My Ana girl is THREE!

With great excitment, Ana turned three! It is hard to remember how little she really is because she is so tall and says so many things - but my baby girl is still just that, a wee babe only on the cusp of kidness though her baby days are falling further and further behind. 

baby Ana!

So much sweetness

Letting her crazy out

She has been wanting a "Sophia" party for just about as long as any of us could remember - asking for a Sophia cake. This is so funny to me because they have never seen Sophia, nor had they read any Sophia books prior to this. They had only seen her in stickers and coloring books. I got her a show of Sophia for her birthday and when it came time to watch it she didn't want to because there is a mischevious sorcerer in it. Which seems like quite an intense name for what his role actually is. Either way - he is the "mean guy" in the show and Ana just couldn't handle it. Ana can't really handle -any- scary thing. Anything in a book or show that is meant to add suspense (even just an unknown sound that Curious George can't figure out), Ana covers her eyes or walks away or keeps her head down. She is our sensitive, sensitive girl. I pray I will know how to protect that in her while at the same time drawing out her bravery and courage as she grows. 

Kid table!

baby bros

face painting!!

Ana -loves- Tai!

Fam

Mmmm

So hot!!!

Ana has started letter sound lessons with Daddy! She's got C, U, P, T down and enjoys having a lesson time. She is so, so, so strong and aware of her body. She has great coordination and loves to throw and kick balls. She is doing dance class once a week, her first ever thing apart from church where I leave her with a teacher and she is doing good. She is quite tentative in the beginning and when the teacher talks to her or asks her questions she sometimes puts her head down and looks away. But, she says she has fun and it seems like a good setting to have her in to start learning how to behave in a class. She likes to do "cup-cake" and "ice-cream" which is their way of getting them to point their toes, tap, etc. 

Recently Ana and I had a conversation about how she is both a little sister AND a big sister. This was prompted by me witnessing how in a matter of 2 minutes Zoe kicked her out of her activity she was engaged in and right after Benny came up to her and smacked her in the arm. I think it was right then I realized how hard it must be to be in the middle sometimes. I hugged her right up and told her that it is so special that she is both a little and big sister. Zoe is just a big sister and Ben is just a little brother but Ana is  - both - and it takes someone very, very special to be both. God made her soooo special to get to be a big and little sister and I'm so proud of her and she is doing such a great job. Ever since that talk Ana has a few times, out of nowhere, said "I'm little AND big" really proudly - and I hope she maintains the feeling that to be in her position is a really special place. 

Big sister

Little sister

My Ana girl has BIG emotions and can be so sweet you think you might explode and later have such a strong reaction to something you wondered how she can even handle the back and forth. We are working on screaming -never- being an appropriate response (nor is pulling hair, in case you are wondering). We are also working on doing what momma and daddy say - although she usually always does it, just in the middle of it is yelling "I DONT WANNNNNNT TO" - like that parable where the one son says he will but then doesnt, and the other says he wont but then does? I think about that almost every time - I think "well, you may be real upset but at least you are obeying?"

Her love language is quality time/cuddle, for sure. Ana could sit in your lap and read books or talk or just hug almost endlessly. She loves books and music and swinging. Ana's other love langugage is swinging - in the baby swing. Thats all she wants in life. She is also one of the best encouragers I have ever seen. "Great job Zoe!" "yay! way to go Ben!" -  she is really great at spurring other people on and letting them take the lead while she joyfully follows. She has some sweet little friends, mostly boys but a few girls and a lot of the time she just sits happily cheering them on as well. 3 seems like such a fun age jumping into more kid like ness by the time they are 4 and I'm excited to watch even more of her personality, likes/dislikes come out - especially since with Z at kindergarten in the fall she will have more time to just be in charge of her own time. 

Quality time mixed with cuddling

Ana girl, you are such, such a lover. You love to love and we love to love you back. My prayer for you is peace to reign in your heart and spirit as you grow. I also pray for more things that are just -yours- to enjoy and to help you learn even more about what you like and what you don't, all for yourself. You are such a great sister - both little and big - and I pray that God would only increase your desire to care for and love the people around you. Thanks for being my sweet baby girl!

forever my baby girl! with her bear!!