you turned five, and we celebrated with a special trip to Disneyworld. you've been begging to go meet the princesses since you were three. your daddy and i promised that we would take you to Disney when you turned five, and we happily made good on our promise. your birthday was magical. you wore a special pin that told everyone it was your 5th birthday, and at the bibbidi bobbidi boutique they turned you into the most beautiful version of Cinderella. so, all day long people went out of their way to wish you a happy birthday. we even had a birthday lunch with all of your favorite princesses. every Disney character/princess as well as every Disneyworld employee would ask you how old you were, and when you said five, they would say, "oh, you're a whole hand full!" while holding out their hand to show that you now take up all the fingers (and thumb) on one hand... like it was the most special thing in the whole world. there is good reason that Disneyworld is referred to as the happiest place on earth.
at five years old you seem so grown up. gavin and i were recently looking back at videos from the past 3 years, and i found myself crying. not over how much gavin has grown but because i no longer see any traces of that little bitty girl you used to be. and while that makes me sad, the sadness is instantly replaced by happiness over the big girl you are becoming. you are like the most beautiful flower blossoming right in front of my eyes.
you absolutely love school. you love to learn, and you love your teachers, and you love your friends. you can write all of your letters, sound out words and make rhymes and riddles. you're starting to do math and enjoy science. you know your phone number (my cell number :) and your address. you love music class. you finally like to do puzzles! you continue to be a very good artist. most importantly, you've learned how to solve problems on your own. you're growing more sure of yourself, and with that has also come some sassiness. i often catch you talking back to me. it reminds me so much of myself. so even though i reprimand you for it, a part of me totally understands it.
you jumped right into your new school and immediately became very good friends with lynn. but for the first time this year, you started to have some insecurities about girls who didn't want to play with you at school. you would talk to me about it in bed at night, and you were genuinely sad about it. it was hard for me to believe that we had already arrived at this stage, but i did my best to listen and validate your feelings and give you some tips for things you could say when you wanted to play with a particular girl. thankfully, these insecurities didn't hang around long and before i knew it, you were happy to play with just about anyone in your class - girl or boy.
i love how you've adapted to being around so many boys (in our family, amongst our friends and at school). you can play with boys now just as easily as you can play with girls. and most days you come home from school telling me how you played with joseph and colin. i drop you off on the playground every morning, and i love to watch you chasing your friends around the playground as i drive away. running is something you've really grown into this year. you used to cry when boys chased you at the park in seattle, and you never really enjoyed running. not anymore. you happen to be one of the fastest kids on the playground, and you take pride in that :) you play school yard games like freeze tag and hopscotch, and you can swing all by yourself now. you're becoming a big kid...
you weigh 41 pounds (so skinny!) and are 45 1/2 inches tall (so tall!). you are squarely in the "girls" section of the store now, wearing a size small or 6/6X. i swear you grow out of pants 2 months after i buy them. your hair finally started growing (i'm not kidding - it took 5 years!), and it's getting very long. you have been growing your bangs out for months now, and you are very particular about how you wear your hair. you hate for any hair to be on your forehead (you say it looks like "a boy stylish"), so you slick your bangs back with your hand, and it drives me nuts :) you sit in a backless booster seat now, and you can buckle the seat belt all by yourself.
you enjoy playing with little figurines like your lalaloopsy dolls and strawberry shortcake. you still have a great imagination and can entertain yourself for most of the day. you are a little obsessed with the tv though, and you will watch as much as i will let you and then still beg for more. you always say the tv shows give you good ideas, and a lot of times they do. you love to spend your quiet time in the afternoon watching some of your favorite shows on nickelodeon like max & ruby and fresh beat band. you have a knack for learning every word to every song you hear whether on tv or on the radio (in my car). i love to hear you singing along to songs. you have such a sweet voice.
you're still a super good girl who follows the rules and doesn't cause any trouble. you're gaining a lot of independence and have no problems being on your own. you often go home from school with other moms for play dates with your friends. you sleepover at gram vicki's and ba kaye and bob bob's, and while you get a little sad because you're missing me, you do just fine without me. you look out for your little brother and nothing makes me happier than the close relationship you and gavin have. you definitely have your share of squabbles, and you often demand your privacy, but it's easy to see how much you love gavin and how much you enjoy his company. most of the time... :)
brooke, you are sweet and compassionate and smart and timid and mature and curious and dramatic and observant and silly and creative. i love the girl that you are. i love that you are my girl.
love,
your mommy
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