Dear Gaffer on your Fourth Birthday

(I borrowed this idea from another mom’s website)

Dear Sherman,

You were such a wee little thing when you were born that I cannot believe what a tall, vibrant, powerful girl you are. Tomorrow when we all wake up, you will be four. "I’m too tiny."

Sherman is not your real name. I usually use the pseudonym of "The Gaffer" when I refer to you in this blog, but at Christmas time, you announced that your new name is Sherman. Last summer, around the middle of August, you became a snail, a baby snail, but you kept your own name. You informed us that snails don’t talk, don’t walk and don’t feed themselves. As a baby snail you would climb into our bed each morning and go under the covers into your shell.  You even dressed as a snail for Hallowe’en. Actually, you were a Princess Baby Snail.

In mid-December, you became a worm. A baby squirm worm to be exact. You did not have arms or legs, but if you really need to move somewhere, your tail splits and you can walk for awhile. You have never managed to grow arms, but you do have "worm dots" that seem to function in the same way.

Your favourite dinner is chicken nuggets, fries, with lots of ketchup, chocolate milk and a toy ….from MacDonald’s of course. That is what we will have for dinner tomorrow night for your birthday party. We will also be having a worm cake. Last year you wanted a baby humpback whale cake. Your active imagination keeps your mommy on her toes. Your favourite snack is cheese, pickles and crackers which you like to share with your dad.

You like play-doh, My Little Pony, painting, Toopie and Beenu and hiding mommy’s jewellery around the house.

Your favourite sports are skiing and tumble tots. You love doing headstands on Momma’s bed.

You go to  a Montessori pre-school and are very excited to go to your big sisters’ school next year for kindergarten. You love books and reading and many nights you sleep with all fifty plus books in your bed. You would like a sister for your birthday whom you want to name Baby Light and you’d also like a purple party dress.

You believe that party dresses are an acceptable form of daily fashion and usually pull one over your jeans and top. Even for skiing and skating lessons.

You are very close to your brother and sisters and miss them very much when they are not at home. You and Mlle Jenesaispas spend a lot of time together and have a very special bond.

You cannot go to bed without two stories, two songs, one being "I know and old lady who swallowed a fly…", butterfly, eskimo and some smooches and then the all important hug on the leg. Lately you have been waking up in the middle of the night crying because "dust is falling on you."

Your favourite songs are Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and Can you Feel the Love Tonight from the Lion King.

I know this letter is starting to droan on for readers but I am loving thinking and talking about you. Your momma and daddy are so lucky and blessed to have you in our lives. I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow morning and celebrate with you.

I love you!

Love Momma.