Well, unfortunately we have struggled more with her over the last 6 months than I feel like we ever have. She has become much more emotional and is often needy and it hasn't been easy. Especially with my car accident and feeling awful being very pregnant in 100 degree weather most of the summer. She is still such a sweetheart and really is only "rude" or attitude stricken on occasion. I know these are common things for 4 year olds, so I am thankful we don't have to deal with that as often as some. But the crying, fit throwing, pouting, and whining is enough to make us want to pull our hair out! I think even Gary would agree, that I seem to get the brunt of it so I probably struggle the most with it. She has always really liked to hang out with me, but it's gotten to be over-kill lately and if I don't give her every second of my attention she gets upset. It's so hard. I think over the last month or so it has improved but she is definitely still very needy. She only wants to play outside, if I am are right there with her participating equally in her activities. She only wants to color or draw if I sit with her and do it too, etc. She wants to know at all times what the agenda for the day is and wont take "I don't know" or "we will have to wait and see" as an answer without a major fit. I have said a few times, and deeply believe it, this has been the hardest phase of her life yet for me. I never imagined 4 would be the hardest age of parenting we have yet to experience. I know every age and stage comes with it's own difficulties, but wowza....I will never tell another mom that 4 is easier than 2 or 3 like I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of fun things about 4, they are just mixed in with a whole lot of crying and whining!
Now that the not so fun stuff is out of the way.....
Delaney is the best big sister. She really cares about her brother and tries to make sure he is always taken care of. She defends him to a fault and comforts him whenever he is sad. This makes me a very proud momma. It's really amazing to witness their love. I can't imagine their lives without each other. They really don't know what to do without each other. It's been fun to watch her excitement grow for the new baby as well. When Cannon was born she was young and pretty clueless about what was going on. Now she says almost daily that she can't wait to meet her new brother and talks about how cute he is going to be. She can't wait to help dress him and feed him. I know we will have some hard lessons ahead since she is such a maternalistic little person, but I think she will love being able to help with a new baby again. We have not shared his name with anyone, but Delaney thinks it's great to share his name with every single person she can (even though she was told not too). So, it's only a secret if you haven't been around her lately. Little stinker.
She kind of loves to be scared or frightened. I know it's weird but she purposely watches things that scare her and talks about them often. I had to put an end to Scooby Do after several nights of waking up terrified of ghosts and monsters. She can pick from the kids selection on Netflix and she seems to go with the dark and kind of creepy cartoons. She loves them.
Around her birthday this year, she learned to ride a pedal bike and over the summer has mastered it. She is really quite amazing on it for a 4 year old without training wheels. She would ride it for hours and hours each day, if she could. She does ride it almost daily in the back yard if we aren't able to go on a real ride in the neighborhood or somewhere else.
She has decided to do gymnastics this year instead of dance. It starts in September. I am excited to watch her try something new and hope she loves it.
She will do another year of preschool also starting in September. I hope she embraces it a little more this year and is more excited about it.
She still loves sparkly things, princesses, dresses, shoes, and accessories. She is very girly and doesn't care to wear anything that doesn't scream girl!
She is starting to remember a lot more details and events. It's been really interesting to listen to the things she randomly talks about and remembers.
She loves to dance and sing but is a little shy about it too. She has to be in the right mode to bust out in song and dance, but it's so fun to watch when she does.
Swimming has been a favorite activity of hers this summer and she is getting quite good at it. Arts and crafts, baking, and reading books are also favorite activities of hers.
So far she seems to be like me-slow to warm and a little shy until she's ready to open up. It takes her a good half hour at a party, around friends, etc. before she warms up and is more outgoing. Until then she sticks pretty close to my side.
She is still very much a momma's girl and would prefer to hangout with me than be outside with the boys. She wants me to be the one that does everything for and with her. It's sometimes challenging to always be the one in this role, but I know it is because she loves me and loves to be close to me so I am soaking it all in before she is older and doesn't feel this way.
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