Happy 5th Birthday!

 

Where does the time go!

Today you turn 5 and I could not be more excited for you and your future.

You came into our lives and added so much happiness, magic & love. 

I had no idea how much a tiny baby could turn a world upside down. There are bad days, good days, medium days & amazing days and I am grateful for all of it. Not a day goes by where I don't thank the Universe for choosing us to be your parents. 

Here today:

 - you love playing Mom's & Babies

- you can negotiate with the best of them

- you are SO funny

- you ask to go to Starbucks when you're having a bad day "that will make me feel better"

 - you love magic, fairies and believing when others choose not to

- you love potty talk and the words poop, bum and fart are quite possible the funniest words in the     English language.

- your smile turns heads and lights up a room

- you are compassionate, caring and kind

- you are forgiving

- you encourage others to keep going

- you have a temper and can stomp a serious foot

- your favorite show is Wild Kratts 

- your favorite foods include fries, chicken nuggets, tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, anything chocolate, popcorn, corn & grapes. Some days you insist that you no longer like whatever I am feeding you, which your Dad & I enjoy immensely. ;-]

- you love the outdoors & animals 

Happy Birthday Anna!

You make me so happy and being your Momma is the greatest joy.

Have a magical day Sweet Girl.

xoxo

Momma

First Day of Kindergarten

Dear Anna,

Yesterday was your first day of Kindergarten & you were so excited! I was both excited and sad. Sad because my sidekick is growing up much too fast. Excited because you are so ready for this next adventure and school can give you so much that I can not. 

Your teacher Mrs. M seems wonderful and you can tell that she is in this job with her whole heart and that she will not stop until she succeeds in teaching all of you the ropes. 

You stiffened up as we approached the classroom door but we hugged and I assured you that you were safe. That you were brave and that it is ok to be nervous. Mommy was nervous. Mommy gets nervous all the time when I do something new. The important thing to remember is that you can't let that stop you from trying. 

You are meant for greatness my girl. With a heart as kind and as compassionate as yours I know that you will make a difference in other's lives. It is a beautiful thing. 

I wish you an amazing school year. May you learn, make new friendships and soak it all in like a sponge.

I love you more & more each day and I am so very proud of you.

xoxo, Momma

Preschool Graduation: I can't handle the cuteness

Tomorrow this girl starts Kindergarten and the my emotions are high. How is it time already? She was just born... no? I am equal parts excited, nervous, sad, happy.... it should be interesting after drop off. She is all parts excited. 

Back in June her preschool had a graduation ceremony. They received "Graduating to Kindergarten" diplomas & sang songs no one could understand. I then made her pose for what she must of thought was a million photos. It was great and I am so grateful that the school does this little tradition. I mean come on... tiny cap & gowns! Too cute!

Seriously! I can't handle it.

Her sweet gang. Friendship is beautiful. 

Being Anna Rae: 4.5 years old

Anna Rae

Age: 4.5

- you go to playschool 3 days a week, play soccer twice and go to hip hop on Tuesdays

- you love mashed potatoes & veggie meatballs

- you told me you have a boyfriend and his name is Kristoff

- you got very upset when I told you you couldn't marry Daddy

- you love animals and nature

- you have the kindest heart

- you wear a skirt or dress everyday

- you give the very best morning snuggles

- you love to draw pictures of people

- you love to collect rocks

- you want to be a princess when you grow up

- you have slept through the night for a month now (finally!)

- your favorite show on TV is Wild Kratts

- your play friends: Jenna, Lizzy, Lucy, Evelyn, Alex, Scarlett

- your room is always messy

- you get frustrated easy & are quick to stomp

- you love Lego

- you are already asking when we are going camping

- you tell me: "I love you 99." or "I love you more than Cinderella."

- you always ask Daddy what color jersey he is cheering for so you can cheer for them too

- you asked me just yesterday how babies get into tummies (sigh)

- you have the best laugh

- sometimes I feel like you & I have a secret club

- I thought you might pass out from laughter when I made a play dough butt

- If I sleep in you come & tell me "I'll let you have coffee if you get up." 

- you amaze me every day and teach me so much about kindness

♥

Anna, I love seeing how happy you are, you're glowing!

As soon as I found out we were having a girl I started thinking How am I going to teach her to love herself. To be happy. To trust that she is good enough. The list goes on. Girls/Women are hit at all angles when it comes to appearance and self worth. I know this because I live with it everyday and am on a constant journey of being "good enough". Anna is not surrounded by anything but love yet she already asks me if she looks pretty! Gets concerned about what other people will think. I stare blankly and think WTF. How is this on the mind of a four year old! I know I don't say anything, I always encourage and support. Maybe it's the things I am doing? I wear make up everyday, not always all of it but foundation for sure. Does that teach her she needs to wear makeup each day? I don't know, I don't have the answers. I am always looking for inspiration and education on the subject and was very happy last week to come across an article written for the Huffington Post. How to Talk to Your Daughter About Her Body was inspiring and made me think in depth about how I speak to Anna. I past it onto Cory and he also thought it was a great read. We were able to discuss why the key points in the article are important to us and how was can make some changes in our dialogue to Anna. It is definitely worth the read, even if you don't have daughters or children. 

