Dearest Azmu,

Wishing you a very very happy 4^th birthday. Slow down, for you are growing up too fast. Wasn’t it just a few days ago when you would be holding on to daddy’s little finger and walking together? Now, we find you running, jumping and speeding on your pink scooty, everywhere we go. You want to chase the pigeons, pet the stray cats and dance with the butterflies. And we are always having to shout for you to slow down or watch out, little explorer.

This year has brought about a lot of big changes for you. You had your first ever big-school assessment for FS1, at a school in Dubai. On the day, mummy was an emotional wreck, you were a little shy, but you aced the questions asked by the teacher with flying colours. And part of the reason has to be how much you have been enjoying our home schooling session. Together, we have made it a habit to spend at least an hour every morning to practise your writing skills, alphabet and number recognition, and various other critical thinking skills along the way. You have practised your scissor skills, pasting too, but still working on colouring in between the lines. You have also enjoyed our practical sessions, such as slime making, petting a caterpillar, and the numerous crafting sessions with various art and craft resources. You have had a go at origami, vegetable printing, painting on a canvas and so much more.

The other massive change has been the birth of your baby brother, and you being promoted to a big sister. We have kept you involved right from the start of the pregnancy. Infact, we still remember the way you broke the news to nani. “There is a baby in mummy’s tummy.” you said. Alhamdullilah, you have been so kind and caring during the entire pregnancy, letting mummy rest, helping with the medicines and showing willingness to share your bed and other things with the baby. You have helped mummy rub stretch mark creams on the growing tummy, and would apply some on yourself too and this became our daily night routine before bed. We did ask you for name suggestions, but you just came up with some silly cartoon character names, and thus we’ve not taken up any of your suggestions.

The arrival of your baby brother has shown how mature and responsible you are. Even when mummy had to stay at the hospital with your baby brother, or had to go with papa to drop off milk for him, you were very understanding. Part of the reason was because Aeed mama, Nana and Nani were over at our place for the summer holidays and you absolutely loved hanging out with them. I hope you remember how much you have enjoyed swimming at the pool with them, dancing to ‘Old Town Road’ with your Cowboy hat and ‘Glenga, the horse’ and taking care of ‘Shimmer’ with Nani. You have accepted your baby brother as part of our family with ease. Bringing his rattle whenever he cries, willing to occasionally be on nappy change duty, watching him with admiration and loving to hold his tiny hand.

You are more social and confident with your peers now. You also are more aware. You know now that there is a real person underneath the animal costumes we see at malls, and we didn’t even have to tell you that. Although, you have not really travelled abroad this year, you have visited various places within the UAE: Legoland Dubai (for the fourth time), Ski Dubai, The Green Planet (where you bravely held Madagascar Cockroaches), Queen Elizabeth 2 for Christmas Dinner, Global Village (twice), Oli Oli, Madinat Jumeirah Theatre (to watch your first play), XPark Junior, Desert Oasis Petting Farm (for #littleZ’s first birthday), Jebel Hafeet, Kaleidoscope at The Atlantis and so many more. You love staycations and even packed your own staycation bag all by yourself when you found out your cousin #MasterZ was going for one. Eventually, mummy and papa gave in and unable to crush your staycation dreams, booked a night’s stay to Fujairah. Such is your charm. Speaking of charm, remember the time we entered LUSH (because you love sniffing on their stuff) and ended up leaving with free testers and a bath bomb? All for looking this cute!? MashAllah.

You ask so many questions. I do not kid. Watching movies with you is an impossible task, because all you do is ask about the plot, the characters and everything else you can think of. And you continue to ask various questions the rest of the time, every waking hour of the day. Where did the dinosaur go? Why do astronauts walk so slowly? Where does the sun go at night? Where did Spider man get his powers from? Can we go to Wakanda? Mummy and papa have been patient with all your questions, watching you soak up all the knowledge, but girl, sometimes you have got to give us a break.

Having said that, there is not a thing we would change about you. You are already the best version of you – kind, brave, confident and funny. As you cut your fourth birthday cake, blow on your candles and make a wish, know that mummy and papa will also be making a wish for your good health and lots more adventures as a family of four. Ameen.

Did you enjoy reading this letter to my daughter? Is there something that particularly caught your attention? You can also read the ones I wrote to her on her second birthday and third birthday.