My 4-year old

Dearest Marielle,

We had so much fun on your 4th birthday party! Over a hundred guests came over to our house to witness you blow the four candles on your birthday cake and to celebrate with us our house blessing. Prior to your big day, you were very excited in turning 4! In fact, you even had a countdown! :) There were so many kids who joined you in welcoming yet another exciting year! I made personalized arts and crafts basket for each kid and your titos and titas led fun and exciting games! We had a lot of Filipino food which included the famous Lechon no less! Attending to all guests and making sure that everything goes smoothly was very tiring but each time I see a huge smile on your face, everything just seems to disappear.

I guess you took your "turning 4" very seriously because immediately after that, you tried to think and act like a real four-year-old in a blink of an eye! You try to convince me that you can reach the pantry because as you always say now, you're big already. You refuse to hold my hand when we cross the street because you think you're big now. You want to wear your bigger shoes because you say that you're already 4, and that you're a big kid already. I say NO. You may be four, but you will always be that little baby I've always played with before.

Yesterday while I was doing my homework, I guess my stress was too evident as you approached me and asked me why I was tired. And then I said, I had a long day at work and still a long way to go for my homework. And then this is what you said: "Don't worry mommy, when I'm 6, I will work already, Hindi ka na kailangan magwork. That's a promise." Impossible as it may seem it still made my heart melt.

You are the sweetest girl ever and I will love you forever and ever. That's a promise. :)