Dear Alyssa (4 year old edition)

Dear Alyssa,

    You have turned 4. That means you are starting your 5th year on this earth! I can't believe it. You are growing up so fast. When I think about the last year as a whole it doesn't seem like you have changed that much. But when I start to think about small things and look at pictures I realize you have changed so much. Your vocabulary now is HUGE. You have so much to say, and are usually so happy.
    You have stopped taking naps and so going to bed for you is easier than ever. You are asleep within minutes of laying down.
    You know how to spell your first and last name, you know the city and state you live in, your birthday, all your letters and some of your numbers.
    You are the best big sister anyone could ask for. You look out for your brother and are almost always willing to share with him even when we don't ask you to share with him. You love your brother and though you do have some fights you spend more time laughing and playing with him.
   At church you now go to Sunday school and sometimes go to JAM instead of the nursery. You love Sunday School and look forward to it.
   For swim you are now in the most advance class for your age. You can swim the length of the pool. When swimming freestyle it takes you almost 2 minutes to get across the pool, but when you swim on your back you are across the pool in less than a minute. You can tread water and love to jump off the diving board. You are getting better with your diving and can dive on your own, though you sometimes flip versus diving because you tuck yourself too much.
   You have become more of a picky eater but one of your absolute favorite foods right now is broccoli and cheese soup. Whenever you get the chance to pick what to eat it is always broccoli and cheese soup.
    Your best friend is Madelyn. Every morning you ask if she is coming today and the smile on your face when she arrives is awesome. The two of you play all day together and seems to have always have a new game to play.
   Alyssa you are one of the best things to ever happen to your daddy and me.  I love you more than you will ever know.
 I look forward to seeing how you grow and change over the next year.