(I wrote this post in March and realized it was still in my draft box.)
- 50th percentile for height, 40th percentile for weight
- Knows letters and sounds, writes many letters
- Counts well past 20
- Still says "fuhtend" instead of pretend, and "flee" instead of three
I love this picture of her. While her brothers were jumping with J, she was just as thrilled to sit and talk with me. My little girl. My little friend.
She is 4!
Every year I say it, but Anna Kate always seems a year ahead of her age. It wouldn't really be shocking to me for her to start kindergarten next year. She will start Classical Conversations with Trip in the fall and I know she is ready for it. I think she is most ready to have a baby sister. The role she was meant to play!
Lately AK has been a Mama's girl. I think she is just ready not to be surrounded by boys. She likes crafts and stuffed animals, and having things neat and tidy. She likes to try to take care of her little brother - although this is not his favorite thing.
She has the most fabulous imagination and can be very silly, but usually takes her play very seriously. She lines her animals and things up in her room in an orderly fashion and is so proud of how she has "cleaned" her room. She would save every scrap of trash to create a project out of if I would let her. Her drawings are very detailed and creative at the same time. She could spend all day at the art table. Like her brother, she comes up with very elaborate projects, and I rarely am able to provide the supplies or talent that she wants.
Anna Kate is my most independent child. She would play with friends (or babysitters, or grandparents, or aunts and uncles) all day long. She is never afraid to be apart from us. We try not to take this personally! AK is also funny about affection. She will give out hugs all day long, but declares that she does not like kisses. She tells elaborate stories. She loves little things.
She is the sweetest, and the saltiest kid around and will one minute say something loving and in the next breath speak her truth with no love. For instance, "Anna Kate, did you have fun today at your friends house?" ... "I had a little bit of fun. But not a lot. It would have been more fun if ..." Or often she will proclaim, "This is the best day ever!" over something relatively simple. But when I plan a day of fun activities with just the two of us, she will sadly tell me at the end of the day that I do not play with her for long enough.
Needless to say, she is a little hard to please!
Her Gigi would tell me that she is just like I was at that age.
Anna Kathleen,
You are my truth teller. I pray that you would come to know the most important truth of Jesus Christ and that it will be this truth that you proclaim unapologetically. I also pray that the Holy Spririt will change your heart so that you will speak the truth in love.
You are my creative, funny, and spirited girl. I love your freckles, your cute little voice, your long stories, and your ability to play for hours independently and at the same time make friends in an instant.
I love you with all of my heart.