Happy Thursday Friends.

Happy Birthday Anna

Among all the sadness something wonderful happened- this gorgeous spirit turned 4! Cory and I headed home from my parents so that we could be here for Anna's birthday on November 12. I, as usual, went overboard with decorations and it was totally worth it! I made a "Frozen" cake & cupcakes and they were delicious. There were presents & more presents & there were even more balloons and Miss Anna was over the moon! All those little details never go unnoticed with her and I love that about her. 

In the afternoon we headed to Auntie Karen's for a little birthday party and it was wonderful. When Cory got home from work we ate Anna's meal choice- fries & chicken nuggets and then we ate cake. It was a wonderful day full of joy and I am so grateful for her and that we were able to make her day all about her.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl. Here is to many, many more magical birthdays.

We love you.

Chore Chart

I had been noticing various people posting about their children's chores, things that they did each day like make the bed, empty the dishwasher and setting the table at meal time. I wasn't sure how old these children were or if there was a "right" age to begin chores but I decided that Anna was ready. That she could be responsible for small things that made a big difference. Things that helped me out and taught her about routine, responsibility and reward. 

Her chores include make the bed, open the blind, feed the cats, put away her dishes, tidy her bedroom at bedtime & make sure her dirty cloths are picked up and put in the laundry. She gets a sticker for every completed chore. When the chart is full, after a two week period, she receives a reward. 

For the first week I had to remind her each day to "remember your chores" but then one morning I heard her in her bedroom and peeked in to find her making her bed. I was so proud. She woke up and instantly made the bed- I can not say the same about me- perhaps I  need a chore chart. 

She filled her chart and then received a reward, this time was a Frozen poster that I had hoarded in the back of my closet. I tend to buy things when I see them and I haven't seen them any where before and when they're on sale. I love a good deal!

I am not sure how long this system will last or for how long it will be effective but for now it works. It also takes these things off my daily list and for that I am grateful!

Big Girl Bike

Last Sunday was a big day around here, we surprised Anna with a Big Girl Bike. We were going to get her one for her birthday but I found the one I wanted on sale and though "What good is a new bike in November in Alberta?". The bike came home with me and I am so glad that it did. She was so surprised and over the moon happy! She came into the living room and froze! Then she looked at us, then back at the bike, then exclaimed "It's just what I always wanted!". After a few dozen hugs for us and the bike we headed outside- she was a pro and she has been riding every day since. 

Riding off to the park with her BFF. 

Being Anna Rae. Age: 3.5

 - you love to make new friends
- your favourite word seems to be "no"
- you turn everything into a competition and are not ok to come in second
- you "read" me & dad stories and they're always elaborate and wonderful
- you love to sing
- you love to play "I Spy"
- you are stubborn and have a will so mighty it can not be broke. I pray you keep this when faced with   peer pressure.

- you are all about Momma, and always need to know where I am or where I am going
- you love to come to work with me and pretend to have customers
- you tell me you love me at least 20 times a day and tell me you could give me kisses all day long
- you LOVE princesses and Cinderella is your favourite
- your vocabulary is astounding! Some days you say things and I have to ask you where you heard that   and you always tell me that Papa told you.
- you often use Papa as a scapegoat when you get in trouble. "Papa said I could do that."
- you always tell me you got your dance moves from Daddy

- you love to dress up
- you want to be involved... in everything.
- your feelings are easily hurt
- your heart is gigantic and you are incredibly compassionate
- you love to be outside, especially if the neighbour friends are outside playing and you love to invite         them over
- you struggle with listening to me, I know you hear me but you choose not to acknowledge. This can   be very frustrating.
- you love to talk and talk and talk and ask question after question after question
- you are very curious about how a baby gets out of a momma, I tend to switch the subject
- you hold my hand and stroke my arm and my heart swoons
- your favourite colours are pink and purple

- you love your cousins and talk about Brayden & Morgan all the time
- you love the Frozen soundtrack and can sing the songs without it playing
- you practice snapping your fingers often and are getting really good
- you love to paint your fingernails and anyone else that will let you, you're actually really good at it
- you love to write your name and are curious about how things are spelled
- you love to craft and make cards and then pretend to mail them
- you tell me daily that I am beautiful
- you are a constant inspiration and I learn from you daily.

3.5 can be so very challenging but it is also pretty amazing. I am so grateful that you're mine.
xoxo
Momma