5

Good golly, Cora!  You're 5!  You're school-aged?!  Inconceivable!

What's new, Coco-loco?

I'm not sure exactly your height or weight, but you are around 36 pounds and 38 inches.  Like your sister, you're a skinny little pickle.  You accidentally put on a pair of Sissy's shorts the other day (sized 18 months), and if they hadn't been scandalously short, you could have worn them quite comfortably.  Is it wrong for me to be jealous of your amazing metabolism?

You are supremely excited about school.  You have told everyone that you will be in kindergarten and that your school is Classical Conversations.  I hope this enthusiasm conveys when we actually start school in a couple of months.  Academically, you are definitely ready.  You know all your letters and have the sounds down pretty well.  You get a little confused with /y/ and /w/, but most others are down pat.  You can count to 39 without help.  You need a little bit of assistance remembering what comes after the 9s, but if I remind you, you will count all the way to 100.  You can create an AB pattern, and you notice other patterns as well.  We will work on more complex ones this year.  You definitely have a solid foundation to build upon.  My only concern is how you will take to the structure we will have to implement.  We are both accustomed to doing what we want, when we want.  Having school every day will be an adjustment for all of us.  

Your motor skills are progressing.  You can write your name, and you can draw pictures.  You love to draw people, rainbows and the sun.  You still have some difficulty gripping the writing implement, and therefore, your penmanship is a bit wobbly so to speak.  But, it is definitely getting better.

You are a social butterfly.  I'm convinced that you have never met a stranger.  You love other kids and adults alike.  Just yesterday, you informed a random parent at church, "My birthday is tomorrow, and I'm going to be 5 years old."  Much to your daddy's dismay, you adore one of the neighborhood boys.  He's a few years older than you - I'm guessing he's 8 or 10.  And, in your oh-so dramatic fashion, you informed me today that you really miss Morgan.  I'm pretty sure your father will need one of these in the next 10 years or so.

You still love dinosaurs although you have branched out in your interests.  They range all over: princesses, animals, the food guide pyramid, planets, sports (currently baseball and basketball), Spanish, music, and on and on.  Speaking of music, you share your dad's proclivity for techno.  I'm sure it warmed Daddy's heart the other day when you asked if he could play some more Deadmau5.  

You still tend to be a very picky eater.  We have been much more diligent about making sure you try the food that is given to you.  After all, this mama is not a short order cook.  You have discovered that you do in fact like some more things.  Your new foods are tortellini with peas, hot dogs, carrots, and cereal with milk.  

You continue to take gymnastics.  Recently, though, you told me that you wanted to take ballet class.  Your gymnastics ends in August, so after swim lessons, you will get to choose whether you will take a dance class or continue gymnastics.

You are an amazing big sister.  You are incredibly sweet to Carys, and you absolutely adore little Jackson.  You love to make him laugh and smile, and he returns the affection in spades.  You are a blessing to them and to us.  We love you and are so proud of our crazy girl!