Happy Birthday, Abby Kate!

Today is the day before AK's big fourth birthday. But, all afternoon, it has already been the constant talk. She wants breakfast in her bed. Heart waffles. She wants donut holes for her friends at school on brown polka dot plates that she found at Target. She wants to give her friends a present--tiny canisters of silly puddy jello stuff. She wanted to pick out her outfit for preschool ALL BY HERSELF. (She kind of did...kind of didn't.) She wants to have Taco Bango (aka Taco Bueno) delivered for her lunch...but she doesn't want us to stay. She wants to eat it with her friends. She wants to have her three-tier birthday present cake from Grandma. And, she wants Crystal's for dinner...no, Chuck E Cheese...no, Crystal's. I guess the jury is still out on that one.

Tonight at bedtime, she wanted to check the calendar in the school room one more time to make sure it was still celebration day tomorrow.

Then, she wanted us to pray in HER bed since it was HER birthday. We all said sweet prayers for our little four year old. And, then she told both her sisters to "pray for me in your prayer workbook when you wake up". That means, their prayer journals they do in the mornings. They both snickered and said "Okay, Abby Kate, it's all about you tomorrow." (There might have been a little loving eye roll with that. But, they were actually smiling and happy to hear their little sister be so excited about her special day.)

The thing is, she is NOT little. It breaks my little mommy heart! How is she turning four? I know we all say that every year. But, really. FOUR??

She is the most amazing four year old I know, and she's the kind of kid that literally makes my insides tighten up because I love her TOO much.

She is so smart and so spunky and so full of life. Our little Katers (who only allows that nickname on Tuesdays) makes our family so FULL. I love her smile, and her little sideways tongue when she's nervous or excited. I love her funny sense of humor and her ability to quote movies and books like no one I know. I love that she loves her mommy. Alot. I love that she talks about Uwanda every. single. day. (except just this week she "fixed" it to be RA-wanda, with an extra emphasis on the R. :) I love that she's usually the knight or the superhero when she pretends. And, she usually makes guns out of blocks and swords and shields out of sticks and lids to pots and pans. (This is her new cape Aunt Cassie made for her birthday! It's already well-worn.)

I love that today in church, she was crazy excited to meet Mr. George from Ghana who rescues the kids off the lake. (a whole other blog is coming about that later.) As I was fixing her hair, I told her George would be there. She said "Mommy, you rescue the kids too? Just like George? He rides with you in that boat and then you help the kids off the lake?"

Seriously. She melts my heart.

Abby Kate, I hope your day is everything you dream it will be. I can't WAIT to celebrate with you. And I can't WAIT to give you your extra special birthday present either!! You're gonna love it!!!

Katers, AK, Abby Kate, Little Squirt, Missy Moo...may the Lord continue to pour love into your little heart, so you can continue to share it so freely with all of us. Your mommy sure loves you, sweet one.