Addie is 5!

I can't believe my little gal is 5 years old! This girl makes me so happy and warms my heart every single day. She seems so much older in recent months and is developing into such a fun, spunky and interesting little person! 

We started her birthday a little bit early when we were able to go to the mall together one afternoon a few days before her birthday. The original plan was to go to the American Girl store to look at the dolls but since we were there and just the two of us she decided to get her ears pierced! We were going to go on her birthday but the timing was perfect so we did it a few days early.  She was very surprised when the first ear was pierced and  it hurt more than she was expecting but she was very brave and did not cry at all. She loves her new earrings! 

On her actual birthday we got up early and had breakfast and then opened presents.

 Addison was SO excited to get her own American Girl doll. After spending more than an hour at the store looking at all the dolls I was THRILLED when she picked out Saige, the new girl of the year. I did not influence her decision at all but we both love that she is from New Mexico and that she has such a fun story. She also got Saige's accessories and some Barbie princess movies. Allen's mom sent her a pretty temple necklace and my parents sent her a fun AG tea set and girl/doll apron and cooking set. She was so happy with her gifts and she has played with her doll non-stop. It has been so fun to see the girls play with their dolls and really enjoy them together.

For breakfast Addie picked Nutella/banana/pudding crepes and apple cinnamon donut muffins. Yummy!

 Addie wanted to go swimming on her birthday so I took her to the gym to swim that afternoon. We had a very busy rest of the day but were able to go to Panera bread for her birthday dinner. She loves their Mac n Cheese. Since we had sports practices that night we even had her cake at the restaurant. Overall she had a wonderful day and loved her gifts, activities and meals.  (excuse the post-swimming hair in this picture).

Addison is such a joy to be around. She has a real zest for life and has such a happy personality.  She really, really loves preschool and has made some cute friends there this year. Her favorite activity is art time and her teacher often comments on how precise and careful she is with her projects. She loves to draw, paint and create at home too. Addie is doing great academically - she is starting to sound out words and is very interested in the reading process. She always tries to figure out what letter words start with. It is exciting to see her mind expanding so rapidly. Addie also loves her gymnastics and swimming classes and asks every day if she can have a playdate with her friends.

Addison's other great love is being read to. It is not unusual for her to bring me stacks of books to read to her in the afternoon while Emery is napping. She will not go to bed at night unless we have read several books. Addison is a great big sister to Emery. Those two are as thick as thieves and we have to separate them at night or they stay up giggling and laughing with each other. Most mornings when I go to get Emery out of her crib, Addison is snuggled up with her inside the crib. Addie was the first name Emery knew in our family. One of the cutest things about Addie is that every time she prays she prays that our family will "always stick together." It's adorable. She LOVES to pray and gives very comprehensive, detailed, LONG prayers that crack us up.

Addie is still teeny tiny. I am still buying her size 4 pants and having to cinch them in all the way on both sides. She is not nearly as picky a eater as she was a few years ago and salad is now one of her most favorite foods. We laugh that she has a discerning palate and has preferences similar to an adult. She still loves fancy cheeses, chips and guacamole, edamame and really good bread. She is super picky about sweets and refuses to each cheap chocolate or any desserts that are not up to her standards. Addie loves to talk to her grandparents on the phone and will carry on lengthy conversations with them. She is a total social butterfly and likes to have lots of friends. Every single day I'm so glad I get to be her mom and love all that she adds to our family!