Anna Gray, the four year old!

I don't see how this is possible, but I suppose it's true. I get very sentimental about it all! Maybe because she's our baby. Maybe because her first birthday held so much emotion that I can't help but re-live it every February 16th.

Such sweet memories of leaving the orphanage, getting to our apartment and stripping off layer upon required layer, and just pulling her in. Pulling my sweet, squishy, peach, toothless and grinning birthday baby into me- finally allowed to sit on the floor and breathe her deliciousness without watchful eyes or rules. Just making her mine. And grateful. After working so hard to be her Mama, I finally was.

Three years later and I did the same thing today.  This time because we woke up to an inch of ice on every surface, I peeled off her layers and drew in her birthday sweetness. Now her grin holds a mouthful of teeth and her soft arms can work themselves in and out of her coat by themselves. She isn't a baby anymore. She's FOUR!

A year ago, she wasn't quite walking and this morning she "skated" along the sidewalk (saying "sate.sate.sate." with each glide). She's had a growth spurt, both physical and developmental. She's gotten tall- relatively speaking. She finally outgrew her Ukrainian sweater and today wore it as a scarf.

The jeans she has on are an 18-24 month, but really she's more in the 2T-3T range. She's almost as big as she thinks she is...

Looking very "Four-and-adorable."

She's got some spunk, mostly learned/earned from being the youngest of five. She repeats everything- clearly. She uses her own name as a curse word when she's frustrated (Anna Grayyyuughh), because that's what she hears everyone else say when they're frustrated...with her :)

She has gotten very... independent (wink)... and cannot be easily pursuaded by others' desires-- like going downstairs for annual birthday pictures!

"No tank you."

Her speech is conversational at home and usually school, and she is working hard to make it more understandable to others. She uses 2-4 word sentences and can easily answer yes ma'am or no sir to any question asked (though sometimes she's forgets her manners.) She can go up and down stairs with use of a borrowed finger and/or rail, she can feed herself, and follow simple directions. She is great with matching, knows her colors, can count to 11, and is learning to recognize/spell her name. She is beginning to use the potty- inconsistently- but off to a great start.

Her blanket is her most treasured item (and not easily replaceable... so, fingers crossed).

She loves Elmo/Sesame St, jumping on her mini trampoline, and books books books. She loves cards- like, any cards- flashcards, UNO cards, Old Maid cards, greeting cards. No idea why. She just looks through them, packs them around, and looks through them again. She has started taking care of her babies and pushes them around the house in their stroller,

She loved her party with her family yesterday, even if her mama accidentally got trick candles. She especially loved her cards and exclaimed "So cute!" with each gifted outfit.

She truly is a treasure. I'm sure at some point, she will be absolutely rotten because everyone in this house treats her as such. She doesn't do much to negate the stereotype that people with Down Syndrome are always happy.

She's a person, she has her moments obviously, but she can forgive and forget in one heartbeat and squeeze your neck like no other. (Just don't squat down or she'll get you from behind and squeeze the life out of ya).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR DARLING GIRL. You have grown so much and you could not be more loved.

Hope you enjoyed your icy birthday with your favorite people :)
See icy people below.