My baby is five. She’s all preschooler and Big Girl. She’s still painfully shy in public but a wild child with people she knows. She’s pretty much happy to doing whatever her big sisters are doing, whether it’s school, cooking, roller skating, legos, or coloring. She listens attentively to our school read-alouds and remembers a lot of details. Although we haven’t done any formal education other than French with Marion, she knows her alphabet, can write all her capital letters, knows as many math facts as Susie on a bad day (!), and has the best French accent of the family. She loves stickers, coloring with pens, and making lists. When you pay attention to her one-on-one, she just blossoms and beams. She still occasionally gets into bed with me for a morning snuggle.
People often ask me if Janie and Susie are twins. With their matching bobs and similar size, it’s not inconceivable, I guess. But their personalities could not be more different! Janie is generally a people-pleasing, compliant child. Her tantrums are rare and usually linked to lack of sleep. When she does lose her temper, she can be quickly calmed down and convinced to make peace with the offender. She’s quick to cry (typical baby) but also quick to forgive. She thinks her siblings are hilarious.
Favorite phrases: “I want to tell you something.” “Guess what!”
Favorite foods: Daddy’s homemade spaghetti, berries, sunflower seed butter and jelly sandwiches, oatmeal with chocolate chips.
She has really grown up! Happy belated birthday Janie!