5 Years Old!!

We can't believe that you are already five years old! It seems like just yesterday you were learning to walk. We are so proud of the sweet, polite, strong-willed young lady you are becoming. You are smart and a rule follower and love Jesus and people. We celebrated at our house with church friends and family this year and an "under the sea" party theme. It was a blast!

You on your fourth birthday, just to see how much you've grown in a year!!

Flu catch up and big news.

I've been at home with you yesterday and today as you are sick with the flu. Daddy will take over and stay home with you tomorrow. We hate to see you so pitiful, but have loved all the snuggles we've gotten over the last few days! Since I have some time while you are resting, I'm finally going to catch up on the blog.

1. The big news we've all been waiting for is finally here:

Mommy and Daddy have been trying to give you a little brother or sister for three years now and for the last two years you have literally prayed for one every day and wished for one in every single pond or fountain that you threw a coin in. You've wanted this for so long and are so excited that it is finally here! You are going to be such an amazing big sister and I pray that you and your little brother or sister will be close for the rest of your lives. Please always take care of each other and look out for each other!

2. In other big news, you're getting married. You announced this last Friday when we picked you up from daycare. We had to push Daddy's chin back up, but we did get you to tell the story on video so we could save it. Who knows, maybe this will be rehersal dinner footage if you really do marry Gunnar one day.

Great Grandma Bateman and a National Championship

My sweet Grandma went to heaven this January and mommy had to leave you for a few days to go the funeral in Tennessee. While you had a blast with Daddy, I was happy to see that you missed me like crazy and even rehearsed what you were going to say to me first when I came back: "I love you, OR I missed you, OR I loved you and missed you!" It cracked me up and made my heart so happy when Daddy told me that. My Grandma was one of the kindest persons I ever knew and her heart was pure gold. She laughed with this silly infectious giggle every day of her life even towards the end. I pray that you inherit her love of God, her silliness and happiness, and her devotion to her family.

On a happier note, Clemson won the national championship this year for the first time since 1981! You have been wavering back and forth between being a Tiger fan, Gamecock fan, or Bulldog fan for several months. When Clemson won you decided you were a Tiger fan for good. You wanted to call Dad on the way to school to let him know your decision and once we hung up you said, "I bet I just made him so happy his underwear blowed off!" I think it was pretty close, sweet girl!

Post Christmas Catch Up!

We had a great Christmas this year! You had Grandmommy and Grandaddy here unexpedectly and Grammy Bec and Grandpa Tom as well! You got the big girl bike and drum set from Santa that you asked for and lot of other cool goodies from everyone else as well. You got to be an angel in the Christmas pageant at church and you did such a great job!

Halloween 2016

We had a great Halloween weekend with you! We did Boo at the zoo on Friday night, Trunk or Treat at church on Sunday and then neighborhood trick or treating tonight.

Side note that I don't want to forget: On the way to Boo at the zoo we were talking about names that people call their grandparents (like you have grandmommy, grandaddy, and grammy bec). We asked you what you thought you might want your kids to call us one day. Your response was awesome. When we become grandparents, we will be Uncle Herrick and Anna! Where do you come up with this stuff?!? We love your brain and spirit!

Fall of 2016 update

We are back in the swing of things and busy, busy, busy! Between work, school, and church we rarely have down time lately, but for the first time in a long time we are really plugged into a community. You have great friends through church and school as do Daddy and I. We have family close by and our out of town family travels well so we see them a lot. God really knew what he was doing when he sent us to South Carolina! We hope you will enjoy growing up here for years to come!

Videos of you lately: the first one is your first soccer game. You LOVE soccer and are really good! The second is of your testing your new shoes for a fashion show at church this week. Forgive me for posting, since you are in your underwear, but you are too cute!

Favorite things right now:

best friend: Gretchen

foods: you eat all the time! You especially love bread (quesadilla rolls) lolipops, pizza, apples, cheerios, quesadillas, chips, and baby bell mini cheese.

to do: play in your playroom and create parties for everyone to attend; have dance parties, watch ipad movies and tv shows

to say: sight words. You are sounding out and "reading" three letter words, you also repeat phrases that you hear us say all the time such as "I can hardly believe it", "Bless her heart", etc.

to go: zoo, Aunt Stacey and Uncle Mitch's house

your personality: all kindness all the time! You recently got upset with me for being "mean" to someone on the phone. When I explained that this person was trying to scam me by pretending to be an IRS agent and get my social security number to steal money from me, you said "Mom. It doesn't matter. You should be nice to everyone and I never want to hear you be mean to anyone on the phone again." You have such a sweet and gentle soul and you are so right. We should be kind no matter what. Always stay true to that.

wearing: fake glasses each day. The first time you wore them you told me that you looked like a "wearian." When I asked what you meant you said "you know, like the ladies who give out books." You meant librarian and look like such a precious librarian in your glasses that you wear EVERYWHERE lately.  

Keeping it real...

You are snuggled up beside me watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory right now and I'm so grateful for your sweet little toes curled up on my lap and the way you wiggle and move around every two seconds. Your warmth next to me and the million cute questions you keep asking me about the movie make me so happy.  I love you so much today and every day, but every day is not like today. Today I got hugs and kisses and extra snuggles as you are a bit nervous about going back to school tomorrow. Yesterday I got attitude and a tongue stuck out at me when I asked you to get dressed. Today I get to watch a movie with you. Yesterday I had to beg you to get ready to go have some fun at the zoo. You, my love, are a stubborn child. You know what you want and you aren't afraid to let anyone know it.  While we butt heads and my temper gets the best of me some days, I'm not writing this to complain. I'm writing this to let you know that no matter what happens in the heat of the moment, I love you and am proud of you. Yes, it makes it difficult when we go through five pairs of socks and shoes in the morning before settling on the ones that "don't hurt" (they all fit by the way). Yes, I sometimes yell when I shouldn't. Yes, you get your bottom spanked when you talk back or sometimes try to kick or hit. BUT in the end, you are just standing up for what is right for you. It is my prayer every day that Daddy and I can help to shape these stubborn tendencies so that you aren't spoiled or rude and that you learn to "go with the flow" while still standing up for what is right for you and important to you. We can't wait to see the wonderful, stubborn lady you will become and we are happy to do the hard part of parenting now so we can be your friend later!

We had more great moments than cranky ones this summer and I loved spending my time off with you!  Here are some more pics to help us remember the rest of the summer of 2016: