LDS Mommy: You are FoUr

Kourtney,
My dear daughter... today you are 4 years old. How did 4 years slip by so fast?!! You stand a little over 3 feet tall and weigh 31 pounds. This day four years ago you were 19 1/2 inches and 7 lbs. 1 oz. I'd say you've grown a bit ;) What do I say to you on this happy day of days? Do I tell you how much I love you? Of course, but I tell you that everyday. Do I tell you how pretty you are. Why yes, but that is mentioned everyday. Do I tell you how amazed I am at your intelligence? Absolutely... but this is not new to you. So what do I say???

I remember when I first learned that you had come into my life. Daddy and I had just been married 6 weeks before the news. SURPRISE!!! From that moment on I was in love with you.

I remember getting SO HUGE with you! My weight went up to 175 lbs.!!! That was really hard for me.

I remember hearing your heartbeat when you were 12 weeks inside of me.

I remember feeling your very first strong kick around 23 weeks. Oh how I loved feeling your movements. And boy did you move alllll the time once you figured it out!!!

Your daddy was always talking to you through my belly. He's always been in love with you.

Not gonna lie... 30 weeks came around and I wanted you OUT!!! (and I just really wanted to meet you)

And meet you I did! 09/01/08 10:27 am. 12 hours of labor. 3 pushes. You were here. When I saw your face my entire world changed. It was consumed by you. My first baby. My first day of being a mommy... your mommy. I cried and cried. And you did not. You did at first but when they placed you in my arms all you did was look and look at me. Your daddy's head was about to explode from pride. (good thing he didn't pass out from looking at the epidural, eh?... cuz he almost did) I will say... I had no idea what kind of a ride I was in for from that moment on. LOL

Right from the start you were EXACTLY like your mother (that's me ;)...) But really, you always have been. Someday you'll realize that and you'll hate it. Then when you're a mother yourself you'll realize that's actually not such a bad thing. Your daddy is constantly laughing at the two of us. Sometimes we are the best of friends. We can really have each other's backs. And others... well... other times we absolutely cannot stand each other. We butt heads terribly b/c we are too much alike. And daddy laughs at us. I don't worry because I know that someday we will be best friends. And I will love that. Because I adore you.

Now you are feeling so grown up to me. You memorize songs and have started to sing them at the top of your lungs as you twirl around the living room like the ballerina that you are. You come up with the funniest make believe stories. You play with barbies. You tell me all about what you learned at church every Sunday. You go to school. You put on your own shoes (not always on the right feet) You teach your baby sister. You help me when I'm sad. You tell me when I'm being mean. You climb the counters to get to what you want (especially when I tell you no) You argue with me (and I have a really really hard time not laughing at you) You have a tender heart and you are so full of love. You love wearing tank tops... and I hate that. You are girly...and it is sweet.