This fall at Mrs. Diana's, Emery began learning short vowel sounds and blending, and she's able to sound out some 3 and 4 letter words. She recognizes several other words she's seen before, many she's spelled on an electronic spelling and story book she has.
A couple of weeks ago, we were shopping and Emery pulled me over to a display, saying "Books! I see books!" I didn't see any books, just batteries, headphones, electronics. So I tried to figure out where exactly she was looking, and I realized the sign above the display (mistakenly) read "Books." She was reading the word! She's still hesitant to try to sound out multiple words in a book, but once she gains more phonics tools and practice, we think she'll really take off with reading.
Most often, we find her "reading" books by reciting the story she's memorized from hearing us read to her (sometimes word for word). She has a pretty good auditory memory for movie lines and song lyrics - just like Blake, but unlike Tiffanie. She wants to act out shows and movies with her toys and says to me: You be Junior Asparagus, and I'll be Laura Carrot. Then she launches into lines from an episode of VeggieTales and I have no idea what lines come next (even if I've seen it lots of times.) This is frustrating to her. Blake can recite the lines back and forth with her. Sorry, kid!
At this point, I think her fine motor skills aren't quite as advanced as her cognitive skills. When I suggest she try to color in the lines, she tells me: "But I don't want to." She started learning to cut paper with scissors as well.
Emery can write her name pretty well, but the letters are usually pretty big and spaced out, and she often runs out of room (they go on the next line or other places on the page). She has started learning to write the lower case letters in her name, "e" and "r" are more obviously different than the upper case versions ("m" and "y" don't look a lot different). She can write other letters too. She wrote a card to her friend Mary Helen, and wrote MH's name plus "Love, Emery" on the inside.
This winter Emery has enjoyed several chances to sled in the snow, make snow angels, and throw snowballs. Also, a few weeks ago, Emery had her first dental check-up, and did very well.
Emery still loves stories and pretend play. We got her dress-up dresses for her birthday, and she loves wearing them, changing in to a different dress, and pretending to be (her version of) whoever that character is. For Christmas, Emery got a Candy Land game from Uncle Bryan and Aunt Sherry, and she has learned how to take turns and follow rules and wants to play over and over.
This fall, my folks bought us tickets to Disney on Ice and Emery loved seeing her favorite Disney characters and princesses skating and dancing and acting out their stories (most of which she's actually unaware of - she knows Rapunzel's name and face, but is unaware of her movie and story.) For Emery's birthday, we took her and her best friend, Mary Helen to Disney Live, a fairly similar show (without the ice) where they danced and acted out stories - this time with fun magic tricks (objects appearing from an empty box, making people disappear.) The girls had a blast.
We can't believe this big girl is already four. She's a delight. She's funny and sweet and a ton of fun! We're grateful for her!
Aunt Cindy crocheted her a mermaid tail!! She's over the moon excited!
Is it me, or does she look SO grown up in this picture?!
1 comment:
Beautifully written, Mom. Four years already, can't imagine. Happy Birthday, precious one. Aunt B
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