You are 5! We went outside on a Sunday afternoon in March to take your birthday pictures. You look so pretty with your Princess Aurora hair and beautiful dress. I was glad to get a few really cute pictures of you. Usually you close your eyes, or squint, as soon as you see the camera!
Lulu, you think you are so grown up. You tell me all the time that you are getting old and that you will soon be as big as I am. You probably think that any day now you will be getting married and moving on with life. Luckily that is still very far away. You still love to cuddle and get special attention. I'm afraid that will wane as you get older, so I'll take as much of it as I can right now! When asked if I would like to put you into full-day Kindergarten in the fall, I always say no. I only have one more year where you will be home with me every day, and I don't want to loose that!
You will love Kindergarten though! You are very social. You have an amazing memory. You also love learning and are very smart. You are already sounding out letters and putting them together to write words! Language is not always your forte though. You often speak English like it was a foreign language, putting the verbs in the wrong place. English does have so many irregularities and exceptions. But don't worry. You love to read and I know you'll get the hang of it. You have loved every activity we have signed you up for. You loved dance and soccer and swimming! And you can hardly wait until I start teaching you piano.
At 5 years old you love to look girly. I let you choose your own outfits and you wear a skirt to preschool almost every day. You love having your nails painted. You like to have pretty hair too, although you hate it when I brush your long hair. I asked if you'd rather cut it, and you were tempted, but you like it long because you look like Rapunzel. People tell me all the time how beautiful your hair is, so thick and blonde and long.
At 5 years old your favorite things are friends, your dolphin pillow pet, school, your leapster, coloring and painting, writing, dress-ups, barbies and ponies, riding your bike, and making your baby brother laugh. No one can make him laugh as hard as you can. You love pbskids. You would probably watch tv most of the day if I let you. You can't go to bed without your blankie and your cow. You are a great eater! You love to help me cook too. You love to help others and are always wanting to take treats to our neighbors.
One of my favorite things about you is that you are still always willing to help me. I ask you often to do me favors and you always do it for me!
I also love how you are sweet with Hammer. Of course you have your days where you two don't get along, but you are such great friends too. One time your friend was pretending Hammer was an icky monster boy and was running away. We were walking you into preschool that day and she didn't want to let him in. You stood up for your brother. You told her, "It's just my brother," like she was crazy. Then you told Hammer in such a sweet voice, "Come on buddy, you can come in." I was so proud. I hope that never changes.
Now, you do have some times where Dad and I think you might drive us crazy, and it's usually at night. Sometimes when it's time for bed you whine and dawdle and cry because you are afraid you will have a bad dream. This keeps Hammer awake and teaches him bad habits. And when you wake up in the night you want to be babied. If we don't give in then you can scream and cry for a good hour, waking everyone else up. I'm not sure what triggers this. We have days where you are so obedient and at bedtime you just jump in bed and go right to sleep, and then a few bad days in a row. It cycles, with there being a lot more good days before the bad days come up again. Maybe you are just pushing the limits to see what you can get away with. When you see that Dad and I are consistent and follow through with consequences, you give in and stop pushing so hard.
But Lulu, you are so loved. I will take the few crazy things you do any day. You have been such a joy in our lives. Your name means light and I think it is so fitting. Your smile, your laugh, and your love of life, always make my day brighter.
I love you,
Mom
