2.5

Anna and Jackson at the Cincinnati Zoo enjoying their suckers.

My baby is 2 and a half! She's like a real little person, not a baby at all (although she might act like one from time to time). I thought we were moving on from the Terrible Twos, but it seems like we're right back in the thick of it, and yes, I'm going a little crazy. More on that later, cuz this is all about Anna...


Things she loves:

• Mommy, Daddy, and all other family members


• pink baby - a baby better than all others, and dirtier


• having books read to her


• "reading" books to us


• chips and salsa


• singing Happy Birthday


• The Wiggles


• dancing, running, jumping...any kind of movement


• playing "catch me"


• helping


• Belle (Beauty and The Beast) - she knows her from a book, not the movie


• presents


• mints


• her school friends
• talking on the phone


• being outside


• the park, zoo, and any other place to run around and explore


• babies - real ones


• freedom and independence


• whining


• junk food (except ice cream)

Things she doesn't love so much:

• not getting her way


• loosing privileges


• riding in a stroller (except for neighborhood walks)

What amazes me:

• she knows about half of her letters by name, and can give a name or word that begins with that letter


• she speaking in sentences - she has trouble from time to time, but her speech continues to improve


• she can count to 15 - usually with several numbers missing, but it's a start
• shapes- heart, star, oval, circle
• colors - pink and yellow

I might get frustrated with Anna, but I can always go back to the fact that I have an amazing daughter. She's curious, strong-willed, independent, smart, beautiful, friendly, so full of life, and a true blessing in my life. Today I'm thankful for Anna and for getting to be her mom.