12 Dancing Princess party favors you'd like to give out at your party.  (Birthday parties in preschool are the equivalent of the prom in high school.)

Patience is something we are working on this month.  If you need something and I tell you I will be able to help you in a minute you start counting loudly.  I don't know if this is supposed to help make your wait seem shorter, but it actually makes it longer since I can't hear myself think to finish whatever task I was trying to complete.

We love this video of Harper and the "Rattlesnake Bit the Baby" song.  You have your very own version that goes like this…

"Rattlesnaked the baby, rattlesnaked the baby, rattlesnaked the baby, ha ha ha ha ha."

You talk non stop.  Literally.

Your nicknames this month are SweetGirl, Lovely and TessyBear.

This morning I woke up to the sound of you singing in your bed, and it was a perfectly lovely way to wake up.  I'm so glad you wake up happy (most days).  You like to laugh and sometimes you tell your own special brand of jokes until you crack yourself up.

You told me last week that you want to let your bangs grow out.  Every morning we get into a "discussion" about how you will wear your hair that day.  You want to wear church dresses every day of the week.  You have a lot of your own ideas and opinions.  Have I mentioned that recently?

I pray for your safety, health and happiness every day and I never ever forget, not even for one second, how you are the answer to your daddy and my prayers. 

Love,

Mama