Four {Three No More}
Tonight, I put Ivy to bed, and she was three. Come tomorrow, she will wake four.
I don’t quite know how to feel. We’re entering the unfamiliar. I’ve known all about one year old girls. And I know about girls aged two. (They’re just delightful..most of the time). And little girls aged three? They’ve mattered most. For the past year, I’ve had two of them. All those days of Ivy sharing Ava’s age. A strange thing, her older sister being older, until she no longer was. Is she younger now? I don’t even know.
As I tucked Ivy in, excitedly talking of birthday cakes and wishes, I felt afraid. I’m not ready to give up three. It seems we’re leaving a little more behind. I want to be able to hold this moment and know that our days will always center around princesses and sparkly shoes and Dora. What happens at four? A part of me is excited to find out, and so very grateful that I even can but a part of me can’t help but wish and yearn and fear the unknown.
Tomorrow will be all about our birthday girl, we’ll laugh and love and be thankful. I’ll wish for different but I’ve become used to mixed blessings and the birthday celebrations tinged with missing.
Today though, I just miss simple, happy anticipation.
Sheye x
49 shared sentiments
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Sending love and peace. Happy Birthday Ivy!
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Happy Birthday Ivy!!
…and a special birthday wish that {Four} is a WHOLE lot more than three.
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Birthday Blessings to Miss Ivy and her family.
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That is just too sweet! I can tell you with having boys 3 is such a beautiful age. But even 4 and 5 are totally great too! ;)
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Happy 4th birthday to Ivy!
-Desiree
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Happy 4th birthday to Ivy! And sending lots of warm wishes and peace your way.
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Happy birthday Ivy!!!!
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happy birthday ivy!
(and mama? 4 is just kinda like 3. with a little bit more attitude on the side, though not quite as much as 5 brings. and princesses and sparkly shoes are still acceptable. most of the time.)
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Happy Birthday Ivy!!! WE too are entering the unknown on Tuesday…. Adelaide’s 4th birthday…. It does seem like such a huge leap from 3…. and oh how precious are dressup dresses, plastic crowns, plastic high heels and lots of stuffed animal subjects. :) precious memories and moments!
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Four is Wonderful! Even better than 2 and 3, but yes, it’s different. Not a baby, not a toddler, but a little girl. Many happy birthday wishes to you an your family!
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Happy Birthday Ivy!
We’re close in our thoughts, Sheye.
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I have some of the same thoughts as my Jocelyn is the same age as I remember Evan. I look at her and her siblings and wonder who Evan looked most like. What would he look like if he were here…
Your Ivy looks so much like Ava to me, though I’ve never actually met either of them. In some ways I can imagine how wonderful it would be to “know” what Ava would look like as the years pass. And by the same token the pain is there, too. Yes, mixed blessings. There is a great price we pay to be so inextricably linked to heaven and when the time comes for a reunion there will be lots of tears and the biggest embrace.
Happy Birthday Ivy! Your mother adores you and so do random strangers across the world.
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your photos speak volumes, and your words make me cry. I hate it when they leave 3 for different reasons. 3 is my favorite age. they still say and do the funniest things but yet they can get dressed by themselves – sometimes with things backwards – but that makes it my favorite. Happy Birthday to your sweet girl.
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Happy Birthday wishes for Ivy and virtual hugs for Mummy on entering a whole new era, xxxx
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Happy Birthday Ivy!! Four is delightful!!
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I hope with all my heart that four is just fantastic!
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Happy Birthday!
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oh! Happy birthday Ivy. She is a beautiful girl with beautiful pink clothes…
Ava will grow in your hearts but will stay eternally a magnificent girl, I think of her, often.
I often think to your courage, you are an admirable woman.
Happy Birthday Miss Ivy, Love
Lisou
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We’re sending happy birthday wishes to a lovely little Ivy!!! And big hugs to you.
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No matter how old she is she will always be your little girl. Hold on to her as long as you can because once she has her own little family you may feel as if you have lost her. But don’t worry about Ivy being four years of age. Think of it as a positive thing. She will develope more speech and she will be more beautiful everyday =]
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I will never forget Ivi’s birthday. When ever I find out any childs birthday I seem to always remember it =] Tomorrow is Ivi’s birthday and just so that my internet does not brake down for no reason, I will say it here now. Happy Birthday princess Ivy. I hope you have a beautiful wonderful day and I hope all your wishes come true.
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Happy Birthday to Ivy! Absolutely adore your photos, as usual.
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Happy Birthday Ivy and a big hug for mommy as well! Enjoy every moment of four and more!
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This post has me in tears and I dont even know why. The first thing I thought of was a post you wrote a long time ago, you were talking about Ava and you said “I’m coutning the days until shes 5.” And she never was. Not on Earth, at least. It was the first thing I thought of when I saw the title of this post. I think Ivy’s still the little sister… thats just the way it should be. I bet tomorrow Ava will be sending Ivy birthday kisses from Heaven. Happy Birthday Ivy.
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Four. So much more fun to come.
Hugs and have a wonderful day of celebration.
