A Post For Anna

My little sweetie pie has such a multifaceted personality.  She is so animated and amusing; filled with spunk and entertaining always.  My wee actress loves acting out different emotions in the bathroom mirror.  She will watch her face and say, "I'm happy!" smiling big, and then instantly slap on a frown while saying, "Now I'm sad."  The next second it will be "I'm mad!" with a scowl or "I'm excited!" with her eyes and mouth big and wide.  She'll sometimes add in a "Now I'm proud," while sticking her chin in the air.  We call the faces she sometimes makes her Jim Carey faces- lately she's on a eye crossing kick too. She quickly remembers what gets a laugh and will repeat the scenario to get the same results.  She pretended to fall out of a child-sized rocking chair after "rocking so fast" 20+ times in a row after we all laughed about her over-the-top fall the first time.  Girl definitely has a flair for the dramatic, that's for sure.

Anna's never been much of a girly girl, but that may be more a result of us than her.  Our toys selection tends to be more gender neutral, and although we have dolls to play with and she sometimes does, she most often gravitates towards the trains and train track.  I would say she's more all about the trains than even Sam is.  For a long time, Percy was her favorite, but now it's becoming more and more often Thomas.  Lately though, the Cinderella dress in our dress-up box has been the thing to play with du jour.  She puts on that garage sale find daily and tromps around in her "glass slippers"- red sparkly Fancy Nancy shoes that were also a garage sale find from this summer.  I figured if she's pretending to be Cinderella every day, I better at least let her watch the movie so she knows who Cinderella is... and thus, that became her first Princess movie ever.  Now she usually calls me her Fairy Godmother (when I help her get dressed) or her Step-Sister, when she demands that I pretend to rip her dress.  Daddy is typically Grand Duke.  But she's still pretending to be Baby Jesus just as often.  She loves when I hold her and pretend to rock her as Baby Jesus.  She'll instruct me to refer to her as Cinderella or Baby Jesus, as in  "Say thank you to Baby Jesus." or "Ask Cinderella if she has to go to the bathroom."

While Sam sometimes tries to be obstinate by purposely doing things we tell him not to do, Anna misbehaves more by omission.  Her challenge is more often to not do the things we ask, like to not clean up, get ready for a meal, eat instead of just playing or even answer our questions.  If she has a problem with Sam, she's more likely to shriek or cry about it than act out physically.  She can be so cooperative with him and his demands though- I can count on her to often give him things he wants even if she wants it too.  Most of the time, Anna's definitely the one that is more go-with-the-flow.

Anna is so easily adaptable and flexible in all kinds of environments.  I attribute that to her more independent nature.  She's never really been shy and hardly ever shows uncomfortableness in new situations with new people or places.  Anna's handled the major changes with Daddy gone Monday-Friday with no visible affects.  Of course, she loves him and is super happy when he's home on the weekends, but it doesn't bother her to have him not here during the week like it does Sam.  She's also more able to handle changes in her daily routine on a day to day basis, like the absence of a nap.  That being said, I'm pretty sure she's going to be dropping the nap well before her brother.  Good thing 6 months later she's still never tried to get out of her big bed, so a rest time should be doable.

What I love best right now about my almost 3 year old little girl?  Watching her "read" books and seeing how much she adores pouring over the pages.  It amazes me how quickly she picks up the words and can repeat parts of so many of the books we have read together.  I have a huge collection of picture books, so we don't reread very frequently.  I bring home books from my classroom shelves like a public library and the scholastic book clubs, oh boy- they feed my compulsion of getting my hands on new children's books to read.  I would estimate that Sam and Anna's personal library alone grows by 20 books or so a month. When I bring new books home, Anna will clamor into my lap and listen to them all one after another.  Then when I take a break to get something done, I'll walk away and she'll already be repeating phrases from the books she only heard once or twice while "rereading" them to herself.  As a result, she has a ridiculous vocabulary for a not-quite three year old.  Example:  she told Sam he was being ridiculous the other day.  (Story the word was from : A Silly Snowy Day starring a ridiculous turtle.)  I can't even pinpoint a few of her favorite books right now, because she loves them all.  Books that I can't get 5 and 6 year old to pay attention through one sitting she loves and her comprehension of them rivals the kindergartners in my class. Eric Carle's Animals, Animals book held her attention until my husband had read to page 70.  Unreal.  I can't wait to start reading simple chapter books to her and Sam, although I have been trying to hold off until they are 3. 

