Lainey is FIVE!

Lainey Lou is five! Yesterday - the 24th - was her fifth birthday. I feel like we've been waiting for "real five" for a while now. Now, we wait for wiggly teeth! :) She's convinced that the top tooth next to her open spot is wiggly...but I'm not so sure. ;)

Here is the birthday girl, on the morning of her fifth birthday, holding her crawling baby doll...one of her gifts.

"Sissy is real five. And I'm real fwee (three)."

Loves: dancing, gymnastics, tumbling, arts and crafts, parks, monkey bars, Barbies, baby dolls, school, her friends, and her family. One of her greatest accomplishments as of late is being able to tie her shoes. And she can even tie them in double knots! I am happy that she's learned to do this and even happier that she wants to do it. She's also gotten pretty good at sounding out words - or trying to - and reading small words/phrases/sentences. :)

Does not love: being told what to do, when I "ask her to do things that [she] doesn't want to do," when I tell her "no" when she really wants to do something, 

We gathered at Jason's Deli for a quick dinner and cake. 

Peculiar fact: Lainey only likes peanut butter sandwiches. No jelly. Just the peanut butter. Seems sticky to me, but what do I know? :) She is definitely getting pickier with food...arg. She doesn't like chunks of fruit in her yogurt or waffles or pancakes, "wet" fruit like pineapple or cantaloupe or strawberries...she's okay with apples, though. She prefers her fruit to be normal-looking, not smooshed. She won't eat smooshed things. 

Lainey is telling Brooke something awfully important.

She received another desired gift...this walking baby doll! 

Lainey loves to call Walker "Buddy." She especially does it when she's trying to teach him something or show him something. She'll say something like "Buddy. Buddy. Watch me. This is how you do it." And, as you can imagine, Walker is usually not impressed and will just do it his own way. :)

And Walker got a choo-choo train card from Big Yiyia and James! He was thrilled.

Height: 43 inches (50th-75th percentile)

Weight: 45.2 pounds (75th-90th percentile)

Lainey has an odd attachment to things. She doesn't like to give anything away, or throw anything away, if it once belonged to her. This even applies to her toothbrush. I'm thinking she's trying to exert some control over her life.

Lainey is still a very oral child. Whenever she can, she'll put something in her mouth. A Barbie arm, a marker, a bracelet, her HAIR, her fingernails, a necklace...she mainly does this when she's watching TV.  She will also still have accidents and not care about it ONE BIT. Seriously. Not a bit. ;)

Funny story: 

While driving to a doctor's appointment, Lainey suddenly said, “Mom. I gotta tell you something. It's a mystery. Kaitlyn has tiny feet but she's five. How does she have tiny feet if she's five?” :) 

Another funny story: 

Recently, her Uncle Chris had surgery. I explained that the doctors were going to go into his tummy and take the "sick part" out so he would be well again. Lainey had an awfully hard time processing this. She was quite concerned about how the doctors were going to "get past all that food in his tummy to get the sick part out." I think she really thinks that food just floats around in there.

Our (mostly) homemade Kit Kat and M&M cake!

The picture Yiyia, Big Yiyia, and Lainey...and then there's Walker with the photo bomb! :) 

Happy Birthday, Lainey! We LOVE you! You are one spunky, sweet, curious, creative, kind-hearted little girl. You keep us busy...and we're trying our best to teach you how to be responsible, respectful, and kind to others. I know it's hard to be told how to act and what to say, and it's really hard to be told "no" when you want to do something, but your mom and dad love you very much and want you to be your very best self now and in the years to come. Thank you for bringing such joy into our lives and the lives of others; your happiness and constant positive attitude is contagious. You see the good in everything, and I think that's so important. It's one of my most favorite things about you. :) We can't believe that you are FIVE...can't wait to see what this year brings. We love you, sweet girl!