My Five-Year-Old

Addie Leigh,

Last Tuesday was your fifth birthday. FIVE! I can hardly believe it. I look at you every day and wonder where the time has gone. I love when you ask to watch "Addie movies," because it seems to me that you should still be as little as you were when most of those were taken! And although it sometimes makes me sad when I think how quickly you are growing up, my goodness - I wouldn't trade the fun we have now for anything! You're my sweet little peanut and my favorite "teacher," "cashier," and "mommy" when we're playing pretend. You'll never be the "student" or the "daughter" and it cracks me up every time - especially when I slip up and call you by your name and you so quickly correct me and say, "No, it's Miss Addie," or "No, it's Mommy!"

You have also decided that you like to be rocked for a few minutes before bedtime. I love that you love "rock-rock time" as it gives us time to talk about your day. Oh how I love this! I love how you tell me how many of your classmates got on yellow light or red light that day. It makes me giggle especially hard that you'll gloss over that part of school if you were one of the guilty parties - ha! Thankfully that is not too often. You are constantly bragged on by your teachers as one of the smartest, sweetest students in school!

You're still my little stinker, too. Your tantrums have definitely gotten better, but you still know how to throw a good one. But I guess you're just trying to keep things interesting, huh? :) That you do! There is certainly never a dull day with you around, sweet girl!

I just can't get over how the past year has seemed to really take you from being a baby to a little girl. Watching you every week at gymnastics reminds me how big you're getting! You're still super petite size-wise, but you look and act like a BIG GIRL! When did this happen?! If you wouldn't mind slowing down, I'd be just fine with that! ;) You told me the day before your birthday that you wish you could be four forever. I had to bite my lip to not tell you that I agreed! :)

Addie Leigh, you are my "favorite girl" and I love you "even bigger than a house"! I am excited about all the fun things we will do together while you're five years old, and also the fun things you'll learn and do on your own (not the least of which is going to Kindergarten! EEK!). Thank you for being such a precious baby girl. You make me SO PROUD to be your mommy!

Addie's five-year stats:

* teeny - 39 1/2 inches (3rd to 5th percentile)

* 35 pounds (25th to 50th percentile)

* wearing 4T clothes, although she insists she needs 5Ts now - she can wear some :)

* size 7 1/2 or 8 shoes - little feet just like her mama and daddy!

* loves, loves, LOVES to write words. She has lots that she can write on her own without any spelling help

* according to her teachers, can read quite a few words and can sound out a lot more. She is still playing bashful with reading at home but will point out some simple words to us and can find some words when asked. Dr. Hood seemed impressed with the reading (probably more recognition) that we could verify ourselves, so that's good!

* loves to play pretend - school, store, family, princess and dolls, you name it!

* loves to play UNO! and board games and is quite good

* so excited to start kindergarten!

* so excited to go to see Mickey next week!