Olivia

Olivia turned 6 last month. This little girl of mine makes me smile every time I think about her. She has so much pizzaz and spunk. She is very independent and has been since she was born. She was walking at 8 1/2 months, climbing stairs and coming down them when she was 9 months and talking complete sentences by 10 months. No exaggeration. She could buckle and unbuckle her own car seat by the time she was 18 months old. She was potty training at 12 months. This girl likes to be independent and do things on her own. She learned to ride a 2 wheel bike when she was 3 AND she leaned to tie her shoes when she was 3. This girl is so determined. She has the best facial expressions of anyone I know. She wears all of her emotions on her face. When she is happy her face beams! When she is mad... watch out! Her death glare can knock you off your feet. If you ever get to surprise her, you'll see how her whole face wears her surprise. When she is scared or sad or hurt, she has big facial expressions to let us know exactly how she is feeling. She also loves to use big words in her vocabulary. When she was 3 years old it was common to have her use words such as ; annoying, unbelievable; incredible, absolutely, adorable, and humble! We would always laugh when she fit big words that we are sure she doesn't understand into her sentences. She was just a bitty thing using the language she hears her siblings use. She still does that exact thing. Sometimes I will stop her when she uses a big word and ask if she knows what it means. Sometimes she amazes me with knowing exactly what it means- other times she says she has no idea what the word means. So, I explain and then she starts using the word correctly. For as independent as she is, she still likes to be a baby (occasionally).  She'll want mommy or daddy to hold her, or help her get dressed. She still has her blue baby blanky that is her safety blanky. She loves her blanky and has named it "blue". It is blue. :)

Olivia has NEVER had a hair cut! She did have aunt Ilesha give it a trim about 2 years ago, but to even out all her different lengths. She hopes to be able to grow it long, at some point. She lost her first tooth last week.... my first child to make it to age 6 without losing a tooth!  She is reading, but likes mommy and daddy to sit with her to make sure she is getting every sound correct. She goes to kindergarten and loves every minute of it. She has created a "vampire club" with some of the kids in her class.... what does she do in a vampire club? Well, I asked the same question. They build bird nests out of grass, they swing on the monkey bars and they have a meeting spot to meet at recess and they all eat lunch together. I don't remember doing that in kindergarten, but Olivia has always been a leader and really enjoys being in charge. She was always really small and the youngest in her preschool, but her teachers have always said that they would never worry about anybody bullying her or pushing her around- Olivia can hold her own and is not shy about it. She is definitely a leader and a great friend and great sister. We love our "Squishy" so much!!!  Happy 6th birthday.