5 years old!

Aubrey Rose from 4 to 5.....

Can't believe our first baby girl is 5 years old!! Aubrey at 5:

* She is SUCh a good sister! The way she plays with Carson is amazing .....she is so patient, and helpful, and fun. She is always looking out for him, making sure he's included, coming up with such imaginitive games for them to play. He is so lucky to have her! And Charlotte is just beginning to see how wonderful it is to have Aubrey for a sister. Aubrey will do ANYTHING I ask her to do for Charlotte. She loves to entertain her and smother her with hugs and kisses all day.

* She is still our rule-follower. She does sometimes want to know "why" a rule is a rule now. But once she know's it's a rule, she follows it. She also wants to make sure everyone else is following the rules.....

* Aubrey is a perfectionist. She can get really frustrated if things are not going according to her plan. She can also be afraid to try new things for fear she won't do it "right."

* She is still a people-watcher.....constantly observing what's going on around her. She hears and sees everything!

* And she remembers everything! She can tell you what the Easter Bunny brought her two Easters ago...and just how it was positioned on her little chair when she woke up.

*She is still quite shy. She takes a while to "warm up" to new people and places. It's sometimes hard for me to watch her in social situations......I really worry that she'll let people push her around! It's such a fine line with quiet, shy kids.....I'm so glad she's not that pushy, loud kid on the playground, but I don't want her to get pushed around by that kid either. Hopefully she can hold her own.

* She might be my tiny twin. We've started to hear this more and more the older she gets, "She looks JUST like you!" And I have to admit, even I can see the similarities.

* The "princess phase" is still in full effect. Just yesterday we got suckered into buying her some flower seeds to plant just because they were in a princess wrapper! She has, however, expanded her interests to include Star Wars, bad guys, and Superheroes too. (Much to her brother's delight.) They love to "fight" with swords and guns.....she is usually the girl in those scenerios.

* She's still a girly girl. Has to make sure her clothes match and her hairdo "goes" with the outfit.

* She is also becoming quite a bit more independent. She loves to be in control of things and do things herself. Just last weekend she discovered she could turn the sprinkler on by herself.....she and Carson have been having a blast getting soaked everyday!

* She is VERY sensitive. Brian and I really have to watch how sharply we correct her.....she doesn't usually need much of a reminder to stop bad behavior. She also gets embarrassed very easily.....does NOT like to be the center of attention (usually). This has me very worried as she gets ready to start Kindergarten. She is, however, very excited to start Kindergarten!! Now that the shots are over, she is really looking forward to the fall.

I'm defintiely going to cry her first day of Kindergarten.....I really can't believe it's her time. We love you Monkey and we're so glad you helped start our family 5 years ago!