My Helena Marie

Today my beautiful Helena turned 4. I love her so much! In fact, I don't know what words can describe it. You can see from these pictures that although she's changed so much in the last four years, in the essentials she's stayed the same: preternaturally smart, major personality, strong will, happy - or sad - with a vengeance, thoughtful, observant, caring, understanding beyond her years, and very good at singing.

Not only that, she can give a talk and say a prayer with aplomb. She loves her friends, even the imaginary ones and those who live only in the television (like Dora and Diego and Alicia). She loves Heavenly Father and Jesus. She loves her family. She is taking this "being four" thing very, very seriously.

She pushes me to the Outer Limits of parenting, in both directions. Her assignment in this life is to be my "refiner's fire" - burning away the bad and leaving the good. Someday she'll start to feel the responsibility of being the oldest sibling, and she'll be ready for it. I love that she is already such a caring older sister to Hunter (except when she pushes him, because she's trying to help him walk faster).

I love you, Helena. I can't wait to see you grow up, but I hope I can remember every moment of watching it go by. From the day you were born you have held my heart firmly in your hands. You're my sweet girl.