Miss-isms

Little Miss girl-with-a-curl is approaching four.
This is terrible, because before my very eyes the last traces of babyness are evaporating like drops of water on a hot skillet.  Strangely, despite the fact that She is my middle child, Missy is still sort of "The Baby" in my heart.  It may be Her so-sensitive nature, it may be the high tonnage of cuddles Her soul continues to require.  I don't know.  But the idea of Little Miss growing up is particularly difficult to wrap my brain around.
Nonetheless, it's happening, and fast.  The change in Her even in just the last couple of months is drastic.  Because, the wonderful thing about Miss approaching Four is that She is blooming.
She is stepping out from behind my leg to smile and chat with people.  Even strangers (sometimes)!
She is learning to go with the flow a little more.  Most importantly, She has grown in confidence.
A lot of this has to do with Her great pride in being a big sister.  Some of it has to do with Little One encouraging Her as much as She does.  I think it also comes from having found some things that She is good at, and really enjoys.
Gymnastics class has been a great asset to Missy.  She surprised us all by loving it so much, and it seems to be an activity that suits Her abilities and interest really well.
Her other great passion is Art.  I suppose it always has been, but now that She's in school She has the opportunity to paint, in several mediums, every day.  And boy does She.  Her teachers are lovely montessori teachers, and have a fondness for the intensity of Little Miss's love and careful thoughtfulness when She paints, so they encourage Her.  She is a prolific painter.
We use the large ones for gift-wrap, the smaller ones for greeting cards.  I've saved some favorites.  And still, we could wallpaper with it.  At home, She draws, colors, and journals every day.  Sometimes for hours.
Today when She got home from school I asked Her to choose any activity She liked for us to do together while Mister napped.  She wanted to "cuddle under a blanket and you can watch me draw in my journal".  So we did.  Each page had an elaborate story to go with the illustrations. Her imagination is wild and wonderful.
And Her artistry isn't limited to art- it's a part of Her, it comes out through the way She talks.
Missy can be reserved, but She's anything but cheap on words.  A few examples:

Miss comes shopping with me for a new dress.
C: "What do you think of this one, Missy?"
Miss: "Uh, well, uh.  Well.  It's prettyah than a rusty old car."

C: "I'd like to button up your coat.  Are you a little chilly?"
Miss: "Oh! I am! I'm  cold- coldah than ice! Coldah than snow!  My hands is feezing icicles and my toes is moh frozen than a shivah-ry lake of frozen ice!" 

C: "Hey guys! It's snack time! Would anyone like a snack?" 
Miss: "Me! I am hungry-ah than a barbarian." 

C: "I love you, Missy."
Miss: "Oh, most loviest Mama.  I love you too!  You ah the best mommy.  You.  You ah nicer than a cruel stepmothah. OR a wicked witch."