Five

Five years ago I checked into the hospital and Kelly and I became parents.

Unfortunately, she did this a lot of her first year of life!

 In the last five years, Keeley has been patient with us as we've tried to figure out this whole "parent" thing.  It hasn't been easy because we've had to do the parent thing with other life lessons as well.  Unfortunately, life comes with no manual to help you through its changes.  There was her colic, my father's death, a sister who was also colicky, the loss of a baby, the loss of a great-grandfather, and the birth of another baby.  Through all of that, our family has talked and cried and laughed and grown.  Keeley has the sweetest and most thoughtful spirit about her.  Her family is everything to her and her family definitely still includes those members we've lost since her birth.  There is a stillness in her that makes me frequently think she knows so much more than I do the way our family is all connected.  The love she feels for Kayden and Killian is fierce.

Birthday dinner and cupcake - Mooyah and vanilla cupcake with white icing.

While we are singing to her

At five she can write quite well, is starting to read, and is starting to work on math.  She still loves to paint and color and is quite the perfectionist about it.  If there is an "example" given of an art activity, her completed project must look just like that example in order for her to be happy.  Routines are important to her and everything must be fair.  "It's not fair" is heard quite frequently around here.  She is still quite cautious and that is particularly true when it comes to making choices about things - in Disney World she wanted to see all her options at all the different stores before she spent any of her money.  She is still a vegetarian with the exception of ham and cheese sandwiches that she will eat occasionally.  Her food preferences are also still quite limited but she will at least try all of the food on her plate now.  Each night it is important to her that she tells us both, "I love you.  Sweet dreams.  See you in the morning."  To me she adds, "Have fun at home with Killian." and for Kelly she adds, "Have fun at work.  See you at dinner."  She is a great sleeper (something I never would have believed had you told me that when she was a baby) and sleeps from 7ish to 6:30ish.

We are so blessed to have her in our life and we love watching her grow.  I just can't believe how old she already seems.  I finally understand now how parents say their kids will always be their babies because she will certainly always be mine.

Stats from the doctor:
weight: 40.8 lbs (59%)
height: 42 inches (42%)
BMI: 16.26 (fine for her age apparently)

No shots and she was able to do everything the doctor asked and more so we left with a very happy mom and a very happy Keeley.  The only concern (again) was that she is a very selective eater.  Dr. Terry was pleased to hear that she is willing to try everything now and will take a couple of bites.  Progress I suppose.