Four.

You might think a 6-layered rainbow cake and Rainbow cupcakes would suffice for birthday treats... but since birth Elle isn't particularly known for doing anything halfway, so The Big Four turned out to be nothing less. Given the choice of any restaurant for her birthday dinner, E chose the local Mexican one. It absolutely sums up her personality that she drools over the attention one receives while being serenaded with great Mexican fanfare, musical instruments, and of course a giant sombrero. There are those who are mortified by such an experience, but not Elle. The kid loves an audience, and knows EXACTLY how to work one. Trust me, I'm aware of the potential dangers of this character trait in its teenage form...

The ENORMOUS fried ice cream sundae was equally well received. Seriously, don't they make kid-sized versions of these things?!

Sporting the school Birthday Hat on the way to dinner

Oh sweet Elle, I can't spend too much time thinking about how much you've grown over the past 4 years as it makes me inexplicably teary-eyed. I've said it a thousand times, but it truly does seem like just yesterday we were welcoming you into this world-- our precious, perfect, endearingly high-strung-from-the-beginning firstborn. I know I've said it at every birthday, but this year you really have become completely a Little Girl (excuse me, BIG girl), with not even a trace of baby left. You are brilliant. Absolutely brilliant in so many ways that continue to amaze me. You may be one of the most strong-willed mammals ever to grace the planet, but you also have a huge heart and a sense of compassion and kindness well beyond your years.

You are hilarious. Witty beyond belief. The majority of adults are not as clever as you are at age 4. You are inquisitive, with an insatiable curiosity about things I'd never thought of but wish I had. You have the vocabulary of a (well-educated) adult. You know all your letters and the sounds they make, and you can write most of them. You are great at puzzles, and have every word of pretty much every book we own memorized. This makes trying to paraphrase in effort to shorten bedtime routine challenging. 

You are impulsive, which is both frustrating and delightful at times. You love the spotlight. You do things with all your heart; if an apple can be eaten passionately, you can do it. If a game of chutes and ladders can be played in dramatic fashion, you can do it. You have your moments, but most of the time you are an awesome big sister.

You love dressing up, pretending to be all sorts of things, assigning us all sorts of roles in your elaborate scripts, dancing, chewing gum, going to the beach, books, and pretty much all food. You wear party dresses everywhere you go. Your favorite meal is steak, brussels sprouts, and bulgur, which makes me incredibly proud. You don't like riding your bike, naps, bedtime, mayonnaise, pants/shorts or getting your nails clipped. 

You are decidedly bossy. But in a way that I hope will make you a great leader as you grow up.

You make me smile every day of my life. You are my heart, my sunshine, my angel. I am so blessed to be your Mommy. Happy 4th Birthday, EKG!