Life of Anna....

I've been telling Mike that it seems like in the last month or so that Anna has gone from baby to toddler over night. She seems to add new things to what she can do every day. She is a tiny thing, but she is sure full of courage and no fear. I can already see how she is like Ellie and how she is so different. She is 15 months and now weighs 18 lbs. However, she is on the growth chart for height. She seems bigger than Ellie for sure even though their weight is similar. Her little feet are not so narrow and she wears clothes that are not far off of her age. I think Anna might be our "stong-willed" child. She wants to try everything which I am learning that life is easier sometimes cause most the time she can figure it out. When I restrain her she sure does have a little temper, but she responds so sweetly to me after I have to discipline her. Here are some of the things she has picked up lately:

She is now saying in her own little language that I for sure understand: Water, Baby, Bye Bye, Hi, Ball, Drink, MINE (new this week), Doggy, Ducky, Sissy, Mama (new last week), Daddy (her first word), Play, Bottle, and Diaper

She wants to feed herself most of the time now although she hasn't quite picked up how to use a spoon. She doesn't eat very much unless she really likes it which is any fruit. She loves to drink anything and really likes it when we are out and I give her a cup with a straw in it.

She can now climb up on our fire place mantle and stand up. She also climbed all the way to the top of the play area at chick-fil-a today and went down the twisty slide. Ellie and our other friend Anna Kate who was there with us do not like to do this and they are almost 3!

She is all about running and playing. She doesn't like to sit still for a minute. She had never watched any TV show or let me read her an entire book. She is very creative and loves her toys. She will go strong from 8-1:30 or so and then crashes from 1:30-4:30 or 5:00! She has always been an incredible sleeper. She takes after me on that area! 

She loves soft things and would love to have a blankie if I would give her one! I just don't want to keep up with it or take it on trips. When she gets really tired she will find anything on the floor like a pair of soft pj pants and cuddle up next to it. She loves to suck her thumb in bed and hold onto a blanket. My mother-in-law and Aunt K will know who also loved to do this when going to sleep!

She loves Ellie and they have a very special bond. They spend all day together and share a room most nights.  I love it that they are so close even after they fight over the same toy or Ellie pushes her down. Anna is starting to hold her own that is for sure.

I love little Anna and can't imagine what God has planned for her. She has so much energy and determination. I hope I can always be creative in letting her use it and not hold her back. She is a sweet little girl who is very much a mama's girl. She just seems to be growing up so much!