3 years old? Only one month to go.  Wow.

Anna's First Haircut

I decided before Thanksgiving that it was time for Anna's first haircut, at just over 2 years 8 months old.  While her curly 'do hid the mullet she really rocked, whenever I put her hair into pigtails it was noticeable that one pigtail was longer than the other.  The baby fine ends from the first hair she ever grew were really making her hair extra tangled and knotted.  We really just trimmed off a little to make the ends even, and honestly you can not tell that it's any shorter.  But I can tell when I style her hair that it looks and feels better to me.

As straight as it gets during a bath- past the middle of her back!

One last pre-cut photo (in case, you know, she loses the curls)

She was ecstatic to be able to get a haircut "just like Sam" this time, and hopped right up into the chair. She held pretty still but near the end asked to get down before it was all done, because I think she was tired of sitting still.

Post cut

 

Now that I made the plunge and got the first trim done, I'm sure next time I will have an easier time seeing those curls snipped without fear of losing them!

W sitting

Anna W sits.

 “W-sitting” or “W-sit” is a term used to describe a sitting position in which a child sits on the floor with their legs forming a “W” shape on the floor (knees bent, legs rotated and facing away from the body).

 

 

(Old pictures I took when Anna was W sitting)

Sam does not.  I knew from my educator background that with kindergartners, this is not a good thing, but that's where my knowledge ended.  I didn't know when it became not a good thing, if it was something that kids grew out of, and if it was something to correct or do something about at this age.  So I consulted Dr. Google.

Here's some great info that I easily found:

When is it ok?

Children often move into and out of this position during play or when transitioning from crawling to sitting. W-sitting is OK and perfectly normal if used in this way. It temporarily widens the base of support, giving the child a greater sense of stability and balance during play.

When is it NOT ok?

However, this position should not be encouraged for prolonged periods of time during play as it will lead to future orthopaedic and musculoskeletal issues, affecting muscles and joints of the back and lower limb. Long-term W-sitting is NOT encouraged as it will make the child become reliant on this position for added trunk/hip stability to allow for easier toy manipulation and play. Their trunk muscles will not be activated sufficiently for them to learn and practice weight shifts during rotation and lateral (side) movements of the body.

W-sitters are often children with:

• Low muscle tone
• Hypermobile joints
• Difficulty with balance

Side effects of W-sitting:

• May develop sway back posture
• Walk and stand with feet turned inwards
• Weak trunk and low back muscles
• Tight hamstrings and low back muscles

Why do children choose to W-sit?

In W-sitting the legs are rotated outwards and spread wide apart. This means that there is a larger base of support and hence less work required by the trunk muscles to stabilise the body. The trunk muscles are important for maintaining an upright posture and reacting to shifts in balance. Possibly these children have not developed sufficient trunk rotation (twisting) or lateral flexion (bending to side) for weight shifts and so relies heavily on the wide base of support for maintaining stability during physical activity and play.

Correcting the Habit

Often W-sitting becomes a habit very quickly and it is important to address it promptly.
Encourage other ways of sitting:

• Cross-legged
• Side-sitting with both legs out to one side (make sure they alternate the side)
• Sitting with legs straight out forward as able (hamstrings can be stretched at the same time)
• Sitting on a low stool or a cushion

I also know that it can effect hand dominance and therefore fine motor skills for writing, cutting, etc.  because when W sitting, a child cannot turn their body as effectively to reach what they want.  So a child will use whatever hand is closest to the object they want, rather than their dominant hand.  Repeatedly using a non-dominant hand will weaken the ability to strengthen the ability to use the dominant hand well.

Since reading more, we've made it a habit to tell Anna to "fix her legs" immediately if we see her in a W sitting position.  Right away she changes her position and we continue on with whatever we're doing and call no further attention to it.  Easy fix.

I'm hopeful that we noticed this early enough on that it won't be a huge habit to break!

Anna's Doppelganger

 Sam and Anna's daycare provider pointed out yesterday that the little girl from the movie We Bought a Zoo looks an awful lot like Anna... and after looking at a photo of Maggie Elizabeth Jones, I agree.  She's got the same face shape, forehead, eyes, eyebrows, jaw line, and curl to her hair.  The nose and lips are close.  Just the reddish tint to her hair is missing. 

