Anna Claire loves:
1. Playing with the garden hose and helping me water our flower and vegetable garden. She enjoys her watering can at bath time too.
2. Cheese. And she can specify which type she would like by the proper name: "cheddah", American, string, jack, mah-rella.
3. Elmo.
4. Books: Pinkalicious, Dora books, Llama Llama, Caillou!
5. Getting candy for going potty.
6. Circle game. Pics to come. It's a game Anna Claire invented that she and I play daily involving ribbons, a flashlight and a yo-yo.
7. This sounds generic, but new experiences. For example, this week it was Monkey's Treehouse, the magician at the Red Barn and watching airplanes take off.
8. Preparing toy food meals for Teddy Bear and Pooh Bear.
9. Doughnut shop and Walmart mornings. My girl love Shipley's. No surprise since their doughnut holes satisfied my pregnancy cravings. She will ask us to go to Walmart daily. She loves that place and believes they have literally everything. Any time something breaks or we need something, Anna Claire says, "Go Walmart," matter-of-factly.
10. Going anywhere with Mommy AND Daddy.
Anna Claire can:
1. Say her alphabet. She will leave out several letters unless she is really concentrating. But I heard her sing the entire song at a diaper change last night, correctly.
2. Count to ten. Together we have counted to 15.
3. Speak in complete sentences, 5-7 words in length. Words are very clear.
4. Run now bending her knees, and is putting more weight on the bottom of her foot. This may sound strange, but she was late to walk and so I stay concerned about her physical development. Prior to this week she was still walking stiff-legged on tiptoes, so I am relieved and excited!
5. Take risks. She is wanting to try more physically. A month ago, she wouldn't dare attempt to climb a on playset/playground, nor would she pedal a tricycle. Now she WANTS to master both.
6. Blow bubbles. I am excited for her that she is finally figuring it out.
7. Narrate for me what she is drawing/writing. Because she can articulate so clearly what she is thinking, I've started scripting what she tells me while she is drawing on the actual piece of art. I love how much more meaningful it makes it.
8. Pet an animal gently. This has taken some work, but the cats no longer run the other way when they see her coming. She is so excited they let her pet them!
9. Tell us when she is pottying. Now if we can just get her to tell us BEFORE.
10. Identify just about any fruit or vegetable. Or food for that matter. That would be thanks to her Daddy!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
First Haircut
Anna Claire had her first haircut on Wednesday, but I'm just now getting around to posting about it.
She did so well!
I told her in advance that she would get to wear a cape. "Pretty one!" was her reply. I also told her Miss Jenny would use her magic comb to make her hair pretty and that she would get to sit in a special chair. I think it all helped!
She did get to wear a cape, of course. And Miss Jenny let her pick which one she wanted: puppies or fish. She picked the fish. She was a little hesitant to sit in the big chair by herself, but Jenny bribed her with a pink hair clip and that worked.
Anna Claire was a really good client! She sat still the whole time except at the very end. Jenny had told her when she first sat her down that she would get a surprise afterward: a lollipop. Anna Claire spent the entire haircut debated out loud what color lollipop she would like. "Blue!" "Red!" "Green!"
Below are some pics of AC immediately after and the day after. I think of her hair same as mine. Right after the haircut is someone else's vision. The next day is reality. :)
She did so well!
I told her in advance that she would get to wear a cape. "Pretty one!" was her reply. I also told her Miss Jenny would use her magic comb to make her hair pretty and that she would get to sit in a special chair. I think it all helped!
She did get to wear a cape, of course. And Miss Jenny let her pick which one she wanted: puppies or fish. She picked the fish. She was a little hesitant to sit in the big chair by herself, but Jenny bribed her with a pink hair clip and that worked.
Anna Claire was a really good client! She sat still the whole time except at the very end. Jenny had told her when she first sat her down that she would get a surprise afterward: a lollipop. Anna Claire spent the entire haircut debated out loud what color lollipop she would like. "Blue!" "Red!" "Green!"