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It just hit me that I teach 3 years old and when January will come, one by one they’ll turn 4.
I feel your fears of Ivy growing “older” on Ava, and I know I cannot do anything, no one can, but…well but…I have no words.
Big hugs to you and your family.
And a happy birthday to Ivy!
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Happy Birthday Miss Ivy!
Have an awesome day :)
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Happy Birthday Ivy.
Enjoy, Sheye. Four is a beautiful age :-)
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Happy birthday to the most beautiful 4 year old girl I know♥
Happy birth-day to the most wonderful parents there could ever be xx
Vxx
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Happy 4th Birthday Ivy! I hope all of your birthday wishes come true!
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Happy Birthday to your Ivy! And 4 is still all about princesses, sparkly shoes and Dora. Trust me. I could go another day without ever hearing Dora’s voice again! =) Enjoy your special day with your special girl!
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Happy Birthday to miss Ivy!
It seems like yesterday she was only 1!
and here already 4 years old. that seems unreal to me!
I hope you enjoy your day with your sweet girl!
I will be thinking of both of your sweet girls, on this day!
lots of love,
tara
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Happy Birthday to Ivy and I wish all of you a wonderful day. My Emily is five and a half and dressed up today in her Belle princess gown and crown and heels to ask Daddy to the ‘Girls’ Choice’ dance she was pretending to have this afternoon. Still tons of sparkles and wonder at five and a half. Although, now she adds, “I look hot” when she dresses up. Four will be beautiful. Hugs to you all from NY.
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Happy happy Birthday IVY !!!
I have been thinking of you all week. I knew Ivy’s birthday was coming and that she would turn four and I wondered how that feels. It is the magic ‘age’ I desire the most and the one I fear. I so desire to do four. I hope she had a magical day, that having a four year old girl in the house is full of the beauty I dream. I hope you’re ok.
Love always
Dxxx
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Happy Birthday Ivy!
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Ava will always be your little girl. Pictures and feelings within you, forever capturing her sweetness and holding her memory. She will be an angel who always helps you to treasure and appreciate the past – I know that you are well aware that time and life are such precious gifts and we all so sadly and easily forget that.
As for Ivy… She represents the future and all that there is to know and wish and hope for and realize. She is such a beautiful little lady. I wish her the happiest of birthdays, and an amazing year ahead.
God bless your dear family. May God give you strength and peace and joy and hope – and always love.
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Happy Birthday Ivy Sweets!
Something Pretty: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crayola_skies/4178309532/
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Thinking of you and sending birthday wishes for Ivy!
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Ava would always be the big sister watching Ivy. Happy Birthday to Ivy, I hope she has a very magical day.
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I hope that four can be a wonderful thing for you and Ivy. And little Miss Ivy will always be Ava’s little sister, she will just become older. Thanks for sharing all about Ava and Ivy with us.
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Thank you for you wonderful blogs that touch my heart. Happy Birthday beautiful Ivy!
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I know if anyone can conquer 4, it is you and Ivy together : )
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Happy Birthday Ivy!
As always Sheye, your words speak to our hearts and tears cannot be prevented.
We have just entered the 3′s and I am always reminded of your beautiful Ava. I am sure she will be smiling upon her little sister tomorrow, dancing and celebrating with the angels.
Relish the excitement of a new birth year, we only live them once.
Hugs to you
Nessa xxx
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happy birthday to your beautiful girl. your words amaze me.
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When I turned four I received a birthday card that illustrated and told the wonders of four: four wheels on a car, four legs on a table, four paws on a kitten. I decided, with card in hand, that it must be the best year, four.
It is a magical one. Happy Birthday to Ivy.
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oh dear! i am so sorry i missed wishing sweet ivy a happy 4th birthday. my annie viola turned 4 on 17 december – we have 4 year olds sheye! amazing. i felt exactly the same way the night before annie’s birthday – i wanted to hold on to 3 just a little bit longer but alas annie has been dreaming of turning 4 – honestly it is all she has talked about for months so i welcomed it with open arms. here’s to 4 and our darling december girls. i send you and ivy a big hug from annie and me!! xo m
here’s a bit of her birthday celebration – ivy would have fit right in!
http://bluelimephoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/lime-slice-anniefriendsmanicurespizzasm.html
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I am so behind in my blog following!
Four year olds are devine I loved when Amber was four we had such a wonderful year together with just Amber and Mummy, it was also the year my baby started pre-prep I guess that is the beauty of having your daughter in the second part of the year you will have a whole delicious year to spend with Ivy by your side!
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY IVY! I hope you both have a wonderful year getting aquainted with being four, it was some kind of wonderful to me!
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Love four, and yes, we are still totally into princesses and dora and all the frills and fun. Enjoy it!
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I love seeing in frames, I love the beauty in the ordinary, I love my camera, I love that when I see images I hear too. I love the latelight, I love finding moments I didn’t imagine and I love creating moments I did. I love learning more every day, I love sharing what I’ve come to know, and I love making pictures pretty.
I’m so glad you stopped by. xx
Hugs to you and your family tomorrow….and happy birthday to Ivy!!