This is the best recent photo I have with Anna looking right at the camera.  Can you see the similarities?

Ooo La La!

 More than a year ago, this little girl had next to no hair.

A few days ago, I braided her hair in french braids for the first time.  Every time I do her hair, I thank my lucky stars for a little girl who holds still and humors me when I do something to her head.

And oh my, did she look grown up in her french braids, jeans and 3/4 length sleeves!

Wordless Wednesday- Toes

Gorgeous spring weather calls for matching mother/daughter pedicures!

Wordless Wednesday- Anna's impression

Anna's Nick Nolte impression

Curly hair makes some awesome bedhead. Poor girl just woke up after an almost 4 hour nap and was still a little groggy.

See the resemblance?

Or maybe she's just more in style than her mama.

A little more awake... but still rockin' the Nick Nolte 'do.

Wordless Wednesday Pigtails

Every time I see my daughter in curly pigtails, I am overwhelmed from the cuteness.

Future Movie Star?

Our daycare provider informed us this past week that she thought Anna was a future movie star in the making.  They go to toddler music on Thursday mornings at the local children's museum- and I guess Anna steals the show every week.  According to our day care provider, Sam is very much a typical boy- participates sometimes, but doesn't stay focused for a long period and would rather be off moving in the direction he chooses.  One of their friends at day care is more shy while there (but I guess more high maintenance at day care).  Anna, I'm told, is animated.  She sings along not just for her own enjoyment, but for everyone else's, too.  She just doesn't sit down when directed, she makes a big deal of it and then laughs at her antics.  She sash shays while dancing for other's benefit more for her own. 

Apparently she's so entertaining that the head of toddler music time invited our little day care group (of 4 kids) to come with her this Friday to a nursing home to sing to the residents.  Our day care provider bluntly said to me, "Really, I think she just wants Anna to be there.  The rest of us are just invited along for the ride."  I'm sure she'll certainly be fun for the elderly residents to watch.  I wish I could be there to see Anna in action in front of an audience!

Just yesterday, Anna caught me getting the camera out.  She beelined it over to me, (abandoning her toys) and said "Mama, hi!  Anna cheese!" and pasted on her newest photo taking face as she shoved her head as close as she could to my lens- that cheesy grin that all kids inevitably get at some point.  To my defense, I did teach her to say cheese to show her teeth... while I attempt to brush them.  She made the transfer to photo taking all on her own.  Hopefully she'll grow out of this photo taking stage and I'll be getting more realistic photos again soon!

Anna's Expressions

Wordless Wednesday

Celiac Disease Update

Our pediatrician called this evening and informed us that Anna's blood sample was negative for Celiac Disease.  Thank goodness.  I had a really hard time wrapping my head around how that would change her diet and affect every thing we prepared for meals, not to mention how that would affect the rest of her life.

The blood sample, however, did show a low blood count meaning that Anna's iron levels were low.  Going forward Anna will be on an iron supplement twice daily to boost her levels.  We are also to get as many iron rich foods in her as possible... along with the high calorie, high fat, high protein foods.

We will do a recheck of both her weight and blood iron levels in a month to see if anything we do has made a difference.  Meanwhile, I'm on a mission to "fatten up" my little girl, stat!

Wordless Wednesday- First Pigtails!

Anna's first pigtails @ 16 months old!

(I'm thrilled that she (and Sam) left them in all day, and sat still enough for me to readjust them several times throughout the day too!)

Two Walkers!

Well, I definitely think what I've heard is true about babies that are a little slower development-wise in one area; that chances are they are focusing their energy in another area of development.  While Sam and Anna were later walkers, they continue to amaze me with their communication and fine motor skills every day.  Today I've finally agreed that Anna is a walker.  At 16 months old, Anna is not just taking steps anymore, she is walking!

She's taken steps for a while now, but mostly initiated by me or my husband.  Sometimes (more often at night) she'd spontaneously walk up to 14 steps, but more for the fun of walking and probably the cheers and attention we gave here.   We thought she did better when she was holding something at the same time like a toy, probably because it kept her focus off of the potential to fall.  Anna would also give in easily- never allowing herself to really truly fall.  When she starts to feel like she's losing her balance, she immediately either drops to her knees or sits down on on her bottom, or grabs onto the safety object she has nearby (the wall, the couch, a chair, a taller toy, etc.) . I think she was capable of many more steps in a row than she was doing but just not allowing herself to get outside of her narrow comfort zone. 