Below are some pics of AC immediately after and the day after. I think of her hair same as mine. Right after the haircut is someone else's vision. The next day is reality. :)
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| Before |
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| After |
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| Little ham. |
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| Day after...back view |
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| Day after...front view |
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| I was told by someone that her hair most likely would not curl anymore after getting it cut. I am happy to say they were wrong. I love these blonde curls! |
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monkey's Treehouse
Today was our first (not last) visit to the Monkey's Treehouse. Anna Claire had so much fun and did not want to leave! What a great place for kids.
I love how it provided lots of opportunities for climbing...she is bit of a chicken normally when it comes to climbing. She was no chicken today! Proud of my brave girl. She was climbing everything.
She loved the dollhouse, light table, grocery store, tools, and kitchen.
=
I love how it provided lots of opportunities for climbing...she is bit of a chicken normally when it comes to climbing. She was no chicken today! Proud of my brave girl. She was climbing everything.
She loved the dollhouse, light table, grocery store, tools, and kitchen.
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| Play kitchen! |
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| Check out the pint-sized oven mitt. I've been looking for one for her, but could never find one small enough. It's Melissa and Doug, so it should be easy to find! |
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| She loved this toy saw so much. She was sawing everything, but using the "wrong" side. Larry said she needs sawing lessons. |
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| Toy food is always a hit with my girl. |
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| Anna Claire loved the tiny whisks. Just the right size for small hands. |
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| I love how the light is shining on the left. |
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| Anna Claire loved this doll house! |
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| You can't see in this picture, but she's playing with a "Daddy" doll and a toy toilet, which charmed her for a good 15 minutes. |
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| Not sure who thought this light table was cooler: Anna Claire, or Mommy and Daddy! |
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| Played out after a fun morning at Monkey's Treehouse. We'll go 'gain! Take you! Pwomise! |
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Blanket 3
Well, "Blanket" number 3 arrived in the mail today.
Anna Claire's first blanket was from my friend Kelly, where the Little Giraffe (brand of blanket) obsession began.
Most children have a stuffed animal for their comfort item, but we never pushed one on her. She naturally gravitated toward this soft satin/velvet blanket (satin lining on one side and velvet on the other).
Blanket number two was necessary one year ago today when Anna Claire started attending The Red Barn. This allowed her one at home and one for school, without Mommy going crazy toting it back and forth everyday.
Number 2 blanket, was the same brand, but instead of solid velvet, it was made up of little interconnected velvet circles. Well, the circles slowly came apart and unraveled. Said blanket is, "Broke." Anna Claire's word. She said to me last week when napping with both blankets on the weekend, "White blanket soft. I pet it. Love it. Pink blanket broke. New one. Walmart."
Hence, blanket 3.
Anna Claire's first blanket was from my friend Kelly, where the Little Giraffe (brand of blanket) obsession began.
Most children have a stuffed animal for their comfort item, but we never pushed one on her. She naturally gravitated toward this soft satin/velvet blanket (satin lining on one side and velvet on the other).
Blanket number two was necessary one year ago today when Anna Claire started attending The Red Barn. This allowed her one at home and one for school, without Mommy going crazy toting it back and forth everyday.
Number 2 blanket, was the same brand, but instead of solid velvet, it was made up of little interconnected velvet circles. Well, the circles slowly came apart and unraveled. Said blanket is, "Broke." Anna Claire's word. She said to me last week when napping with both blankets on the weekend, "White blanket soft. I pet it. Love it. Pink blanket broke. New one. Walmart."
Hence, blanket 3.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Lori's House - Playdate with Adam
Saturday, after nap, we went over to Lori's so that she and I could visit and for the kids to get to play together.
The kids had a lot of fun. Lori was the perfect host, always so thoughtful...offering fruit, juice, homemade cookies. She even snuck a bag of cookies in my purse for us to take home.
It was great to visit. I was surprised how much I could trust Anna Claire to play with Adam and be a good girl while we talked. It has got me really thinking of the benefits of having a second child. It did help that Adam was such a sweet boy, and so generous with his toys. She had a ball playing with all of the different toys.
