Oh Amelia,
It has been a year since I've updated this! I'm so, so sorry! How I wish I was the type of parent who is super organized and posts something every week. However, I'll try to do better.
We've had such an incredible year. You're almost finished with reception, which is your first full year of school. You have come such a long, long way. This time last year, you'd still cry when I dropped you off for nursery (half day), but now, you just run along. Actually Dad takes you to school in the mornings. He started off doing it temporarily and liked it so much he just kept on doing it. You guys have some great conversations on the walk to school. He tells me you love to show off on your scooter and you talk about all sorts of random things, like things going on at school, how much you love the climbing frame and your friends. And you love school. Your teacher's name is Zara (this school calls the teachers by their first names, I don't quite understand why), Leslie the teacher's aide from nursery is also there, which you love. You're learning so many amazing things. You can write in cursive (almost) and you're learning to read. You also love maths and lunch (in fact you always say lunch is the best thing you did all day). You have some really good friends. You love playing with Elijah and Thomas especially. They think you're the best because you play 'Spiderman' with them...except you're 'Spider girl' who can do the same things, just that you're a girl.
Recently Elijah and another boy Gabriel had an argument over who got to marry you when you grew up. I asked you which one you wanted to marry and you said Gabriel. When I asked why, you said it was because he held your hand and Elijah didn't do that!
You've had a little bit of a harder time friend-wise at church, your best buddy Perry Macfarlane moved to Utah. And your other good friends Simon and Josiah Webster have also moved. Unfortunately you're learning the hard lesson of living in the Hyde Park ward/London, people don't usually stick around more than a few years. Only us, the Dougalls, Phillips and a few other families. However your confidence has grown so much, you're making new friends. I'm so proud of you.
Probably the biggest thing to happen to us is the arrival of Sebastian! You finally have a little brother. And you love him so much. You can make him laugh harder than anyone. Anytime you come into the room, he just watches you and wriggles with excitement. You sometimes love him a little too much and we have to caution you to not pick him up/accidentally kick him/jump on him etc. I think you're just ready for him to get a bit bigger so you can do more things. Don't worry, he'll get there. But you are a fantastic big sister. You're always watching out for him and telling me to do or not do things. I know you're going to continue to look out for him your whole life. He sure is lucky to have you.
Amelia, you're such a joy in our lives. You're five years old and you ask so, so, so many questions. Sometimes I don't even know how to answer them. You're still incapable of doing anything wrong without confessing to it first (usually before I even realize that you've done anything naughty). You're so interested in how the world works and you're getting so friendly with people. It's hard to remember that this is the same kid who wouldn't ever, ever leave my side at the park/church/school. You talk to strangers on the bus/tube and people are enchanted by you. Here's an example of what a conversation with you is like.
Your friend Eva Marriott-Fabre was baptized recently and we attended. Later you asked me if Eva was now a different person. I said no and asked why you thought that. You said that your primary teacher Leigh, said that when a person was baptized, they became a different person. I explained how we make a promise to Heavenly Father and Jesus when you get baptized and your sins are washed away. You asked if the water washed away the sins. I answered 'yes' and then you asked what happened to the next person who was getting baptized, did all of Eva's sins in the water get on them when they got in? I had to hide my laughter when I explained that wasn't exactly how things work. But oh, Mia...how I love your brain and how it works. I hope you always ask questions!
Since Seb joined us, you and I have butted heads a bit more. I'm very tired (he's the world's worst sleeper, you were much better as a baby) and you have had a few moments of acting out (having a new baby has diverted a lot of attention from you to him, only natural). But I'm happy to say we've come out of it. You still want to give me hugs and kisses all the time and you tell me several times a day that you love me. And I hope you know how much I love you as well. You're such a special girl and every night I thank Heavenly Father that I get to me your mom!
I'm going to get better at this so these aren't so long! Love you kiddo!
Mom
