Last Night

I can not believe he is big enough for this!  I need about one more week for Benjamin's big boy room to be ready.  It is painted.  I got the new sheets and comforter for his bed a couple months ago.   It lacks any decorating.  

Decorated or not.  

This happened last night.

I showed him his big boy bed.  This is where you will sleep soon.  He said okay, but then Benjamin asked to read his book on his big boy bed.  Okay.  After his book, he laid down.  His puppy dog lip came way out, and he said, "that big boy bed," pointing to his crib, "all done?/."  I can not say no to that lip.  You could tell it meant so much to him that he had a big boy bed. 

I got the blanket and the favorite animals.  He was all set.  It took him over an hour to fall asleep.  And, he fell of about 6:15 this morning, which did not phase the love of the big boy bed!  

Just look at this grin (not the quality of the picture), 

but .this.grin.  

Okay, it's official, my baby boy sleeps in a big boy bed.

Anna-Kate is 5

My dear Anna-Kate,

I am so proud to be your mom!  (first the obligatory stats)

Height:  43.5in - 74%

Weight:  38.5lb - 48%

You are long and lean.  You love wearing dresses or skirts.  You are known to put on your dress-up clothes if you decide a playdate is "fancy."  That normally means you are super excited about the playdate for some reason!  You like to tell me what is fashion and what is not.  You are getting a stronger opinion about what you wear.  You completely dress yourself.  You prefer headbands these days to pretty much any other look.  On Sundays, I can convince you to wear bows or braids.  Otherwise you want to do it, which means a headband.  I love seeing your sense of style starting to emerge!  Bright colors, hair down, feminine.  But, you also enjoy the "comfy" look which means you pull out a favorite t-shirt and soft jeans or a bright skirt.  

 You are an observer.  You love to learn.  Books are still at the top of your list of favorite things!  We just finished our first chapter book, Stuart Little!  You really hung well with it, and then we watched the movie.  I loved hearing what you were disappointed with not seeing in the movie and what you really liked.  We've started our next chapter book, Mary Poppins.

Next on your list is crafts!  You love doing creative things!  Markers, paint, stickers, ... lots and lots of color!  I am convinced by next summer I need to find some type of art class for you.  For your birthday, I think half of your presents had something to do with art:  jewelry making, sticker mosaic, window art, water paint.  You are starting to make pictures that I want to save or hang!  Yesterday you made a picture of a stage that included the curtains, wind chimes, and a girl in a tutu.    

The above picture combines pretty much all of your favorite things:  your daddy, an animal, and coloring!  You play with animals the way the stereotype girl plays with babydolls.  You collect drawn animals like these in a drawer in your room.  You call them "the class."  Until about 2 weeks ago, a cowgirl was the teacher, but you decided "the class" needed a new teacher.  

While I was gone tutoring this past year, many of those evenings Will would draw an animal that you requested.  You or you with your daddy would color it.  You would have one of us cut it out.  Then the animal would be added to "the class."  My favorites were a glittery sea horse, a zebra that shows your patterning ability, and really any that I could tell you two did together.  

You are starting to play with Benjamin more.  You love having a playmate.  You don't love when he doesn't follow your rules.  He looks up to you, clearly.  You are protective over him.  You try to teach him, whether he wants to be taught or not!  

You love being on the stage!  We loved watching you at your recital.  You had a grin that couldn't stop while on stage.  I think you like being stage more than you like dance right now.  How long will dance continue?  I am not sure yet; I don't think you are either.

Dance is one way that I can tell you are growing up!  When I asked you if you wanted to dance next year, your response was, "I haven't decided yet."  I could tell that really was your answer!  You are really putting pieces together about your world.  I look forward to hearing your take on things.  You are seeking more independence, which includes trying sass out some.  I am trying to find ways to accommodate the independence; however, I think the sass may have to go.

Your preschool teachers this year have told me on several occasions about your confidence.  You are a confident observer.  You wait to see who you want to be friends with rather than rushing in.  The teachers said that you are kind-hearted, polite, and also a rule follower.  Because of that, they could put a student who was having trouble with a little too much spunk that day in your center and you were a calming influence.  (Apparently you have "a look" that you give that tells the other student you are not amused.)  When I said, "oh no, is she bratty?"  They said, "NO! She is quite polite, and the other kids really enjoy her.

Because of comments like those, I am more confident to send you to Kindergarten this year!  I love having seen evidence for myself, as well as hearing how you show it in the classroom, of you starting to come into your own!

Anna-Kate, you are creative.  Smart.  An art and book lover.  A girlie girl.  A rule follower.  A protective big sister.  An animal lover!  (Wow, are you ever an animal lover!  Right now, you are trying to talk us into a pet...  don't worry; a horse is not on the possibility list)

You are our girl, and we love you!