However, within the last week or so, Anna's been spontaneously walking throughout the day more and more and crawling less and less.  She's walking to get from one place to another.  She walked from the living room to our bathroom for a bath tonight.  I've lost count how many maximum steps she's made in a row now.  Her main reason for the sudden surge in confidence?  Sam has been running around the house playing with our dog by chasing her lately.  They have so much fun, and I think Anna's been really wanting to join in, but it's a little hard to do that when you are crawling on the ground.

Honestly, I did not want early walkers.  The idea of chasing 2 walking (and running!) 9 month olds that were probably going in opposite directions at the same time scared me.  I was perfectly happy to have them start to walk at a year old.  Then I agreed that even 14 months would be cool, because I could get a few extra months of merely crawling twins (it's easier to catch up with them if they are on all fours!).  I said I wouldn't start to worry or play the mommy-comparison-game until after 14 months.  I mostly followed that statement.  Sam learned to walk at 14 months, and perfected his walk into a run during 15 months.  Anna lagged behind her brother a bit.  She was cautious about sitting (not perfecting sitting until 9 months) and I had a feeling she'd be the same way about walking.  I'd be lying if I would say I wasn't concerned, but I was a little.  I knew she'd walk soon, but I was just hoping it was well before the danger zone of 18 months. Nobody asks how many words your  little ones says- everyone always asks if they are walking.  Now that Sam and Anna are 16 months old, the "are the walking?" question doesn't even really come up anymore because I think everyone assumes they are.  And I know most kids are at 16 months- but that still doesn't mean there is anything wrong with not walking at that point.

I didn't think she was delayed, Anna was just focusing her attention on her verbal communication development and her fine motor development (on top of being a little cautious about walking).  When I look at the milestones suggested for a 2 year old in those areas, she's already there at 16 months.  She has a spoken vocabulary of over 50 words (not including the signs she knows but does not verbally say), follows directions, and not only points to objects in books when they are named, but can identify some objects in books by name when asked what they are.  She stacks blocks 7+ blocks tall, holds a spoon right side up into her mouth, flips switches and turns knobs. Except for the spoon stuff, Sam's the same way.

They might not be physically advanced in their gross motor skills, but considering both mine and my husband's athletic ability, I didn't really imagine either one as a sports star anyway.  I'm proud of them for what they have accomplished so far in their short lives all the same.

We May Never Go Out of Town Again

On Friday we went on a 4 hour drive to visit my family (and for a job interview for my husband, but that's for another post if we seriously consider the position after it is offered) and Sam and Anna started out doing well. They fared relatively well in the car on the way there, especially since we didn't have time to stop except for emergency diaper changes.

Then during my husband's 3 hour job interview, they had lunch with momma ( lunch with twin 1 year olds all by myself- uff da!), we went to an indoor play park ( it was crazy full and busy with kids and I was again, all by myself) which gave them a bit to crawl and play and get out of car seats, and then I drove around while they took a second crap-nap in the car until the interview was over.

Although they only took short 10-30 minute naps, they did take two naps, so I was hopeful that the night would go well at my parents house sleeping in pack n plays. After all, we did the very same thing around the holidays, and it went okay.

That night ranked in the top 10 of worst-night-evers. Anna would not sleep for any sort of stretch without crying out. Every time she cried out, Sam would pop up in his pack and play and get started too. They were right next to our bed, so that didn't help matters. My husband finally gave up and spent the night sleeping on the floor to help Anna sleep. After that she did better because she could constantly see him.

We headed back Saturday night at their bedtime, which we have done in the past twice. It went decently the other times, so we attempted it again. Unfortunately, Anna did not sleep for a minute of the entire drive. That means she was awake an additional 4 hours past her bedtime... until we got home at 11 pm. Nothing I could do could make her settle down enough to actually sleep in the car. She whined or cried out almost the entire time. It was awful. Thankfully, Sam slept through it all though.

Probably needless to say, her sleep after that in her crib at home was better but not by much because she was one very overtired little girl. She cried out several times until morning. Now tonight she's had a really hard time settling down again for bedtime. She cried for almost an hour before finally quieting down- something that really never happens around here. It seems like our little trip has ruined her nighttime sleep for the time being. Since I got back to work tomorrow after having the week off for spring break, I am hoping this is a very temporary thing!

My, How She's Grown!