Story Book Hero

Anna's current favorite read is what she affectionately calls her "big book." It's a giant book of all the Disney animated movies over the years. She loves to look at the pictures and say, "I have that movie," and then watch the movie and say, "That's like my big book!" She particularly loves the scene from Sleeping Beauty where the prince is slaying the dragon. She would often ask, "Why is the dragon biting?" The rest of the conversation usually goes on about how that's not very nice and that we don't bite other people. You know, the usual kind of topics you cover with toddlers. A few days ago, however, I noticed that Anna was placing her hand very deliberately over the face of the dragon. When I asked her what she was doing, she told me simply and genuinely, "I saved him." Aw!

Luck o' the Irish - or Welsh - or French

Yesterday Anna and Mom had a day out together highlighted by the annual St. Patrick's Day parade downtown. The sugar high resulted in a nap-less afternoon, much to Mom's dismay. But we had a grand day out with additional stops at the library and the zoo, and finished up by watching Cinderella over a carpet picnic of burgers and fries. A perfect day...just me and my lucky charm.

The Binky Fairy Cometh

Hooray! This morning when Anna woke up, she found that during the night the Binky Fairy came to visit. The fairy had taken all of her binkies to give to the babies of the world, and in turn left her an awesome gift. An Ariel Princess dress and tiara. Does it get any better than this? I think not! What a grown-up girl our Anna is.

Side note: We were lucky to pull this off. When asked the previous day if it was okay to invite BF to come, Anna said, "NO! I want my binkies. The Binky Fairy is CLOSED!"

When I grow up

Yesterday Anna went with Mom to the dentist. It was like going to a Carnival! She rode up and down in a chair, got to go down a slide four times (the x-ray chair leg), got to see talking dogs (a video), and got candy (sugar-free lolly.) While Mom got her teeth cleaned, Anna was right in there watching every move, literally about three inches from my face. Our hygenist, Michelle, was great, showing Anna all the tools of the trade, and pointing out Mom's new white filling and an old silver one. Anna was enrapt with curiosity. So, I'm thinking future dentist, right? Wrong! When I went to preschool to pick up Anna this evening there was a new poster outside their door titled, "When I grow up I want to be..." Our Anna? Pirate.

Licking the Bowl

Is there anything so wonderful in this world as getting to lick the bowl, I ask you? Anna got the honors last night when I made a batch of brownies. I actually think the chocolate mustache and goatee are particularly fetching. If Anna were a boy, she'd be quite handsome.

Cold Turkey

For those of you who are lucky enough to have not suffered from an addiction during your lifetime, you may not fully appreciate this milestone. The final step in binky-rehab is kicking the night-time habit. Anna has now been binky-free for 6 consecutive nights! While she still asks for it at every bedtime, we've been able to distract or dissuade her. She has been promised that we will write a letter to the Binky Fairy, who will then come and take her binkies to the new babies of the world and as a token of appreciation, leave her an awesome gift. She has said that she would like to ask for an Ariel Princess dress and a crown. Hey, whatever it takes. Our goal was to have a binky-free household by her 3rd birthday and it looks like we've just about done it.

A Farewell to Arms (the kind that give hugs)

Today is Anna's last day at the childcare center she has called her home-away-from-home for the past 2-1/2 years.  While we are excited about the new center she's moving to, there are many friends and teachers we will miss tremendously, so it's been an emotional week (mainly for Mom.)  These pix are from yesterday with her friend, Aiden, who shares her birthday, and the other Anna, whose birthday is the day before our Anna's.  These three have been together since they were infants.  Parents have exchanged email addresses, so we hope to keep in touch with play dates.  Next week we'll report on her new school.  Two of our Anna's close friends from our neighborhood, Rebecca and Nathan, are also starting at the same new school on Monday, so we're hopeful this will help all of them with the transition.  Stay tuned.