March 25, 2011
Clara: Four and a half years
Dear Clare-Bear,
Wow, look how big you are!!! You are growing up so fast. You are becoming so independent, always wanting to do everything for yourself. You like to make your own toast, sandwiches, drinks, and pretty much everything I’ll let you do. I often find a chair pushed up against a counter in the kitchen where decided to “wash the dishes” or “make lunch” or “just cut some paper real quick.” I must tell you to ask permission before doing ________________________, a few hundred times a day. And you are getting better at it, but you have taken it to an extreme, asking me if you can ask me a question. You say, “Mom, can i ask you something?” But, i am glad that you asked me before you took a bath with your unicorn pillow pet. (NO.) Or, made Ike some juice. (YES.) When you make yourself and Ike juice, you make it just like Daddy and i do, with mostly water and about 1/4 juice. You just picked up on that by observing us all these years. You are very attentive like that. You are often pointing out things that i wouldn’t have thought you would even notice. Of course, that means you never forget anything, so you are quick to remind us, “Remember yesterday (meaning any day before today) you said i could ride a horse.” “Remember, you said my hair will be long.” “Remember, we are going to see JuJu and Pawpaw and Boomer tomorrow (meaning any day after today).” Boomer is a neighbor dog at JuJu and PawPaw’s house that you are obsessed with. You ask about him all the time and wonder when you will get to see him again. You have already started asking for a pet, but so far you want a horse. It is pretty clear to you that it wouldn’t work out though, b/c we don’t have a stable, hay, or barrels. You were the one who pointed that out, so i am glad that you realize that a horse is not very practical. 
I love watching you run. Honey, i love you, but you are NOT graceful. I don’t care one bit, but i just want you to know that so far, you have no rhythym or grace. You are precious and adorable, but i fear for your life when you run. I usually have to turn my head whenever you are dancing or running so you don’t see me laugh. We dance around together many nights, and it is one of my favorite things in this world. I have some video of you, and i am already looking forward to showing it to you when you are a teenager.
You still like posing for pictures, and you will come and get me sometimes to ask me to take your picture in a certain pose. Here is an example:
Which, do you notice that you are in a tree?! You have started enjoying the outdoors more than you ever used to. You cannot wait for it to be warm enough to get out the swimming pool, and you have been climbing all the trees in our yard! This is pretty much amazing for you! Up until about two weeks ago, i have had to basically force you to play outside, especially if dirt was involved. You have always liked playing on your bike, or pushing a doll in a stroller, but that is about it. About a month ago, you and Ike each got to pick out a ball for outside and you picked out a soccer ball “because you wouldn’t have to touch it and get your hands dirty.” Really, you told me that! Anyway, we are hoping to go camping this spring/summer, so i look forward to finding out if you will enjoy it or not. You are excited about the idea of camping, so that’s a start!
We have been working with you on how to be a big sister, and loving on your brother. You do a good job most of the time, but you are just old enough and girly enough, that you get frustrated with him sometimes when he comes in your room and messes up whatever you have going on. Like a puzzle, or a “project” (usually something involving tape, scissors, paper, colored pencils and a stapler–I’ve never actually seen a finished “project”), or maybe you have all your dolls lined up just so, and he has messed it up. So, we try to give you a certain amount of personal space, but mostly encourage you guys to play together. Most of the time you guys prefer to be together, and you beg to sleep together every night. It works out sometimes, but usually you just end up playing and talking and eventually getting separated. We have stopped trying it on weeknights, and reserved it as a special weekend treat. You guys really do love each other, and that just makes me the happiest Mama in the world. You are so helpful to Ike, so much so that sometimes i have to remind you that you are not Ike’s parents.
I am so blessed to be your Mom. You make me work harder to be a better person so i can be the example that you deserve. I love you, Clara.
