I sitting tall.

It's important to Anna Claire to go into the bathroom everyday and sit on the step stool. Then she will say, "I sitting tall!"

After which, she wiggles her bottom, sits up straight, and points to the toilet, "Now Mommy sitting tall!" which is my cue to sit down and do the same.

This always results in a big, satisfied smile.

Love her!

Pledging her allegiance...

Tonight at bath time, Anna Claire said part of the Pledge of Allegiance. I guess I knew she was saying it every day as part of circle time, but I didn't realize she had memorized part of it.

She said, "One nation, unduh God, wibty and juss for all."

I said, "Anna Claire, did you just say the Pledge of Allegiance??"

"Yeah."

Our Daily "Tomato Walk"

Every day it is important to Anna Claire (and honestly, to me too) that we check on out the progress of our vegetable and herb garden. After months of watering and waiting, it looks like we will finally have a small harvest!

Funny Things Anna Claire Said TODAY

Today our neighbor across the street was weed-eating. We were outside for MAYBE a minute.
Anna Claire said, "Loud!"
I said, "It is loud."
She replied, "I don't like it either." Then she ran to the door and said, "I tell Daddy 'bout it." We go inside, "Loud! I don't like it either. I don't like it either."

Walking out of Berry Bear, Anna Claire pointed to our car and said, "I see our car. It's right there, Honey." We always call her "Honey." Funny.

Tonight I was making silly faces and trying to make Anna Claire laugh and she said, "Mommy, you crack me up."

Before bath, Anna Claire said, "I fixin' to take my bath." Wonder where she got "fixin' to" from??
 
After watching a NickJr ad for their Team Umi Zoomi Math Kits, Anna Claire said, "I don't have Mighty Math Powers yet. I don't want powers."

Reading in context

I haven't posted about Anna Claire's reading in months, partly because I didn't want to be one of those mothers. But maybe I am one them...if one of them means you think you're child is gifted and capable and amazing, then yes, I be them.

I have to brag, that not only can Anna Claire read over 1000 words in isolation, but this week she has started reading in context. When reading a story, if I point to a word, she can read it. Today she supplied: happy, candy, apple, circus, star, gorilla, shoe, foot, walk, bear, and pumpkin.

She is also recognizing common sight words (me, you, be, see, in, up, like) in addition to all of the YBCR words, bringing it all together to a point that she could actually soon read simple books by herself.

I try to bring new books into the mix often so I can see what she's actually able to read, and ensure that it's not just her memorizing a book because I've read it a million times to her.

Our happy girl is back! Top five things that made me laugh today.

5. Heard a racket on the monitor, but couldn't see anything on it at nap. Went in to investigate and busted Anna Claire red-handed standing up in her crib and holding onto the monitor's video cam (mounted on the wall). She quickly let go of it, laid down and covered her self up with her blanket, playing possum like nothing had happened, "I sleep now."

4. "I wash hands. All clean now! All done now!" after using her pretend sinks, the toilet paper brackets in the bathroom. They do look like faucets! (we remove the toilet paper roll during the day for obvious reasons)

3. Singing her own lyrics to ABC Music and Me's "Yum Yum" song: "My like raisins. My like raisins. Yum, yum raisins! Yum, yum raisins!" while marching around the family room and eating raisins.

2. Anna Claire wants to be by herself more and more. She likes playing quiet games in the bathroom, and wants me OUT: "Mommy go 'way! Alligators! (pause) See later alligator."

1.  Tonight at bath, Anna Claire diligently went to work wiping the water droplets off the shower wall saying, "I don't want you to be sad, bath. Way too sad."

Oh no! My Baby's Growing Up!

Last night, Anna Claire announced, "I don't have paci anymore. I don't need it."

Then this afternoon at nap, "I don't hear Seahorse sing. Be quiet, Seahorse."  ("Seahorse" is Anna Claire's musical Fisher Price Seahorse that glows and plays a rotation of 10 lullabies. She's had him and I have played him for her since she was just a few weeks old.)

I should be jumping for joy over these milestones, and BELIEVE ME, I am extremely grateful for it. How awesome that it is HER CHOICE to give up her pacifier? Really??

But my mind and heart immediately thought, "NO! I'm not ready yet! You're still my baby!" I just lay beside her in tears and watched her fall asleep beside me in my bed.