Dear Piper,

Today you are four!

Let's be honest-- you are going to wake up on the morning of your birthday, and I won't be there with you.  You girls had an impromptu sleepover at Nana and Paw Paw's though, so I'm pretty sure no tears will be shed (until I come to take you home).

Pipes, this year with you has been so full.  You have experienced ALL of the feelings.  With you, my passionate little girl, the highs are so high, and the lows are low.  One of my favorite memories from this year is a conversation we had after Myla's birthday party.  The kids all painted pictures, and I showed you yours the next morning.

     "Piper, this is a great painting!" I told you.

     "What?! That's not mine!" you replied, horrified. 

     "Yes, it is.  It has your name on the back.  I like how you used so many colors." I said.

      Through genuine, crocodile tears, you blubbered, "But I was twying to make a wainbow, and this just wooks wike scwibble, scwibble, scwibble.  That's NOT mine!"

Seeing the heartbreak over your real picture not resembling the one you had in your mind was just the funniest thing.  I had to hold back my laughter, because to you, it was a big deal.  (And besides, what adult doesn't deal with disappointment over unmet expectations in themselves and others?)

Piper, you hold such a special place in our family-- the only one who gets to be the little sibling AND the big sibling, and it looks like no easy feat.  I love watching how you run right alongside the big kids but can also take care of your little brother with your softer side.  You are starting preschool in the fall (*tear*), and my hope for this year is that you can have something for the first time in your life that is your special "thing." You are special and unique, and I want you to have the same confidence and strength standing alone as you do standing in the middle of our family.

Piper Joy Livingston, you are a force to be reckoned with.  I love you like you love your yummy thumby.  Let's keep this thing we have going for another year, ok?

Love, Mom

P.S. I'm going to start taking you to auditions for commercials or something so that you can become small-time famous enough to pay for future dental work (since you informed me that this isn't the year you'll be giving up the thumb).