The Andersons in Austin: 4 years old!

4 years ago today I became a mother. Stella, this charming, energetic, silly, and delightful 4 year old girl changed my life in so many ways. She taught me so much about myself, both good and bad. She made me realize just how much I have to learn to be the best mother I possibly can. But she makes wanting to learn easy. I have a very good reason to keep trying, continue making mistakes, but learning from them. She taught me the most about unconditional love.

We celebrated her birthday with a party at our home. Stella continues to show what a caring, patient and understanding big sister she is to Phoebe. Poor Phoebe has pneumonia and was again rather cranky and upset on a major holiday (first Christmas and now Stella's birthday). Stella took it in stride that her birthday started off with a crying and cranky sister that needed to be attended to.

However, after opening her presents, having a party with her friends (and a Curious George cake), she realized that her 4th birthday was pretty special. In fact tonight she said "This was the best birthday ever." Phoebe continues to recover. The poor girl can't catch a break this winter.

At 4 Stella really enjoys imaginative play, swinging, singing, painting, crafts and playing games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders. She loves being a big sister and nothing makes her more happy than getting her sister to laugh and chase her around the house. She is enjoying dance class and gymnastics at school. She loves to look at books for almost an hour before bed. She is becoming very patient, empathetic, humorous and has an enormous amount of love to give. Four is fabulous!

Curious George Cake