You started PreK last week at St. Bernadette Catholic school. Safe to say that even though it’s just preK, I’m glad we decided to pay for your schooling. So far it is really paying off. You are in school right down the street which makes me even more happy! I’m actually sad we will have to switch schools when we move next year.
It’s a … BOY!
Jude James Hopkins was born May 20th at 11:48PM. 7lbs 2oz of pure joy.
I’m late posting this. But we couldn’t be more proud of the big sister you have become!
The first week he was here you wouldn’t stop saying “her” this and “she” that. You were convinced he was a girl before he was born. But finally, you are on track.
He is basically the “boy version” of you. I feel like I had the same baby all over again! You are twins only four years apart.
You have nick named him “Jude the Dude” and it’s the cutest thing ever.
🎶 🎶
“Bees (these) are funny animals. That start with owls (vowels) they are strange, believe me.
A! Abyssinian.
E! For Emo. (Emu)
I! For Ifexx (Ibexx)
O! Organgutan
U! Uacari
It’s dizzari (bizarrie) indee (indeed)
A strange sounding breeze (breed)
🎶 🎶
Today I experienced an incredible moment with my daughter. As we were waving goodbye to Matt as he drove away, Alice started sobbing. Not crying. Legitimately frowned face and tears welling up in her eyes. She looks at me and I start tearing up myself. She lays her face into my shoulder and we walk inside the house. I proceed to tell her (in crying voice) why daddy had to leave and that we will see him again very soon. We then sit in each others arms and share the same emotion with each other. Even though we were sad, this was one of the best experiences I have had with her to date. She is becoming more mature with her emotions and I am proud of her for being able to express it openly with me. 💜
I will never forget this moment, as it was our first ‘real’ mother-daughter emotion we shared with one another.
We went to a “siblings” class offered at the hospital tonight. We loved watching you learn and be hands on with the whole experience. You truly are going to be an amazing big sis.
We were in tears laughing tonight because you kept telling the nurse that was teaching all about you and what you like and everything you “think” you know about babies. You didn’t let any other kid get a word in edgewise. All of the other parents were laughing with us. We had no clue you talked that much. It makes me think we may have a little problem with how much attention we are giving the new baby as opposed to you. Either way- it was funny.
At one point the nurse asked you guys what you liked to eat and then if they baby could eat it. You said “I like ice cream dinner, breakfast, lunch, and snack!” But at least you said no to the baby eating that.
You interrupted her about every couple of minutes to talk about everything you knew, but when you started with “Did you smell these shoes? Because they smell like strawberries.” I had to put my foot down (and stop crying from laughing so hard) and tell you to listen and not talk so much.
You are such a silly heart and that’s why we love you.
When you play hard… you play HARD, girlfriend.
You hurt your arm recently. You were only out in the front yard playing with Dad. Your tripped over the picnic blanket in the grass and came down on your wrist onto some garden bricks.
At first, we thought maybe you were just overreacting. So we got you in the tub and cleaned you up and then did a reacessment after that. You still complained of the pain, especially when lifting your arm up. So we decided to take you to Urgent Care.
We had to wait a few days to get see an orthopedic doctor and get a new cast. This temporary cast was awful and kept coming off. Once we got the new cast, you were much happier.
You only had to wear it for about three weeks, as it was only a buckle fracture. We were happy to get it off and that you didn’t have to wear it long.
Oy vey
I am currently realizing I never updated the page on how we told Birdie and HeyHey about our new addition to the family. You were in on it and did a fabulous job executing the plan! 
Alright, now this is really going by too quickly. You’re growing too fast! Happy 4th Birthday to my sweet little girl! You always have such a kind heart and it’s filled with so much love not only for your father and I, but also for your extended family and friends. Yes, you have your little “hiccups” every now and again, but what four year old doesn’t?
Things you like to say a lot
“Pope Pope”
“Bye Pelicia”
Daddy loves it when you talk about “Darf Vader”
We had a “Mardi Gras” themed birthday party. Your birthday falls perfectly on the first weekend of Mardi Gras here in Houma. And we all LOVE the parades, so why not incorporate it all into your celebration? What a great time this was!
Again, we are so proud of you and couldn’t ask for a better daughter. I hope this other little one baking in my belly is as perfect as you are. Here is to four! Love you.
Today is a sad day.
Pawpaw has died today. He has gone to heaven to be with Meemaw. Do I believe that? I would tend to hope so. I find it hard sometimes to believe things I have never seen with my own eyes. But I truly believe we go somewhere when we die to watch over our living loved ones. Sometimes I just wish their presence was more known to me.
HeyHey called me while we were driving to preschool. So you heard me crying. There was no dodging your questions. You were concerned for me. Truly concerned. When I hung up the phone you asked “Mommy, why are you crying?” And I told you what happened. “You know how pawpaw was sick? Well, he wasn’t able to get better and he died today, Alice.” And you said “It’ll be okay mommy. Don’t cry. Take a deep breath mom.” (Wow, what an amazing, mature not even four year old I have!) After that I could see yor facial expressions go from ‘concerned’ to ‘sad’ and you said, “Mommy, I think I’m about to cry too.” And I could see it welling up into your face. I lost it again and told you it was perfectly fine to cry if that’s what you feel.
When we got to school we were both able to pull ourselves together. I checked in with your teacher midway through school today to make sure you were doing okay because you tend to hold onto your thoughts and worry. You have such a sweet nature about you, Alice. It warms my heart.
We are scheduling to make the drive to Memphis tomorrow to be with family and attend the funeral. With all of the maturity I’ve seen today, I threw around the idea of letting you go to the funeral, but I think you may just be too young. I’m not sure I could answer all of the questions that would follow.
Just know that in your life, people will come and people will go, and you deal with your emotions the way that fits you best. Just stay in tune with those emotions. You have told me a few times that ‘adults don’t cry’ and I told you we do, in fact, cry. Especially when we are sad. And that its okay. Everyone cries. Your Dad brought up a good point- that it’s good for you to see me or any adult crying. To see that we are in tune with our emotions. Not just a parental robot that only gets mad telling you what to do all the time or happy. Children need to see sadness too. I agreed that there is no reason to hide something so natural as feeling sad that someone is gone.
Lesson learned here is: if you feel sad- be sad. If you feel happy- be happy. If you feel mad- be mad. It’s part of life and part of being a human being. We will love you no matter how you feel one day to the next, as we know you will us too.
I love you, sweet girl, and thank you for being my rock this morning and all of the time.
Mommy.
Still in awe at how mature you are for an (almost) four year old.
Like a champ! You enjoyed yourself. Something I cannot say about going myself. Maybe I should take a few lessons from my four year old!
AliceLayne 