Tayls of Life, Love, & Babies: Gabrielle

37.5 inches - 9th percentile
32 lbs - 24th percentile
Head - 52 cm - They don't have a growth chart for head beyond 3 years, but it was at the 99th percentile for 3 year old.

They usually don't measure head, but the doctor wants to keep her measurement on record each year due to her short stature/macrocephaly combo.......something random to worry about I guess.

Everything else seemed great! After seemingly focusing on Oliver so much lately, it's great to have an easy appointment - she eats well, sleeps well, moves well, healthy, no allergies, pretty fabulous kid! She got two shots today, which was a little tough. They're the first shots she's gotten as a "big kid" knowing what's coming, instead of random stabbing in the leg baby-style.

She went to the eye doctor for her four year check, and all isn't improving as they had hoped. When she was first diagnosed they thought her eyes would improve and her prescription would lower eventually. This spring, they actually increased the prescription in one eye to even them out. They still want to keep her in that same prescription, but she was referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist in Grand Rapids. That appointment isn't until January. They are concerned that the vision in her right eye isn't very good and the eye turning is actually getting worse the second her glasses are off or she doesn't look right through them. Patching, prism lenses, or surgery are still options. I actually would be surprised if they didn't prescribe patching a few hours a day at her specialist appointment, but we will see in January I guess.

As usual, I can't believe another birthday has come and gone. Gabs is a happy, energetic little girl. She talks constantly. Asks questions about questions. Always has a argument or comeback to basically anything I say. Even "Gabi time to go get dressed" is always followed by a "but......" and some reason the plan should be changed, even slightly.

She is very social with adults or older kids. Whenever we're at the mall or park or something, if she makes an instafriend it's mostly likely someone a little older.

She thinks about grown up stuff. One days she said "Don't worry mom, when you die I'll take care of Oliver." A few days later she was having an emotional time of it and said "But when you die, how will I give Oliver milk??" and started to cry.

She also was worried her dad was going to embarrass her on her birthday. She randomly went up to him and said "So, my birthday is in two days. So don't wear sweatpants or anything. Wear something handsome."

Likes -
Pink, purple, black, and "pretty blue"
Older girls. Still claims her best friend is Faith from across the street who is 7. Everything she wants is because "Fafe has it".
Music
Dancing
Gymnastics
Pinkalicious, Tinkerbell, Barbie, Angelina Ballerina, Hello Kitty, Princesses
Worms and bugs. We have a Tupperware container full of dead caterpillars, moths, lady bugs, grasshoppers, worms, etc that she has collected.
Fashion
Art

Can count to 30+
Knows all her letters and the sounds they make
Beginning to explore and understand addition
Can get herself dressed including shoes and buttons, minus zippers and socks
Can fold clothes and puts her dishes in the dishwasher.
Just learned to skip like a pro!
Traces letters well, working on getting the confidence to try free writing :)
Likes to do preschool workbook sheets

I am kind of a stage mother and asked if Gabi could try a more advanced dance class. The class she was in was supposedly a 4-5 year old creative movement/ballet class. Though there was a two year old in it and they mostly did games and somersault type things. Gabi came home sad that they didn't do more "real dancing" in class. The studio owner said she could try a 5-7 year old ballet and tap class. She tried it and did well! It definitely is different and they keep them doing lots of skills and even combinations during class. She is a little bit slow but keeps up with everyone and really enjoys it! The instructor said she is doing well and can stay in that class! She will be in TWO dances at recital in the spring, tap and ballet.

She got moved up to the intermediate preschool class at gymnastics. I'm not quite sure why, haha, but they said it was mostly due to listening skills. The next class up is an hour rather than 45 minutes and has the kids do mostly the same skills just more independently. She really has improved so much in the few months she has been there. When she started she could barely do a somersault and now she can do a front hip circle over the bar *basically* by herself. She loves it and I can't believe the strength she has gained.

She is doing well at preschool after an adjustment period, of course. She seems to be really comfortable there now and enjoys her days. Sings the day of the week song, has homework where she has to pick out pictures that start with a certain letter and color them and trace letters, tell me about songs and games from school. They go to the gym, library, and computer lab as well as go outside for recess.

We just had our first conference and they said that Gabi needed to work on free writing and standing up for herself with other kids. She refuses to free write letters, only trace or write with her finger in the air or in sand (which she can do very well!). The confrontational thing probably isn't going to happen, but she will stand up for herself if it's something important. If someone grabs a toy from her, the fight isn't worth it. Teachers said she listens very well, talks to them very well, and interacts with the other kids. They said she could work on inviting herself into a group instead of parallel playing or naturally playing with other kids. Blah - I don't see that happening either, haha. It is funny how you could see her personality in come out in the all little "skills" they labeled emerging.
It was kind of embarrassing they said she couldn't identify a rectangle or sort things by color very well......haha. Wow. Since she's known those things since before she was two! But they said having the kids "perform" the different tests/skills usually doesn't work very well.