Last week Alexa turned 4.
I stood in the party section at Target, picking out some favors and paper plates. It was a pretty easy choice because she’s into everything princess right now and wanted nothing more than to dress up in one of her princess dresses for her school party.
Princess this, princess that, and then I was standing in front of the favors I would’ve picked out if I had my way. Simple geometric shapes, solid colors. All purple, all black. Kinda like the party I threw for her first birthday.
And then it hit me. Never again will she be that little, and never again will I get away with a set of tasteful paper plates and cups, let alone wrapping paper.
That little 1-year-old who nearly slept through her party altogether is gone, and in her place is an energetic juggernaut with a mind like a trap box, always remembering everything, even months away.
She’s a girl with very strong opinions about everything, from her socks to the contents of her lunchbox, from the bedtime story she wants to the doll she wants to play with.
And so it was that I bought princess everything and a pink candle and water-based nail polish. Even though I winced a little inside because it was not my taste in the slightest, I also smiled at the knowledge that it would make Alexa a very happy 4-year-old, proud that she has likes and dislikes of her very own.
I’m glad I’ve been able to capture a tiny slice of her ever-evolving taste, especially with the help of my handy birthday questionnaire.
For fun, let’s compare last year with this year, shall we?
Birthday Questionnaire Update
My absolute favorite thing is that last year, when pressed about what she wanted to be when she grew up, she said “pirate,” and this year she said she wanted to fly airplanes.
Pirates vs. pilots.
We laughed when we saw that bananas had fallen out of favor because they actually fell out of favor in our home, too. Our warm SoCal kitchen was rotting the bananas before their time and we were constantly throwing them in the freezer at the last second. We eventually stopped buying them altogether last summer.
Frozen is still a favorite; in fact, we watched it yesterday. But Alexa likes one song repeatedly until she no longer can stand it anymore (she’s just like H that way), and the song Risk It All from the Rapunzel episode of Sofia the First is the new favorite.
We haven’t watched a Jake episode in months (and it makes me kinda sad because I love that no-good sneaky snook Captain Hook).
It’s fitting that jungle books seem to be her jam. She adores the parts where the characters get to go (as Mr. Tiger would say) completely wild.
Seeing the subtle differences in personality year over year is pretty awesome. It makes me want to fill out one in a few weeks for my birthday. Adults do not change as assuredly as children, but I’m sure my favorite shoes will be different next year, as will my favorite TV show. Ha!
P.S. You can download a blank birthday questionnaire here. Plus, more freebies.
P.P.S. See a gift guide for 3-year-old girls based off what Alexa liked last summer.
