Lexie's Growing Up....to FOUR...if I let her.

I have a standing joke with Lexie that she is NOT ALLOWED to grow up. She has to stay three years old and she can't ever go to school and leave me--she has to stay at home with mommie and be my 'baby' forever! She takes it literally and is such a great sport about it most of the time. You can tell she's really conflicted about being agreeable when I tease her...and she'll always relent no matter how much she wants to be older! One day she said, "Mom, I just want a birthday so I can have presents, birthday cake, and ice-cream! But I promise to not grow up." ...in a half-hearted not-sure-of-herself-tone. I laugh and cry at the same time inside because she is growing up way too fast.

Lexie is a dream-come-true. She was the answer to many prayers and came at a time in our lives when I needed her most. She is the apple of my eye (okay, I have SIX apples). I adore each of my kids, but the love I have for each of them is quite unique. It's possibly unexplainable but I do love and appreciate my children in very different ways from one another.

I absolutely ADORE my Lexie!

• I love the way she has to be rocked before she goes to bed.

• I love the way she is so close to Izzie.

• I love how she sings along with every cartoon or TV show, movie or song on the radio even if she doesn't know the words.

• I love the sound of her beautiful singing voice with intense vibrato towards the end.

• I love that Lexie is polite and will say, "my pleasure" after she's asked to help around the house.

• I love her tender spirit and how she really tries to do what's right....or to right her wrong.

• I love how she loves her primary class.

• I love it that she actually thinks she's Rapunzel and also wants to be just like Sleeping Beauty.

• I love her pretend-play and little conversations.

• I love it that she has to have her hair in a side pony everyday just because she just knows what she likes.

• I love her little lisp which is so uniquely Lexie.

• I love how she says Viviana (Babyana).

• I love her big puppy dog eyes that well up with tears when she knows she's in trouble.

• I love the way she dances in her ballet and tap class.

• I love how when we're driving home after errands she says, "mom, I'll show you the way home" and then tells me where to turn.

• I love watching Alexandra mother her little sisters and friends and take charge.

• I love it that she'll commit that she'll wake up happy and then she does.

• I love her sweet-nothings especially when she tells me that she's gonna keep me and that I'm the best mommie ever in the whole wide world. (we'll see if that sticks through her teens!)

• I love it that she insists on having pb & honey, cut in the shape of a heart.

• I love it that she absolutely HAS to wear a dress each and every day.

• I love it that she puts on her 'yipstick' when I put on mine.

• I love it that Lexie insisted on going to the hospital EVERYDAY to hold Viviana.

• I love it that she loves to pray and insists on being the prayer-giver every time.

• I love it that she has to pull up a stool and help me in the kitchen when I'm baking.

• I love when she wants me to skip with her.

• I love it that she values and loves her friends.

• She is ALL GIRL and I love that about her.

• I LOVE being Alexandra's mommie....she's a true joy to raise. I am so blessed!

Okay, Lex, you can turn four now....but you'll still always be my little girl!

Happy Happy Birthday, Alexandra Shay!

anyone have any suggestions on how to format multiple photos in one post in blogger?!!!! What a pain in the rear!