Four years old!

Our sweet Caroline, you are now FOUR! It's so hard to believe!

Right now you are our mischievous, smart, loving little girl.

You absolutely love reading and have even started doing so on your own -- by memorizing the words. Your current favorite book is definitely "Corduroy" & you never turn down being read to.

You started preschool last month and really enjoy it! Your teacher's name is Miss Kori. You currently attend on Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings. So far you've had show & tell, a visit from the local fire department (you got to sit in the truck & hold the water hose) and a birthday party with your class, complete with Frozen cupcakes! You seem to be a real social butterfly and are always saying "bye" enthusiastically to your friends as you leave. You even have your first crush on a boy... and always get a little smirk on your face when we ask about him. ;-) So precious!

We had a low-key celebration for your birthday this year at your very favorite restaurant, Gattitown! I had a half marathon the morning of your birthday (where you got to cross the finish line with me - amazing) so we really had reason to celebrate. You received some great gifts & enjoyed a delicious cake!

I still continue to jot down funny quotes of yours -- but to be honest -- I probably miss about 75% of them. You are constantly cracking us up nowadays! You have the best sense of humor. But here's some of my recent favorites...

*huge clap of thunder*
Caroline: (completely monotone) "Uh oh. That's probably a thunderstorm or something."

*Reese hits you*
Caroline: "Reese! I am not a pinata! I'm just your family."

*Your dad leaves for work*
Caroline: (looks at me) "So, I guess you're babysitting now."

*You run through a sprinkler and get water in your face*
Caroline: "Oh damn!"
Mommy: "What did you just say?!"
"Oh nothing. I was just talking to Reese."

Caroline: "Mom, do you want a hot shower?"
Mommy: "Umm... I guess so."
*You blow a raspberry, spitting all over me & then laugh hysterically*

*playing with a paper bag puppet that you got at Vacation Bible School*
"Hi, my name is Jesus & I have no friends!"

"What's she doing with that harmonica? Harmonica-ing?"

*notice dew from the grass on your dad's shoes*
"Dad, why are your shoes so sweaty?"

Mommy: "Caroline, do you want me to have another baby?"
Caroline: "No, I like this one."
M: "We could keep Reese!"
C: "Oh! We can have two?! I think we should have Baby Coleman!"

*I was watching one of my favorite TV shows while you and Reese were trying to get my attention. You put your arm around Reese and walk out of the room, saying...*
"It's okay, Reese. I'll be your mommy tonight."

Caroline: "I'm going to sleep in my castle tonight."
Mommy: "That's because you're a princess."
C: ""Yeah. But I don't have a dress yet. But it's okay. Sometimes princesses are naked like me."

*Playing airplane*
Caroline: "Okay, mom. Where are you flying today?"
Mommy: "Chicago."
C: "Sna-nago, huh? Okay, fasten your seat belt!"

"I pledge allegiance to the flag that's made in America."

Mommy: "You're going to be the best mommy in the world someday, Caroline."
Caroline: "Really? *claps and smiles* But I don't want to be a mommy. Then everyone would have to call me Emily."

"I have chicken and ducklings all over my beard, mom." -- translation, "I have chicken and dumplings all over my chin, mom."

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I've talked on your blog in the past about your diagnosis of hypothyroidism. You were on medication for over a year -- and getting lab work done every 6 weeks or so. It was really tough on you. We eventually went and saw a specialist at Riley Children's Hospital, and he told concluded that - yes, your levels were high - but not high enough for a small child to be medicated. So, no more medicine and no more blood work for now! We are very, very thankful for that.

You currently have the sweetest relationship with your sister. You love her more than anything else in the world & it shows. Every time I drop you off at preschool, you tell your teacher "that's Reese, she's my sister" -- even though she already knows that. Just like any sisters, though -- you can be best friends and, at the same time, worst enemies. Reese really knows how to push your buttons and does it often! I have a feeling you guys will always this kind of relationship.

Some of your current favorite things: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood (TV show), anything and everything with Jack Skellington on it (thanks to your dad's influence), Play Doh, playing restaurant, string cheese, popsicles, bath time, Frozen, playing with your Legos, helping with Grammie's cat Lily when we go to her house (particularly cleaning the litter box & giving her cat treats), painting/coloring/anything artistic, playing on your Kindle and helping me sweep the floors.

Here are some more recent pictures... :)

Caroline, you are three and a half!

Our sweetest Caroline, you are now three & a half. Time really flies! You are full of energy these days -- always wanting to go play in the backyard or running laps around the living room. You wake up around 8am and are nonstop until bedtime around 8pm. You've given up on the idea of naps. 

In addition to always being on the move, you also talk constantly. Seriously. Unless you're sleeping or eating, chances are you're jabbering about something. Here's a list of your quotes I've been saving on my phone over the past several months... enjoy! 

Caroline: "I'm hungry. I want square cheese!" 

Mom: "The only square cheese we have is pepperjack. It's really spicy." 

C: "I want square cheese. I want square cheese. I WANT SQUARE CHEESE!!!!!"

(Takes a tiny bite)

C: "Eww. It's spicy."

Mom: "Caroline, what do you want to do on your birthday? Want to go to the zoo?"

Caroline: "Will the giraffes have happy birthday cake?"

Caroline: "Aww, my piddle sister!"

Mom: "Piddle?"

C: "Pretty little sister!"

Mom: "Don't pick your nose!"

Caroline: "It's okay, mommy. I can be gentle."

Mom: "What's my name?"

Caroline: "Mommy Grace Hampton" 

(Watching Dad count money in his wallet)

Caroline: "Daddy, I need 10 dollars."

Dad: "What? Why?"

C: "PLEASE!"

D: "Why do you want 10 dollars?"

C: "THANK YOU!"

Mom: "My stomach hurts."

Caroline: "Oh! Want a bandaid?"

(Runs out of the room to get one)

(After being handed a plate with ham, cheese & some BBQ chips)

"Oh! Nice work, mom!"

Caroline: "Mommy, we have a super big problem!"

Mom: "What's that?"

C: "Chicken nuggets!!!

M: "What about them?"

C: "I NEED some!"

(Play shopping with Reese) 

"Do you need peppers today? You need chocolate cake? You need diapers for your butt, Reese cup?"

Daddy:  "Would you mind giving me a little space, Caroline?

Caroline: "Sure! What's it look like?"

(After realizing the wireless was turned off on the Kindle) 

"I can't watch Barney. He's dead." 

(Takes a sip of root beer)

"Eww! It's spicy coke!" 

"Mom, I just took a big sneeze! In my nose!" 

Caroline: "Mom, I'm the hare & you're the tourist. Let's race!"

Mom: "What city am I visiting?"

C: "Huh?!" 

"No, Reese! Don't eat the palm tree on top of that strawberry. We throw it out!"

Mom: "Does Reese have curly hair?" 

Caroline: "No. She just has a forehead." 

Mom: "Caroline! Santa's coming tonight!!"

Caroline: "Okay. I gotta pee." 

(How you currently say spaghetti)

"Ska-Betty!" 

Caroline: "Mom, are you a grown up?"

Mom: "Yes, I am."

C: "I wanna be a grown up, too!"

M: "You will be someday."

C: "I need to get some grown up clothes. Like a raincoat and.... some glasses."

Caroline: "When I grow up I wanna be a mommy just like you."

Mom: "You can be!"

C: "Yes. I'll be a mommy & you be Caroline. GO TO BED, CAROLINE!" (Says while pointing your finger at me)

(Holding your hand over food that had steam coming off of it)

"It's okay. I'm just touching the hot." 

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Some of your favorite things right now: Curious George, Barney, McDonald's Fruit & Yogurt Parfaits, picking up random rocks and leaves outside, talking on the phone with Grammie, jumping on beds, trips to the zoo and children's museum, pizza, coloring (I must hear "can I draw on this?" a dozen times a day), bubble baths with Reese, building towers out of Legos, waking daddy up for work, pineapple milkshakes from Sonic and the song "I Love It" by Icona Pop. 

We are still trying to get your hypothyroidism figured out. Last week your doctor reviewed your most recent lab results and decided to refer us to a specialist. I'm hoping this new doctor will help us find some answers. We've tried adjusting your medicine several times over the past year, but your thyroid levels always end up spiking again. Your daddy and I just really want you to be able to lead a normal life with this disorder. That's the goal. :)

We are headed down to Florida later this week for a little family vacation. I'll try to update with some pictures after we get home! Last time we went in 2012, you were an only child and still pretty little. You were afraid of the sand & not exactly a beach-lover. Well, now you've been talking about the beach nonstop for the past few months, so I'm interested to see how you react this time! It'll also be Reese's first trip to the beach. I'm so excited to make memories with you guys & enjoy a relaxing week!