Happy Birthday Song! Ashlynn turns four

Ashlynn turned four this past weekend and my husband and I were just beaming with pride.  Last year, she couldn't blow out her candles, sing the Happy Birthday Song, much less even say Happy Birthday.

When she woke up in the morning, balloons were waiting for her in our hallway.  Before she hit the bathroom she excitedly said "BAYOONS!!"

As she stepped in the kitchen, we had a Minnie Mouse Birthday banner, tablecloth, and big balloon decorating the kitchen.  She could not stop talking!  "Minnie right there, and Minnie right there, and Ashlynn"s Happy Birthday!"  When my husband came out in the kitchen she called "Look daddy!  Minnie! Ashlynn's Happy Birthday!"  When he asked her how old she was, she proudly held up four fingers and pronounced "fowa."  She just recently has been generalizing the 'f' and she said it correctly without any cues. Also, last year, the motor plan to hold up the right amount of fingers just wasn't there; but this year, with a little planning, she pulled in her thumb and held up all four fingers.  My husband and I exchanged looks of pride knowing what the other was thinking, without having to speak a word.

When we got in the car to go the Pumpkin Patch, all by herself we heard a happy little voice coming from the backseat, "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to ASH - IN, Happy Birthday to you!"  This time when we exchanged looks, we both had a little tear in our eye.