Vera is 4!

Vera was super-excited to turn 4 years old!  Her birthday was on Easter Monday, and it was extra special because I was off work to stay home with her and Mr. Vin.  When she woke up on her birthday, she came in my room and whispered, "Mom.  What day is it?"  I responded with, "It's Monday today" and she excitedly said, "Today is my birthday!"  :)

Good Morning, Birthday Girl!

We spent the morning hanging around home.  Vera insisted on painting these hearts that came in her Easter basket.

This 4 year-old has a really hard time looking at the camera when she smiles.

Then, in the afternoon I took the kids to McDonald's for lunch.  It was a surprise for Vera.  I told her to hide her eyes until I told her to open them.  It was so fun to hear her excitement as she opened her eyes when we pulled in the parking lot.  Vince was also very good.  After McDonald's, we went to Walmart and I got a new phone.  Since both kids were especially good while getting the phone, Vera asked if she could pick out a new Betta fish for her fish bowl.  I couldn't tell her no.  So, we picked out a fish and when we put it in the cart, Vera said to her new pet, "There, there little fishy.  I'll take good care of you" and before we walked away from the fish aisle, Vera had  named him Rockstar Ruby.

In the evening, we celebrated Vera's birthday as a family,  It was Opening Day for the Reds, so we watched the Reds game and ate hot dogs and soft pretzels downstairs while we watched the game.  We sang Happy Birthday, and she did a great job of blowing out her candles.  Vera and I made the cake, and we were pretty happy with how it turned out.

Vera opened her gifts from us: a really cool baseball tee and some inflatable road signs to use when riding her bike or scooter outside.  She was thrilled.  Dad and Vera played baseball in the garage because we just had to get the tee out and play right then.

I am so sad to write that all of the pictures I took of Vera's birthday are gone.  Due to a malfunction with my new phone that was beyond my control, I lost all of them.  They were great pictures, and I cried when I realized they were gone.  Mommy is so sorry, Vera, that there aren't many pictures of your 4th birthday,  But you can be assured that it was a super-special day.  Mom and dad had so much fun celebrating your birthday with you.  We have many great memories of your special day.  You even got some Reds home runs and an Opening Day win for your birthday!

Happy Birthday, Vera Louise!  We love you so much!!

It's really hard to believe she's four already.  She is growing in to quite an imaginative and bright young girl.  If she isn't watching TV or sleeping, she is talking.  She talks to herself while playing and pretending.  We see her outside swinging and just chatting away.  She lays in her bed at night and talks until she falls asleep.  When she's in the shower, she jabbers the whole time.  She's always playing something, pretending, singing or talking nonsense.

For her, life is simple.  She says things as she sees it.  She does an amazing job at describing things that she doesn't know the names for.  Lately, she's had trouble remembering the name for a fire hydrant, but she can so very vividly describe it when the name escapes her.  I am also quite impressed with her memory.  She recalls details of things that happened months ago.

Vera is always working on growing up to be a big girl.  She is still sometimes very whiny and cries about simple things, especially when she's tired.  Like all preschoolers, she sometimes has trouble listening and following directions.  Just as she's always been, she does not like to be corrected.  She immediately cries and usually says that we don't love her anymore.  At first it bothered me to hear her say that.  Now she knows that those aren't nice words and her punishment is worse when she says unkind things.

At four years old, Vera still loves to watch Disney Jr. and play the iPad.  She can go to bed by herself, but she prefers someone lay with her.  She can say the Hail Mary and Angel of God all alone, and even does some praying in her own words.  It makes my heart smile to listen to her pray.  She can pedal her tricycle and pump on a swing.  Cutting with a scissors is a big challenge, but she's learning.  Vera still devours dill pickles at an amazing rate.  She also likes popcicles, sweets, pears, Honeycrisp apples, Lucky Charms, ham, Lunchables (which she calls "special lunches"), mashed potatoes, corn, and peas.

We took her to her 4 year well-check to make sure she was "big enough to go to preschool in the fall."  The doc said that she is a healthy little girl and will be all ready for preschool in a few months.  She weighed in at 33 lbs. (33 percentile) and was 3'3" tall (34 percentile).

A super-special "dress" to wear while at the doctor.

Just yesterday, Vera got her four year-old glasses.  Her old purple glasses were scratched, bent, and too small.  It was just time for new ones.  Adam, Patty and I all think she looks so grown-up with these.  Patty said she looks like a Kindergartener.  She was thrilled to have glasses without the cables around the ear.

Vera is also a great helper.  She can put her panties, pants, shoes, socks, and coat on by herself.  (Huge help, especially in the mornings before school!)  She can put her dishes in the sink when she's finished eating too.  She is a big help with Vince, keeping him out of trouble, entertaining him and bringing things he needs.  Vince loves her, too.  He thinks she's hilarious and always looks for her when she enters the room.

Gotta love her smile.  :)

Sometimes she just can't leave him alone.

Poor Vince will appreciate this picture someday.

This four year-old still requires a lot of sleep.  During the week, she goes to bed by 8pm and hates to wake up around 6:30 for work.  She also takes a 2 or 3 hour nap on the weekends when she's home with us, which really makes a difference in her behavior.  We can always tell when she doesn't get a nap at Patty's house.

Speaking of Patty's, Vera loves her buddies there.  I thank God each day that Vera enjoys going there.  I'm always amazed when I get her out of the car that she willingly walks to the door by herself as I get Vin out, and she says goodbye to me like a big girl with a smile and a wave.  :)  Of the kids her age, Vera is the only girl.  She does a good job of bossing the boys around.  She's well-versed in boy TV shows like Batman and Power Rangers.  Just a few weeks ago she was telling Adam all about the Batmobile, the Joker and Batman and Robin.  It made us both smile.  Patty's house is a positive environment for my kids and she really is an exceptional caregiver.  She loves all of the kids as her own, and treats our family way better than we deserve!

Picnic Day @ Patty's.

We are looking forward to a year of being four.  We really love you to pieces, Little Lady!