the oldest

Dear Abby

Well you have another month of being five under your belt. I'm not quite sure why five seems so much older than four, but it does. Maybe it's because you finally requested we take the potty out of your room and "give it to a three year old" because you did not need it anymore. You were ready to make the trip downstairs in the middle of the night if nature called. To your credit you have been getting up and making your way downstairs, but not before you ask if it's okay if you do that. I'll let you in on a little something.... it will always be okay, no need for you to wake me up at 3 am to find out.

Maybe it's because you're becoming a participating member of the family, willing to pitch in and help with varying degrees of success. I really love that you think changing the toilet paper roll is the greatest job in the world. So much so that, if I use the last of the roll I leave the empty one right there on the holder something I have never done before there by ensuring you will have the opportunity to put the new roll in place. Yes, this job is a perfect fit for you and you're so proud of yourself whenever you change it. Other jobs however, should best be left to Mom or Dad. Like emptying 3/4 of a brand new bottle of febreeze onto the couch, coffee table, computer monitor and keyboard isn't really the best showcase for your skills, although Dad and I really appreciated the effort.

You are still relishing the role of big sister even if Maya is a bit of a prickly pear lately. By and large you stay good natured with her even when she's swatting at you in frustration usually because you are attempting to give her yet another hug. I give you credit for continuing to try despite Maya's crankiness, shows me you aren't one to give up easily if it's something you care about. The age difference between you seems huge at this stage, but you still manage to find a way to play with your little sister. Last night you reduced her to uncontrollable giggles just by blocking her access to the stairs off the deck. You had turned keeping her safe into a game and you both loved it.

You are fearless in the pool. I am not sure where that came from all of the sudden, but it is something special to watch you preform belly flop after belly flop, flinging yourself into the pool without plugging your nose or closing your eyes. You, the same girl that had such trepidation about the required floating in swimming lessons spent a solid 90 seconds or more aimlessly floating on her back yesterday. I am still in some degree of disbelief when I watch you swim across the pool since actual swimming was not a skill you left swimming lessons with a few months ago. You can spend endless hours in the pool (no matter what the temperature), much longer than your Dad and I can, much to your irritation. Sorry for that, but we're old and don't have the endless well of energy that can keep you doing your very best shark impersonation for hours on end.

I have to say five is great. I'm enjoying it. I'm starting to get glimpses of the woman you're going to be and I have to tell you she's incredible. Want to know another great thing about five? It's close enough to four that you still need Mom for some middle of the night snuggles every once in awhile.

I love you.
Mom xo
August 2007