My four

I've been blessed with 4 daughters. They have similar interests but are very different in their personalities. For those who don't spend much time with us, this is my very late new year description of what they are each like right now.

Grace is nearly 6 and has such a tender heart. People who work at her school all tell me the same thing: that she is so sweet and has a heart of gold. Grace is often making up crafts to do, and when she comes home from school she likes to help Madeline and Charlotte with their writing. As a typical firstborn, she always pretends to be the mom or teacher when she plays with her sisters. She likes to have her hair in a low, side ponytail after admiring a 2nd grader in the lunchroom, and prefers to wear skirts or dresses. Grace has always been very particular about the setup of her bed when she sleeps, and continues to arrange all her pillows and animals in exactly the same position each night. The only exception has been since Alice was born, and she now sleeps with a baby doll bed next to her own bed like a bassinet. Grace has always had a big appetite, and will eat anything that is put in front of her. She often asks for another helping after she eats dessert. Grace worries about things that a typical 5 year old shouldn't, like leaving home and going to college. She calls Madeline and Charlotte "Hun" and likes to give them piggy-back rides. I've loved watching her grow this year, but the changes have been too fast for me.

Favorite food? Chicken wings, pizza, healthy stuff...I like everything.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A horse rider or a nurse that helps babies come out.
What scares you the most? When people wear those bear masks with sharp teeth.
Favorite color? All the colors.
Favorite animal? Deer and zebra.
Favorite game? Chase.
Favorite thing about being 5? Going to school.
Favorite thing to do with Mom and Dad? Staying home from school. Madeline is a 3 1/2 year old who marches to her own beat. She likes to talk out of the side of her mouth, and when she points at something, she moves her head to the side and closes one eye so that you're not sure what she's pointing at. Madeline usually draws herself in pictures and is a shout-talker. She wakes each morning with perfectly smooth hair in the front and a large rat nest in the back. She is always extremely cranky after a nap, whether she's woken up or wakes on her own, and so we all prefer her to just have some quiet, alone time instead. She over-uses the word "probably" and despite many explanations of the meaning of a promise, she still says "I promise" when it isn't appropriate. She would love to have macaroni and cheese for dinner every night, and is overly dramatic the 6 nights a week that she doesn't get it. She loves her books and anything electronic, and looks forward to seeing which library book Grace chooses each week at school. Madeline still loves to lay with Tucker and hold his ear when she drinks her milk, and she seems to enjoy having a little time to be the bossy sister when Grace is gone. She licks her lips quickly in a complete circle around her mouth several times and throws her head back when she smiles big or laughs.

Favorite food? Macaroni and cheese, pizza, and butter.
Favorite color? Purple, pink, and blue.
Favorite animal? Unicorns, deers, and kangaroos.
Favorite movie? Winnie the Pooh.
Favorite game? I spy.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A candy shop girl and a cowgirl that rides a horse (she says with a fake thick accent).
Favorite thing about being 3? Doing gymnastics.
Favorite thing to do with Mom and Dad? Helping. Charlotte is 2 1/2 and chatters like a monkey. She loves to sing and try to dress herself. She's petrified of any kind of bug, even a ladybug. She chugs her milk, doesn't like meat and draws "mean guys" a lot. She refuses to use the potty, saying she'll fall in. She gasps when she's excited, says thank you for everything, and "watch this" a lot. Charlotte taps her cheek when she's thinking, asks to be held a lot through the day, stands with her hands on her hips, flat-out refuses to eat most dinners, and sings Yankee Doodle whenever she helps me around the house. She pretends to burp and says "scuse me", goes to bed with at least 10 little toys, and says "whoa, that's tricky" when she trips. She sings Jingle Bells and adds whatever she's doing ("...drinking milk all the way"). I hear "me don't want to" way more than I'd like, and she likes to ask me "want to see my baby?' lifts her shirt and says, "her name?....Alice Josephine."

Favorite color? Pink. Favorite animal? Zebra. What scares you the most? Mr. Bones (skeletons) Favorite food? Eggs. Favorite TV show? Curious George. Favorite games? Hide and seek. Favorite thing to do with Mom and Dad? Play.Alice is a big and healthy 8-weeker. She makes a lot of baby animal noises, especially at night. She loves her baths, being carried in the ergo, but doesn't like her car seat. She is the only one of my kids to take a pacifier, and I'm very grateful. She has moved her stare from my hairline to my eyes, and I get more and more smiles each day. She recently found her hands, and has them in her mouth if she doesn't have her pacifier. Alice also makes her sisters laugh when she smiles at her own reflection. I treasure the quiet moments that I have to just sit and hold her.