3 1/2

lanie you are 3 1/2 today and we just enjoyed a tiny celebration in your honor. it's only right, as you throw us birthday parties almost every day! ;)

you quite enjoyed your ice cream cup!

at 3 1/2 years old, lanie jae...

- you are funny. always have been. but seriously, funny. you crack us up several times a day.
- you are smart. a few weeks ago you just passed your 4 year old screening with flying colors and they commented that they should have given you the 5 year old screening to see where you were at. :)
- they also had to change one part of the screening assessment because of you. they have objects for the shape portion and there was an "egg" for oval and (of course) you argued that it was an egg. so now they've sinced changed it. ;)
- you can count, but once you get to 29, you say twenty-ten. i have to remind you of 30, 40, etc.
- you love to read and often read to your sister. you have a very sharp memory and can recite most books we have extremely detailed. you especially love reading about princesses.

- you love to rhyme. you're pretty good at it, but will make up words if you can't find something t rhyme with it.
- you love strawberry shortcake!!! you even have us often sing strawberry songs to you before bed. you would love to live in berry bitty city! and i'd go with ya!
- you're very active, BUT you love to snuggle up and watch a movie!

- you still move your tongue back and forth very fast when you're focusing.
- you draw/make cards daily. about a dozen. sometimes bday cards, sometimes invitations. they're for all your family and friends and you "mail" them out.
- you perform your ballet for us almost daily.
- you sing all the time. usually you're singing and dancing at the same time. you make up your own songs and are quite the performer...

e performs from Molly Leone on Vimeo.

- you make up games. your latest is "frog frog dolphin." when you say "dolphin" you have to splash. clearly it's off of "duck duck goose." you make up things like this often and it's too cute.
- you love to dress up and pose in front of the mirror or the camera.

just the other day, you set your camera up on the couch and you would press the button and hurry and jump in front of the camera and pose. you did it dozens of time. looks like you've already figured self-timer out. ;)

- you set the table every night.
- you almost always help your little sister with whatever she needs.
- you still wear pull ups at night. although 9 times out of 10 you are dry, it always seems a few nights after we stop them you wet the bed.
- you still have nightmares. you haven't had a night terror in a looong time. ::knock on wood::
- you're still back and forth with naps. literally some days you have no problem staying up and some days it's melt down city around 3pm.


- you're very thoughtful. you are always, always thinking of others.
- you're still wearing size 3T, but really need 4T.
- red remains your favorite color. purple is your second favorite color.
- you are starting to do preschool workbooks at home. you love them.
- you still love to draw. you draw lots of scenarios now...usally it is the 4 of us at the beach or in the yard.

you put grass on the bottom and the sand on the sides. and of course a sun.

you draw lots of butterflies too. and those scribbles are supposed words. you read them to us.

- you can write all the letters. you often write several down and then try and sound them out to see what "word" you made. it's never a true word, but it's very fun what you come up with.
- you know quite a few sight words...and love to sound out words. so much so that recently we thought you may possibly be reading and are going to start exploring this to see where you're really at.
- you love school. and you love dance class.

- you beg for the same breakfast every morning....waffle with peanut butter, banana and honey. it has literally ruined your day when you don't get it. serious.

- tacos remain your favorite meal...and you keep it together like such a big girl!!
- you have a teenage tone in your voice more often than not. you so get that from your dad. ;)
- you rarely get a time out anymore. you may need a break, but i don't know the last time you truly had a time out. we usually catch it before it gets crazy and you get some alone time instead.
- one of the biggest things you have done in the last 6 months is...STOPPED SPITTING!!! you still do suck your thumb, but you have finally broke this disgusting habit of spitting and instead swallow any spit you collect while enjoying your thumb. whew. you are still filling a big 'ol sticker chart on this (momma's making sure this habit is good and gone), but once you do - you get thee biggest prize ever! seriousy, you get whatever you want.

keep dreaming big lanie jae!!! happy half birthday! and now...lanie in action (tongue and all)

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today." ~Stacia Tauscher