Isabella Mary Dunbar turned 4 years old last week. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and our lives were changed forever. She is an amazing little girl. She has such spunk and determination and she is quite clever and witty.
From day one, anyone who meets Bella says that her outgoing, independent, stubborn personality is going to keep out trouble. She won't do anything she doesn't want to do.
I have always prayed that that would be true.
A couple weeks ago, while my mom was visiting, we took Bella and Charlie to Chipmunks, an indoor playground. The kids love it there and were having a great time. There is an area that has all sorts of tunnels and slides and climbing structures that go clear up to the ceiling(a vaulted ceiling). Bella found a couple girls to play with that were about 5 years old. She was following them around and doing what they were doing. She followed them to the top of the structure and girls started sliding down the area which is meant for climbing up. Bella looked hesitant but started to do it anyway. She looked unsure and I told her that she didn't have to do it. Eventually she came down and started playing basketball with a little boy. The girls called her to come play with them again and again she found herself with the girls at the top of the playstructure. This time one of the girls told her to go through the tunnel(Bella doesn't like tunnel slides at the moment). Bella looked back at the little girl and said "I don't want to". The girl yelled and said "Go in there!" Bella yelled back and said "I'm scared, I don't want to" she looked down at me and I said"you don't have to do anything" The girl then pointed her finger at Bella and had a mean look on her face. Bella looked back at her and said "I don't want to" and climbed down the ladder and moved on to something else.
I was so proud of her. That was her first real experience with peer pressure and she handle herself really well. It was hard to witness that because I could see the struggle in her face. I could of gone up there and saved her and yelled at the little girls but I think it was good for her to handle it herself. I just wanted her to know that she always has options and she never has to do anything that doesn't feel right.
What a big lesson for such a little girl! When we get back to California, Bella is going to start pre-school. We started talking about it and she couldn't be more excited. I just can't believe she is so grown up!
Happy Birthday Bella!
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