F-i-v-e :)

Taylor is FIVE!! A full hand. A BIG kid!! And, according to Taylor, now that she is five she can "go to kindergarten". Yeah, I know kiddo. This mom has already been thinking a lot about next fall.

The picture I posted on Facebook on her birthday.... 1 day old, 1 year old, 5 years old...

Taylor's favorites at FIVE ~
Cheese sandwiches, her white blanket, coloring with markers, honey crisp apples, My Little Ponies, Disney Princesses, having an even bigger bed now, getting to go out on outings with one-on-one with us, telling Camryn what to do, water (playing in the shower, splashing in the tub enough to get the entire bathroom wet, jumping off the dock, playing on the beach, going on the boat, sprinklers), imaginary play with her little characters, reading books and listening to books on her new CD player, watching Disney movies (current favorite is Rio 2), playing outside, eating hard boiled eggs (with salt - she likes to add it herself :)), riding her bike, listening to Disney Christmas music STILL during car rides, taking all her my little ponies to her preschool class in her my little pony backpack, toast, her best friend Ty, fruit snacks, balloons, the color pink

Dislikes ~
Naps, being rushed, being told what to do (giving her 'choices' are key), dressing herself, blood (she is terrified of it, and if she even THINKS she or someone else has an injury that might be bleeding she will run to her room as fast as possible), having her hair brushed or anything done to it, peanut butter or anything with nuts

Five things we LOVE about Taylor right now...

1. Seeing how much she is growing as a learner...writing her name and letters in general, counting, picking up some familiar words. I gave Taylor the kindergarten screener, and I LOVED seeing how she did!

2. That she has developed such a better sleeping routine at night in the past 6 months. She hasn't come into our room in the middle of the night in a couple months and she goes down at 8pm when Camryn does.  In fact, I can't remember the last time we were up in the night with either girl. So thankful for good sleepers.

3. The independent play. She can pretty much take anything - pieces to a board game, toys from the top of her birthday cake, playdoh, and of course any toys she has, and turn it into an imaginary scenario. She also will engage with Camryn and they will pretend it is bedtime together, or play with the dollhouse with the new 'mom' and 'dad' figurines, or play with their babies together. It is fun that they relate together so much more as they get older. Sisters. :) It's pretty fun to watch their relationship grow.

4. That she loves books. I am hopeful that this will make her student years easier and more fun if she continues to love to read. :)

5. And last, that she is strong-willed. Sometimes this seems like such a stressful thing, and is not easy as a parent, but she is confident and I love that about her.

Five things we HOPE for Taylor in the next year...

1. That she LOVES her kindergarten teacher!

2. That she finds wonderful new little friends in her new school!

3. That she continues to be a healthy little girl...can never take this for granted. :)

4. She will start reading books to me! :)

5. Lots of smiles and happiness and laughter!

(Someone was pretty happy about finally getting all her candles blown out ;))

Happy Happy Birthday, Taylor!!