Laney has surprised me the most in how much she has grown. I catch glimpses of me in a window or mirror the few times I pick her up and hold her, and she is so big! Her teachers at preschool love her and tell me how exceptional she is all the time.
This is the field behind our house, on the other side of our property line. Barak takes her back there for good quality time. She loves flowers and picking them to bring back home, so this is perfect. She tells us she is growing a garden and the flowers need to go back to their mother once she gets them in the backyard. Then she lines them up and we put them in a vase. She's in her element whenever she is outside.
Her absolute favorite thing to do is play in the rain water, or what she calls the "pond," in our driveway. She will run back and forth through the water for as long as I let her stay outside.
We try to go to the park at least once a week in the morning, before it gets too hot. There's a lot of equipment there that is perfect for their age, and hardly ever anyone else there. It's always shaded and the girls can slide and climb without my help. Meredith is usually content to watch them from the stroller, so it's a good relaxing time for all of us.
This was the birthday cake Caroline made for Caroline. "Wook, Waney, it's your birfday cake! Happy Birfday to yooouuuu!"
Nana and Deedee both got Laney the exact same dollhouse for her birthday, and she loves it! We exchanged Deedee's for a purple princess dress that she loves just as much.
Barak and I took the girls to Smith Mountain Lake in VA for Laney's "present." She loves the beach and the pool. The lake had a beach area and no giant waves (that the ocean has). It was a great time, and we hope to go back as much as possible.
Laney giggles when she can play chase in any form, loves to run, and play with other kids. She is very thoughtful and sensitive. She likes to sing Daniel Tiger songs to help her calm down and know what to do when she's frustrated. She takes control of situations when she plays with Caroline, and even though it takes her a minute to warm up to a new situation, she leads well once she's comfortable. She shares well, and enjoys taking turns.
Laney loves broccoli, spinach, and berries. She actually prefers them over french fries and chips. She's a great eater, and getting so independent. She can go potty and wash her hands all by herself, and can brush her teeth, even though I have to finish up for her. She gets dressed, undressed, and climbs in the tub without help. She knows some words, and can spell her name as well as her sisters' and many of her friends' names. She can trace letters, write a few free hand, and put real puzzles together that don't have a picture behind it to help. She can draw lines to pictures that match, and draw "people."
Barak was working nights on Laney's actual birthday, so we went to the "cupcake store" after he woke up and spent some time there before he left for work. Later that day, David, Leah, Asher, and Annelise dropped by to say happy birthday, too :)
We brought some cupcakes and special snacks to her preschool so she could have a party with her friends. Laney picked out her purple dress that she loves to wear that day. We got Caroline out of her class so she could eat some snacks too. She was pretty proud to be sitting by Asher.
This is the best picture I could get of Laney and Noah. This little boy Laney describes as her "boy" and her teachers tell me they give each other kisses and hugs a lot. Watch out, Daddy, it's starting!
Her teachers, Ms. Kelly and Ms. Lisa
She weighs 33 lbs, and measures 39 3/4 tall
