For Abigail's 5th birthday, she requested two friends come over, Becca & Paisley. So we had them over after church the Sunday before her birthday for lunch & birthday cake. This kid has matured so much over the past year, to request specific friends by name, friends who she really does enjoy playing with. She is certainly not as shy anymore and will speak to people when she's spoken to.
She is learning a ton in preschool, mostly in the way of social skills, which was really a challenge for her when she first started. She can express her thoughts more clearly, recount her day or things that happened to her friends (in a way I can actually understand), tell stories, and play pretend. She wasn't necessarily
bad at these things, but I can really see an improvement in all these over this past year.
She rarely has specific toys or activities she enjoys all on her own-- she never requests specific gifts for her birthday or Christmas, just things she sees others with. She really enjoys dance (and is excelling in her class!) but I wonder if she only does it because Leah does. She only asked for princesses on her cake because she doesn't really love any other characters at the moment. She loves to play with Leah or Andrew or Jacob, or just be next to me when I'm doing things. She's very curious and always has to touch things she sees.
She loves to play outside, and loves to do "exercising" or dancing inside. She is good at the large gross motor skills- flipping on playground equipment, or doing somersaults or kicking balls. She doesn't get too excited about coloring, but does enjoy crafts involving scissors and glue. She is just recently getting interested in writing her letters. She still doesn't recognize all the letters of the ABC's, and sometimes it seems very slow going with her, but she seems to learn best through sensory play, games, and hands-on activities-- very different than her brother & sister's learning styles. She still wants to be able to write but doesn't care as much about reading. She is great with numbers, though, as well as patterns and puzzles and logical thinking.
Grandma sent a winter hat & gloves, some dress up clothes & accessories, and some activity books for her birthday, so she had plenty to open. She also got a My Little Pony from her friend and some craft supplies from us, plus PJ Masks costumes for her and her brother & sister to play together.
Abigail is always one to do things in her own time and her own way, and I've learned to expect nothing less. She is spunky and sassy and silly and knows how to get what she wants. As the third- born she may sometimes get lost in the shuffle, but she will let you know if she is feeling left out. It will be interesting to see all that year 5 brings for this little girl.
