Monthly Archives - Annie Month 38

dear annie,

you have really begun to assert your independence. at the same time, however, you sometimes choose to be dependent. our days are filled with "i want to do [insert activity] allll by myself" or "i can do this myself" or "i don't need help, i can do it all myself", etc. you own the playground at this point, there is nothing there you can't do. you are fearless almost to the point of giving me a heart attack. i will look over and there you are, balancing both feet and hands on one metal bar until your brain decides which limb can let go and reach for safety. it's terrifying but amazing to watch. i do love watching you figure things out all by yourself.

there are times, though, that you still need your mommy. buttoning your pants or shirt is still a very tricky prospect, getting those shoes on is sometimes a pickle, and sometimes you need to be carried upstairs. i think sometimes you are as bummed out about not being a baby anymore as i am. you will sometimes just stand and reach your arms up to me and say "up, up" like you are still my little baby and sometimes i could just eat you up because it's so sweet and even though you will always be my little baby, you are quickly turning in to a big girl and it's kind of hard to let go. for both of us.

you and jasper have really formed a strong bond in the past month or two. daddy and i realized the other day that you are officially a team now. you work together for the greater good, you stick up for eachother, you are more on eachother's side now than you were previously. it's fun to watch because jasper is just starting to get it, and you are like his little coach. i could have melted away the other day because jasper was up from his nap and i started to go get him but then i had to run and grab something and he started crying and you ran into his room, climbed up on the bean bag and stroked his head and said - i kid you not - "i'm here, jasper. i'm here". i nearly started crying it was the sweetest gesture i've ever seen. and jasper stopped crying. he loves you that much. he gets so excited to see you when he wakes up and you are always so excited to see him, too. you always want to come and get him with me and you say "cam i tickle him? cam i? cam i?!" and jasper just starts jumping like crazy in his crib, i swear one day he's going to launch himself right over the edge.

you have really started to play well by yourself, too. daddy and i love to listen in on you when you are in your playroom or just playing by yourself along side us. you will take on this big, deep voice when you are being one of the "bad guys" when you play princesses, or you will talk as your babies and say things like "here you go baby, here's your snack" or "don't throw your food, baby" or "you're a messy baby!" and i realize that what you are really doing is mocking your mother. you love singing, you love reading your books and coloring. by the way, you are getting to be a really good colerer. you are getting closer to keeping things in the lines and you have a color for each thing now, not just a big scribble. also, you are really good at the game "memory". when you are focused and paying attention you are really good. like, really good. daddy and i marvel at how bad our memory's are and how sharp yours is. wow.

keep up the good work, peanut. we love you so much and couldn't be more proud of what a wonderful little girl you are.

love, mommy