I wouldn't say I buy all girl toys, but she has nothing like what Adam has. He had a train set, trucks, power tools, and lots of flashlights. Lori even made a tent in her bedroom for the kids, all of which she loved. Oh, Adam also had a little piano which Anna Claire thought was very cool.
We went outside for a little while. Didn't stay too long since it was so hot. Richard just got a Boxer/Pit Bull puppy named Nina who is very sweet. Anna Claire loved seeing the puppy and petting their cat, Kitty. She also enjoyed Adam's swing and playing inside the playset.
The kids had a lot of fun. Lori was the perfect host, always so thoughtful...offering fruit, juice, homemade cookies. She even snuck a bag of cookies in my purse for us to take home.
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| AC harvesting chocolate, and Adam being cute. |
It was great to visit. I was surprised how much I could trust Anna Claire to play with Adam and be a good girl while we talked. It has got me really thinking of the benefits of having a second child. It did help that Adam was such a sweet boy, and so generous with his toys. She had a ball playing with all of the different toys.
I wouldn't say I buy all girl toys, but she has nothing like what Adam has. He had a train set, trucks, power tools, and lots of flashlights. Lori even made a tent in her bedroom for the kids, all of which she loved. Oh, Adam also had a little piano which Anna Claire thought was very cool.
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| I see a keyboard purchase in my future. |
We went outside for a little while. Didn't stay too long since it was so hot. Richard just got a Boxer/Pit Bull puppy named Nina who is very sweet. Anna Claire loved seeing the puppy and petting their cat, Kitty. She also enjoyed Adam's swing and playing inside the playset.
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| AC and Kitty |
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| Nina |
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| Peek-a-boo! |
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| Cute kiddos! |
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| Friends. |
Prayer at Nap is now mandatory...
When Anna Claire naps at home, it is expected we say prayers just like at nighttime. She doesn't differentiate, and why would she or should she? I love it!
This afternoon, she thanked God for the "Stand up, Sit Down" song and for singing it with Maggie (they sing it at the library together on Tuesdays, or did anyway until the program ended last week - so sad, wish it ran longer).
She also thanked him for watching birds with Mommy. I just got her a bird feeder so we are excited to go sit by it and wait for one to come by (even in 101 degree heat...geez!)
And of course, popsicles are a prayer staple. Anna Claire declared she would have a red one after her nap.
This afternoon, she thanked God for the "Stand up, Sit Down" song and for singing it with Maggie (they sing it at the library together on Tuesdays, or did anyway until the program ended last week - so sad, wish it ran longer).
She also thanked him for watching birds with Mommy. I just got her a bird feeder so we are excited to go sit by it and wait for one to come by (even in 101 degree heat...geez!)
And of course, popsicles are a prayer staple. Anna Claire declared she would have a red one after her nap.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Anna Claire's prayer tonight.
Me: "Dear God please bless,"
AC: "Daddy, Cwaire, Daddy, Cwaire."
Me: "Thank you for,"
AC: "fwiends, Barn, milk, nanas."
AC: "Daddy, Cwaire, Daddy, Cwaire."
Me: "Thank you for,"
AC: "fwiends, Barn, milk, nanas."
Monday, July 4, 2011
Baby Pool...Keep it!
This afternoon, Anna Claire asked to get out of her baby pool after only being in there for two minutes. This has been the scenario everyday for the past week. So I had a talk with Anna Claire about how much time it takes to clean the pool out everyday and then to fill it with water. I said, "Maybe the baby pool needs to go bye-bye." At that point, she offered no objection.
Tonight when we were saying prayers, she named the usual, "Mommy, Daddy, Cwaire, Paw Paw, Stanley, Kitty..." After we bless everyone I normally ask her, "...and what else?" which is her cue to tell what she's thankful for. Tonight, Anna Claire said, "What else?...Baby pool. Swim. Keep it." :)
Tonight when we were saying prayers, she named the usual, "Mommy, Daddy, Cwaire, Paw Paw, Stanley, Kitty..." After we bless everyone I normally ask her, "...and what else?" which is her cue to tell what she's thankful for. Tonight, Anna Claire said, "What else?...Baby pool. Swim. Keep it." :)
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