Echo every day

My lovely Echo,

I thought you might want to look back and know how you spend your day to day.

Here is what you are up to at age 4:

You go to gymnastics once a week. We signed you up for a more "professional" track, because that was the only class at the same time as Zoe's. The class is at 4pm on Mondays, so in most cases Faith picks you and Zoe up from school and drives you to Ballard. I put extra snacks in Zoe's backpack for you. When Faith can't make it, usually papa and sometimes I take you to your class.

On Saturdays you go to ballet in the morning, and to Italian class in the afternoon.

On Fridays, your preschool closes at 3:30 in wintertime, so you and I hang out at the doughnut shop across the street. They have strong wifi, so I do my work, while you devour a doughnut. We always step in with an exciting anticipation of the one with pink frosting and rainbow sprinkles - your favorite kind. If they have it, it's a great day! If they don't you settle for a different kind. Recently you discovered that they also sell ice cream, and I think going forward, if they are out of your favorite doughnut, you'll be opting for a scoop of mango sorbet.

Listening to you talk and having conversations with you is exhilarating, and you talk so much. Zoe used to be the same at your age, but you used to be on the more quiet side. I think it's also due to the surgery. You have so much more energy. You talk to Zoe at dinner table or when we are driving, and it is the cutest and the most unbelievable thing.

You are happy and generous with your hugs and love. You still love to be carried, and if you are tired, you still lay on my lap, or rest your head on my shoulder if you are in my arms. When Zoe's friends come to play dates, you give them plenty of hugs.

You still say water-lemon, and raccoon, instead of cocoon, as in the caterpillar got into the raccoon.

You absolutely love horses. The hobby horse I got from Goodwill has been seeing a lot of use. You ride on it while watching a show about horses, you also feed it, decorate it with ribbons, and wipe it clean. during harvest (Thanksgiving, Halloween) I searched for a pumpkin patch that specifically had pony rides, thinking you'd be thrilled, but you were too scared to ride. I should have insisted, even forced you. I'm sure you would have wanted to ride it again and again, because that's just how you are. You are a little scared of trying at first, and once you do, you love it.

When you go to bed, you ask me to come later and carry you upstairs, which I still sometimes do.

On to a few specific memories:

On the last day of school before the winter break both you and Zoe had pajama day, and on top of it all, Zoe also had a Silly Sweater day. So the night before she and I were in her room decorating a sweater in  a holiday theme using gift box shaped Christmas tree decoration, bows, stocking, and ribbons. You came and saw us in action, then immediately left. While Zoe and I continued working on our masterpiece, you came back in to ask if you could have some ribbon and some tape. I went to peek in your room and you were half way done decorating a shirt you pulled from your closed in the same style Zoe and i were decorating her sweater. And you did an amazing job, cutting and taping. "would you like some socks too?" I asked. Yes! you said. We pinned two socks on the shirt, and in the morning, we put a chocolate coin in each one.

When I picked you up from school, you told me all excited, that at nap time you ate the chocolate coins without the teacher seeing you.

I love you so much!

Mommy.