5 years!

Five years old baby girl!!  I can't believe how big you are getting and how grown up you seem compared to just last year.  This has been a big year for you (and us) baby girl.  We have had some fun trips and little adventures.  Right now mommy really wants to take you to SeaWorld again but your fear of lobsters, crabs and all things crustacean may delay that adventure for awhile.  

This year has been your first and only year of preschool.  In the beginning of the year you seemed to love going and learning and loved your teachers but you were kind of shy meeting new friends.  But in a few short months you jumped right in and each week we hear all about the fun (and drama) in the life a preschooler.  In class this year you've developed your first little crush!  Daddy thinks its crazy but I think it's sweet and kind of funny to hear you planning your wedding.  In the beginning of the year you wouldn't go near the boys but after one of them "protected" you from some 3 year olds dressed as a Chinese dragon you were smitten!  

Silly girl!  Every day you make us laugh Lucy.  Whether you are making up one of your song and dance routines, imitating a song and dance routine or using your 30 year old vocabulary to try and get your point across...you always make us laugh.  

Your favorite things are "pretty things".  Pretty dresses, pretty flowers.  You've loved hearing the birds start to chirp the past few weeks and were so excited to show me a nest you found outside.  A fourth generation bird lover for sure.  Your favorite project is to make cards and notes.  Every where I turn is a  note or card you've made, folded up ten times and taped shut.  You have quite a little publishing company down in your play room.  

You also love your little makeup sets and lipgloss.  You love to put on sparkly stuff and a couple of weeks ago tried to sneak some lipgloss out to school because "everyone ELSE takes lipgloss!".  

We've gone to some fun plays and concerts this year and I'm so amazed and how mature and what a big girl you are at these things.  Most kids wouldn't last through an almost 3 hour musical but you sit still, take it all in, laugh and clap and your favorite part of performances is the standing ovations at the end.  You're just like mommy when you get teary-eyed when a whole group experiences something together.  The emotional swell at a concert or just such great happiness in little moments.  I don't know how many times we've both looked at each other laughing with little tears in our eyes when we've heard our favorite song, saw a cute little puppy or had a really delicious treat :)

Lucy Cate, daddy and I both love you so much and are both so proud of you.  Watching you develop your relationships with your friends this year has been so exciting.  Seeing your strong personality shine through and see your mind work out feelings makes us so happy.  You are a sweet and kind girl.  Dramatic and silly, you always have an audience.  You don't like being by yourself very often and are usually the third opinion/adult in the room.  You are so big with your ideas and thoughts and sometimes it scares me that you are growing up too quick.  But then you still come crawling into our bed with your magic blanket you've had since you were a baby and I hear your baby snores and I can breathe a sigh of relief that you're still my baby.

I can't wait to see what you'll do at 5 years old Luce - it will be an exciting ride I'm sure!

Love you so much girl, 

love mommy and daddy

*aren't these pictures AMAZING!  Our friend Brooke took them a few weeks ago and despite all of Lucy's lovely dramatics and weirdness that day they turned out beautiful.  Thanks Brooke!