My sweet girl turned four years old at the end of August. This birthday was similar to her first birthday as far as my emotional state. Lots of tears. They were happy and bittersweet tears. Lots of sitting and holding, watching her sleep, smelling her hair, and kissing her sweet face. When she turned one it was a big step for me as well as her. This fourth birthday felt like she went from being my toddler/young preschool child to being this big kid. Within a week after her fourth birthday she started saying a few words correctly. She used to say "amimals" for animals. She is very interested in learning to read. She tries so hard to figure words out and daily tells me all the words she now knows start with the same letter.

Sometimes my heart is overwhelmed with all the things I want to say to her... about life, love, and beauty. As I watch her dance and sing it feels like my heart is going to burst. She's so grown up in so many ways and in other ways she's still so little.

Here's a note of things I have told her and will continue to tell her...

Mercy,
You changed our world. I knew this wonderful little baby would enter our world, but when you were born it was more wonderful than I ever dreamed. I was in awe of you.
"Hello, friend." were the first words I spoke to you. You were a gentle little being. You lived up to your name by being most merciful in ushering us into parenthood.
I have no regrets with you. Every stage you have gone through I have loved. I look forward to each new phase with you.
May we be a place of comfort, a strength for you and patient with you.
Hope is so lucky to have you as her big sister. I can already tell you two are the best of friends. Your relationship with her is magical.
Happy birthday, lovely girl.
Thank you for being our gentle, wonderful, and wild little girl.
You keep us wild; we'll keep you safe. xo.