What Rhymes with Annie?

Annie Kate's language development is progressing well.(says her clearly bias mother) Is she on par with her 4 year old peers? No, but we are working hard and practice everyday. Annie Kate can repeat anything she hears so we are very careful as to what she is exposed to.

At the her first hockey game Saturday, Hockey For Hope, she would appropriately say: "darn it!" when the puck slipped into the goal.

Sometimes she forgets the new word she is attempting to apply. Looking for assistance, she will turn her ear towards me, requesting the answer be whispered into her little ear. She then proudly pronounces the word, thought or phrase as an original independent accomplishment.

The other day I introduced her to words that rhyme. She found these sounds to be the funniest thing she has ever heard. We may need to find a different way to teach this skill. She doesn't seem to be taking this lesson very serious!

Peaceful!

When falling asleep Annie Kate still comforts herself by laying face down in her little bed while banging her head onto her pillow. All the expects ( and even the Internet) claim this is harmless. Due to my bionic hearing I can hear her rhythmic motion from the adjacent room. It breaks my heart to think she developed this habit as a way to put herself to sleep alone in the orphanage.

Last night I heard the familiar head banging coming from her room. As I knelt down next to her bed and stroked her black velvet hair she turned towards me as I whispered: " Mommy is right here." With eyes half closed she looked up at me as the sweetest smile I have ever seen grew across her face. Her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep the smile lingering on her precious face. The expression of peace on her face brought tears to my eyes. I could have stayed there watching her all night.

March Madness!

The recent beautiful weather allows Annie Kate spend lots of time outdoors, which she loves. We may be bias but she seems to have a fair amount of athletic abilitiy and loves any sport. "bake it ball" is top on her list.

Annie was getting in some hoop time with daddy to gear up for the "cuse" game.

Fearless is an understatement! As she hangs on the rim or scales an 8 foot climbing wall at the park it seems no one has told her most people require two hands to accomplish these feats.

We have no plans to inform her... she wouldn't believe us anyway.

All by my "cell phone"!

The days are just flying by. Annie Kate continues to thrive. I keep waiting and wondering when the supposedly "honeymoon phase" will end because this has been complete joy.

Her comfort and feelings of security are evident. She no longer needs us to stay in her room until she falls asleep. Is comfortable with family members leaving and returning. (including Mom)

She clearly understands cause and effect. One day when she was so tired she fell asleep for a nap without any "fuss" we praised her when she woke saying "good job." She also received a Hersey Kiss ( thank you Aunt Nancy for the huge jar located in Mama's office) Now she praises herself saying for any perceived accomplishment saying: "good job...chalk let for Mee? K? Just one!"

Her language development is unbelievable and she repeats any and everything she hears such as: "Is great idea!" as she discovers her unactivated, taped together cell phone fits in the cup holder of her car seat.

She is growing more and more independent. The best is when she proudly proclaims:

" I did it! I did it all by my cell phone!"

Timmy, laughing into his shirt sleeve, will say, make her say it again.

So I will ask her, "Did anyone help you?"

Excitedly she proclaims with palms flipped upward: "No, all by my cell phone!"

Sticky ribs!

When you are 3 years old everything is a new adventure. Did you know that after you eat ribs with your fingers .... your fingers will stick together! It is just fascinating!

To ignore or to intervene?

Wednesday morning we were heading off to meet Meaghan and see Timmy in Fl. for 5 days. Since Christmas one of Annie's favorite pass times is to push her mini shopping cart all around the house collecting anything that isn't nailed down and throwing it in her cart. She repeats this with purses she drags, usually, from my closet.

Annie Kate had her panda back pack all set to go to Fl. As Tim handed it to her she pretended the straps were too big, dropped it on the floor and started crying: " No work, It no work!" She then proceeded to go to my closet to retrieve the red, Paten Leather Coach purse she had been "borrowing" lately. Dora the Explorer, sunglasses and a "juicy box" were hastily thrown in the purse and we were off to the airport.

When we arrived at the FL rental car I was struggling to secure Annie's car seat in the van.

Annie climbed into the front seat and appeared as if she might attempt to drive the car away herself,

so the very nice Hertz man asked her if she wanted to see all the airplanes. As I was buckling and tugging on the car seat I heard him say: " You need to hold my hand, you must have a hand in that sweater somewhere!"

In that split second my mind was trying to figure out do I tell him, actually she doesn't have that hand or do I just keep quiet? With the car seat now in place the man returned to try and place a non compliant Annie in the seat. To distract her, he asks," what is your name?" For the first time she replies: "Annie" instead of Xin Tian The man then asks her how many planes did we see? They start counting together but he is showing her how to count to ten in sign language...which only requires one hand...and she followed his lead.

The Little Engine

Annie's vocabulary, understanding and expressions are expanding with leaps and bounds. Today while at breakfast on our way to the Molly's dance competition in Scranton she reprimanded me with the same words used to correct her behavior. The Myers ( ok Kim only) family tradition of blowing the paper off a restaurant straw, regardless of direction, was... misplaced today. In fact, it hit Annie square on her left cheek. With finger pointing she announced: "donut do dat a-gan, No in da face...peas... you be nice-a!" (over and over again)

Lately I have noticed her seemingly being frustrated if she cannot accomplish a task usually requiring two hands like buttons, zippers or carrying 8 or 9 books at a time. With her increased verbalization she started saying in the saddest little voice: "I can no do it!" In an attempt to encourage and refusing to allow her to limit herself I told her once: "how about we say, I can try it." This is usually followed by her rendition of The Little Engine That Could chant: "I fink I can, I fink I can, I fink I can!"

As her mother, I know she can!

New Friends!

Lots of fun today! Lunch with my new friend Kaden & our dear friend Candice! Then to the new Lego play place where Kaden and Annie continued to act as if neither was in the same room. Annie loved the nude Barbie dolls Kaden brought along to play with. She was most pleased that one of the Barbie dolls at least had on blue earrings!