Hello all!! I have my annual letter to Christa at the bottom, but I wanted to reminisce about the last 5 years a little, first!
And she's FIVE!!
Dear Gusta-Bear,
You are five years old today, and I still don't understand how you manage to get cuter and more fun to be around every day! I thought you were pretty cute and fun to be around the day you were born. And then I blinked, and you were a year old, and I thought you were even more fun! Then you were two, and I decided that was as fun as you could possibly get. Then you were three, and it was even better! Then four, and now five, and I just don't know how I can be any more thrilled that you are my daughter and I get to spend the next 13 years (or more) continuing to love you and raise you into a full-grown adult! That's a thought I don't like to dwell on very much, but I LOVE being with you.
You really are a little person now, with your own thoughts, questions, comments, jokes, opinions, and ideas! You say things that you've heard at school or on TV, and it's really entertaining for me to try to figure out where it came from! For example, earlier in the school year, you would cross your arms and say, "NO! X to that idea," if you didn't like something I was telling you to do.
It's getting harder and harder to talk you into what "I" want you to do when it doesn't really matter. During the little girls' nap time, we usually have some time together, just you and me. You don't really need a nap anymore, or even a rest time, so sometimes we work on reading and computer skills. Sometimes we play something together, like Squinkies or Princesses. Sometimes we watch TV together - like Good Luck Charlie. That's my favorite and reminds me of watching Full House with my parents on Friday nights when I was growing up! There are times when I want to watch Good Luck Charlie together, and you want to watch something else.... or play instead. We have fun with whatever we do, but you don't automatically do the fun thing I suggest anymore.
You have become quite the expert at squeezing treats like Coke or Sprite or candy out of me! My problem is that I LOVE Coke and chocolate, and it's kinda fun to enjoy those treats with you, so it's super hard to say no. You ask regularly, and if I do say no, you often make a pretty good argument about why I should change my mind. You are so sweet and kind to your sisters and share so well. If they are upset, you try to play the color game with them or comfort them in any way you can. You've even given them your precious duck and/or blanky to make them feel better! Sometimes you use examples of a good thing you did to finagle a treat - not in a manipulative way or anything, but in a sweet way that reminds me of what a great kid you are!! (Not that I ever forget that)!
This year, you started getting especially excited about seeing your friends from school. You are now the one to suggest play dates, and there are several little girls who you especially like to have over, although you play wonderfully with everyone. Luckily, I am good friends with their mommies, but it's rarely me initiating the play times these days! You have spent the night with Mimi twice, and loved that! You love your special time with Mimi and Pa, and you love to go to their house all by yourself. You have asked to have a "sleepover" - a friend spend the night, and we might try that soon. Your cousin, Maggie Beth, is about to move to our town, so you are super excited about that!
You have a little pink bag that you carry around with you wherever you go. You rarely go far without your duck, blanky (which is tattered to shreds now, but all attempts to repair it have failed miserably), and your bag. Your bag is full of your treasures that you can not be without - a container of mints and some Squinkie toys! You still suck your thumb, but mostly just when you are tired or in the car.
You love to have parties in your room. You are learning to read and doing a great job! You know a lot of sight words, and can sound out simple words like "cat," "rat," etc. An online computer program has helped so much, and you have learned to use the mouse on the computer. You love to bake, and we make chocolate chip pancakes on a regular basis. Your favorite food is barbeque, and you said the other day that your favorite color is blue. (I kind of think it's still pink and purple, though )! You will not wear anything but dresses, or long shirts with leggings, which you call dresses. You are just like me in that you have strong opinions on clothes that are cut too low or tight on you in any way. I never liked shirts with a lower neckline, or anything with elastic that touched me too much.
We've tried to learn a little about the piano, but you don't have much patience for sitting there and learning about the music. That's OK, though! You have learned some praise and worship songs from a Veggie Tales cd we listen to in the car. You are so cute singing "You are Holy," in the back seat. You love Bible stories, and we periodically memorize some verses together. Also, like your mom, you don't seem to love reading. I will often offer to read to you, and you only really want to do that when it's bedtime and can delay you going to sleep :)
Daddy has started telling silly Princess stories at bedtime, and you and Abby Kate go crazy laughing so far. The stories usually involve Tiana or Snow White, 3 little princess named Christa, Abby Kate, and Elizabeth, their favorite foods (BBQ, mac and cheese, and milk), and some character having loud "toots." It is fun times at bedtime over here!
We had a fun day today, and you said that you loved your birthday "60-30-20." You often string big numbers together to express how much you like or don't like something. You were fascinated by how old you were. You told everyone you were 4 and 3/4. This past week, you wanted to know exactly how old you were, so we decided you were 4 and 362/365 days, then 4 and 364/365, and on and on. You loved to hear all of those numbers and are so proud to be 5 years old! We spent the day opening your presents from us (a scooter, helmet, some Disney Little Mermaid figurines, and a Chutes and Ladders game), eating donuts for breakfast, swimming and having lunch, playing with Squinkies, and then going to see Brave at the movie theater. Cline took you out for frozen yogurt to wrap up the day.
I love you, sweet Gusta-Bear!! Like I said on Facebook, how can I keep the next 5 years from going by so fast?
Mommy
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