Dear Anna,
Well, I blinked and you turned five years old. My life hasn’t been the
same since the day we met you and I don’t remember what life was like without
your smile, hugs, laughter and love. You’ve always been, and still are, one of
the sweetest, kindest, and most caring souls I know. You love hard, wear your
heart on your sleeve, and don’t hide your emotions; I wonder where that comes
from, ha.
This year you excelled in pre-K, love to learn, and are SO ready to
start kindergarten in the fall. Your school routinely performs computerized
tests and you pass with flying colors each time and easily marked off all the
requirements to attend Kindergarten during the enrolment process. Although you’ll
always take an extra “stay home” day, you love learning, love sharing what you
learned, and I know you’re going to love school when you start in the fall. You
write and color A LOT and most of your drawings include pictures of you, your
friends, and your family, and a combination of our names. Mommy and Audrey are
definitely your favorites and I cherish anything you make for me.
Your mind is a steel trap and you ask A LOT of questions. I have to be
careful with how I answer your questions because you will remember. You have a way
of making me laugh even when I’m trying to be the most serious and convey a
strict tone; case in point when I told you one evening that “if you don’t stop
acting like that, you’re going straight to bed!” ; you replied “no, I’ll act
better, I want to go to bed curvy!!” I don’t remember if you straighted up or
not, but I do remember I laughed about your response for a long time.
You love to sing, dance and move around. Whoever decided that girls
love to sit and read and work on puzzles has never been to our house or met you
and your sister. You went through over 10 pairs of pants this past winter
crawling around playing versions of your favorite TV shows, namely Lion Guard,
and are routinely running, jumping, diving off a couch, or rolling around. You
just have to move! You love to dance and we have dance parties often in the
evenings. When cheering your Dad on during the half marathon he ran a few weeks
ago, you were a total “woo girl” cheering on the crowds, and could hardly sit
still watching everyone run past, “I just need to move with them!” you told me.
As shy as you can be, surprisingly, you aren’t usually afraid of the spotlight
and love to show off your moves and dances.
You’re as sensitive and sweet as you are sassy. Your feelings are hurt
somewhat easily and you have one of the biggest hearts around. You always seem
to know when I need an extra hug and can sense the same about others. You cry
when I cry (sadly, a little more often than usual lately with these pregnancy
hormones) and always want to please. We work on not letting your best friend,
Audrey, boss you around too much and also want to make sure you stand up for
yourself in tough situations and I think you do. I don’t want you to ever lose
your sense of wonder or caring nature, but want it to be balanced enough that
you aren’t pushed over throughout life.
You’re a girly girl that loves to dress up, all things pink, and still
like princesses, but you can hold your own with the boys too and know plenty
about super heroes and aren’t afraid to burp and toot with pride. You told your
dad a while ago that you wanted to “make bubbles in the bathtub from my toots.”
Your Dad has been doing baths for a while with you girls, so I don’t remember
if this happened, but am sure it gave us all a good laugh.
You’re getting more independent and are helping around the house often
(when asked, mostly), but still love a good snuggle with your Mommy or Daddy. You’ve
enjoyed a few weekends alone with Gigi in Lexington and love the special
adventure; and I love hearing about the special time and the conversations you
two have. I’m so happy that you have a special relationship with all of your
grandparents and love that you are comfortable enough to go away with my Mom for
a few days of special fun.
You and your sister have a relationship that’s built on so much love I
can’t even begin to put it into words. You play well together (most of the time),
are excited to see each other, have stories to share at the end of the day and
love each other something fierce. Not growing up with a sister, or a sibling so
close in age, I wasn’t sure when to expect the sort of relationship you have
with each other, but now I can’t imagine either of your as only children or
without your sidekicks.
The year ahead is going to be full of change and transition for all of
us; you’ll start kindergarten, you’ll have a new baby sister, and as scared as
all of this makes me, I look at you and know that you’ll excel at every change
that comes your way and prove that I was worried for no good reason. Thank you
for showing me the wonder of life through your eyes, for giving me the best
perspective around, challenging me like I never though I’d be challenged, and
ultimately making me a better person. You’re growing up, but will always be my (first)
little girl.
Love,
Mom
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