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!