The BIG day (and all the surrounding events)

Dear Parker,

We all survived your 5th birthday!  I think you had a really great day.  We had set up your presents the night before, so when you got up you found your scooter and rode it around the house until we made you stop to eat breakfast.  Then, I took you to school where Grandma Sharp and Aunt Lauren stayed after drop-off to help you make a cake at school.  Then,  Mom was able to come in and have lunch with you and Grandma and Lauren returned to eat your cake!  Whew!  What a busy day.

Grandma brought you home and you played with Grace for awhile and after they left, we opened your presents.  You seemed to be most excited about a Hello Kitty travel mug, Doc McStuffins pjs and a stuffed 'Lambie' from the Doc McStuffins show.  Since then, however, you have really gotten into the Rummy game and the "Junie B. Jones" book.  (We actually finished the book and had to buy a second one!)

Your birthday party with your friends was yesterday.  You and your friends had a such a fun time decorating your doctor coats, making your animals and giving them check-ups.  When it was all over, we came home and crashed!

Today you started piano lessons (part of your birthday gift)  You were a little nervous, but seemed to do a good job.  You are seeming to remember how many beats whole, half and quarter notes get.  That's a good start.  We'll see if I can get you to practice playing "Middle C" all week.  LOL

Anyway, I know this is a bit choppy, but I'm getting back into the swing of things, so give me a bit.

I love you so much.  In one month, we will be in DisneyWorld.  I hope it's all I've made it to be in my mind.

Well, goodnight for now, baby girl!
I love you.

A year later.....

Dear Parker,

I have been entirely neglect about writing you letters during your 5^th year, but I was reminiscing the other day, so I am going to try to start again.  Here goes.

Tomorrow you will be 5.  It’s cliché, but I have no idea where the time has gone.  I can’t even believe it.  At least you aren’t in kindergarten – yet.  ;-)

Since it’s been forever, I’m just going to jot down some things about you right now.

*Bug bites.  You hate them.  They hate you.  They will swell up, cause bruising and blister.  In fact, we took you to the doctor yesterday because we were so worried about one on your foot.

*5 year appointment stats:

Height: 45 ¾ inches (95^th percentile)

Weight: 43.6 pounds (50^th percentile)

BMI: 25^th percentile

Not sure where you found the tall and skinny gene, but I’m glad you did!

*School.  You LOVE The Orchard School.  You LOVE your teachers and your friends and all the fun things you get to do at school.  So far this year you have brought home the Sound Bucket (for the letter “P”) and this week you have the estimation jar, in which you chose to put 9 tiny hair ties.  You were very cute going around the house filling that bucket with words that begin with “p.”

*Favorites

            Color – Pink.  Duh, but I think purple may be a close second

            Game – Hide and Seek

            Activity - Playing babies.  You love it.  We all hate it, but participate anyway.

            Board Game – Not sure you have a favorite, but you like all games.  You received “Sorry” for your birthday and we have played it at least every day since then.

            Meal – Breakfast for dinner (pancakes and bacon). 

            Food – Not sure. You love those “choose-your-flavor-add-your-toppings” frozen yogurt places.  But, you also love pink chewy candy (Starbursts etc.)

            Clothes – Comfy clothes and skirts/dresses.  You will wear jeans or pants, but you like them to be tight (leggings or jeggings)

*You are really into collections of stories or chapter books right now.  You like marking the place at night and picking up again the next evening.

*You currently have 5 fish (Gigi – still kickin’ from your 3^rd birthday, Stripey/Tigger  - you can’t decide on a name, Sunny, and “the colorfuls.”)

*Part of your birthday gift is piano lessons.  I think you will be really excited, you've been asking for a long time and have learned to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (and are very proud of that.)

*Tonight in the bath you were singing a song in which you bade farewell to your "4's."  It was pretty funny.  You are pretty amazing.  I'm going to return to writing you more often. 

I love you.  I hope you have an amazing birthday.