Annie, almost three

Annie looks less and less like a toddler to us, its amazing to think how much she's changed over the last year. Our girl is not so timid, is pretty darn graceful and coordinated (unless she's tired, then she's a bit of a walking disaster), but I'd say the biggest change we've seen in her is in how her mind works. This is as its supposed to be, I know, but its one thing to read or hear about it, and another to watch it in action. Annie's sense of humor is developing (how she loves to tease!), and she makes up elaborate make-believe scenarios. She regularly visits the music box store (in our hallway), the candy store (in our doorway), and the beach (in our living room). She loves to dress up, her favorite persona to take on right now is that of a fairy. This morning when she came to cuddle with me in bed, she told me that she dreamed last night of ballerinas, fairies, and angels.

She loves to play with Siri, and is more regularly involving her in her play. Most of the time she is incredibly sweet, thoughtful, and helpful with her, but she is starting to realize that with Siri's growing mobility, toys need to be put further away. We've begun moving things on the playroom shelves so she doesn't have to worry about so much, but it will be a big transition for us. She still loves to sing and dance, and now also delights us with the guitar, harmonica, tambourine, and anything else she can find to make a sound with.

At our ECFE class she really has done well. One week her teachers told me she had done story time for some kids in the class, holding the book towards the kids for them to see and doing a pretty good job at telling the story. Another day, she spent time comforting a couple of children in the class who were missing their mommies, assuring them that the mommies would be back soon. This week, one of the teachers reported that Annie was quite sharp, that they couldn't get anything past her. All things that make me feel pretty good about her starting preschool next year. Yep, that's right, it's almost time for preschool. This month, my task is applying for preschools, we're anxious to hear back on a couple in particular, and, while its amazing to think about her being old enough for this, we really feel like she's going to love it.