So, in the planning phase sparklers seemed like a great way to be very fancy, but in execution they ended up being terrifying (even for me while I carried the cake)

On August 22nd, my “baby” turned 5. I mean really, she has essentially been 35 pretty much since the moment she came out, but we were all still pretty excited about this milestone. Even my mom came to visit and be here for the party which was just so special and fun!!! So many cool things happen when you are 5: You go to school, you lose your first tooth (usually at some point while 5 or so I hear), you can cross the street while standing next to mommy instead of holding her hand, and you get a lot of shots. Well, I guess that last one is NOT so cool, but it IS unfortunately true. And if I thought watching those nurses pin down my little babies while they got shots was bad, it is NOTHING compared to how hard it is when they are old enough to realize what the heck is going on. I had to pin Molly’s arms down while they gave her three shots and she was SO MAD and screaming. I totally cried. It was MUCH more traumatic then when they are babies.

So, even though Molly was a total brat to the doctor at her 5 year check up because she knew the shots were coming (sometimes I wish they would do them first instead of at the end just because the anticipation is AWFUL), here are some fun stats about where she stands:

Height at birth: 22 3/4 inches
Height at age 5: 45 inches (barely – they wrote down 45 to make her happy because she insisted but really it was more like 44.5)

weight at birth: 10 lbs 9 oz.
Weight at age 5: 46 lbs

percentage of body taken up by attitude at birth: 100%
percentage of body taken up by attitude at age 5: 100%

So as you can see, we are growing VERY well. And I am happy and well aware of how blessed we are to say she is an amazing and healthy little girl.

Molly and her best girlfriends all dolled up in their fanciest ensembles!

A few more little tid bits about her development: At 5, Molly is reading quite well for her age. She has most of the words (and there are over 100 if you will allow me to be very annoying and brag just for a minute!) she knows memorized, but can also sound out simple words and she has started doing that EVERYWHERE she goes! She can also write simple sentences which amazes me. Her vocabulary is kind of awesome. For example: the other day she was talking to me about the kids in her class and she said to me, “My friend Junior is a bit unorthodox mom, but I do like him…”. My mom insists she is stronger in math than in language skills (but Grandma is a bit biased towards math since she was a math teacher). She can add, subtract, and even do small multiplication problems if she has enough fingers or objects in front of her to group. I know this list is now really getting annoying – I am really sorry because I try not to be one of those braggy/competitive moms but I am just so proud of what a smart little thing she is!! I think she is pretty neat so once a year I am allowed to boast a little!!!

Okay, gloating over Moving on…..For her party this year she asked to have a “very fancy tea party” – with girls ONLY. The only boy allowed to come was Matt, and only if he agreed to be the waiter LOL. Because he is basically the best daddy ever (and completely in love with his little girl) he agreed to this. We made very fancy invitations, shopped at thrift stores to find very fancy tea pots, and decorated the yard with very fancy things. We also painted nails, and made hair wreaths out of ribbon and garland and had a pinata. I kind of went crazy with it admittedly, but it was just so fun to really immerse myself in the girlishness for once! And I think 5 is a really really big deal! My mom commented, “I really hope I am nowhere near you when this child gets married”.

My masterpiece!

Also, again this year I am so grateful that our friends and family were so generous and thoughtful and just showered Molly with all sorts of love, gifts, and goodies. She really is just such a lucky kid – I hope someday she realizes it as much as we do! Also, since I know so many of you read this, please know my thank you cards are late, but on their way. I am really trying to insist Molly write at least part of them herself, but its going slowly!

I will leave you with some more pictures from her party:

My heart SWOONS whenever I look at this. Isn't he handsome all dressed up?

I just wanted to put in a picture of this table because these four were so coincidentally color coordinated!

The birthday girl enjoys some more trips to the sugar bowl

Emily from across the street came over to help me by painting nails!

Making fancy head wreaths!

Of course there was lots of playing on the play structure and the little hellions actually broke the roof off. My father in law will be here later this month to fix it!

Barefoot, pregnant and serving birthday cake (why yes I DID make that! thanks for asking!), Life is pretty sweet right now

"Where did all these people come from while I was napping? Oh well - at least they gave me cake..."

Molly sort of enjoys being the center of attention - have you noticed?

Pinata time!!!!

Holy toledo! No matter how fancy and well mannered they were during the party, all bets were off the minute that pinata broke. I saw elbows thrown, there were tears, my goodness!

Still partying after all the guests have gone home Silly girl!