Anna the Train - Day 650

Sorry it has been a while. Anna was sick with her first big (or I should say long) cold. It wasn't so bad, but it lasted about 10 days and the word 'boogies' is now in her lexicon forever. Unfortunately, Daddy also caught her cold, and it was a bit miserable for a few days when Anna had much more energy than her Dad did.

The picture above was taken when the Texas Grandparents came to DC. I think Anna looks so funny here -- she is trying so hard to be a big girl.

In other news, Kerry had a couple of her friends from Texas visit a week and half ago, and one brought her 15-month-old baby girl. Anna just loved running around with her new friend, and the chasing sessions were filled with plenty of giggles. It was really fun to see -- and hear -- the little ones play. Kerry's other friend was really great with Anna, and she kept her well entertained. We had a great time.

Anna has also in the last week or two fully assumed the identity of a train. She will correct you if you try to refer to her as Anna. She will just look at you and say seriously, "train." She even corrects herself. This morning she started off by saying, "Anna wants...(strike that)...train wants breakfast." When she falls down it is train that goes boom-boom. When she brushes her teeth it is train brushing her teeth -- of course with her toothbrush with a train on it. When she runs, she is running like a train. When she kicks in the swimming pool she is kicking like a train. When she is scared, it is train that is scared. And when she has bad manners it is train's fault. She is truly a train these days. A few days ago I spelled out with her crayons A-N-N-A and asked her what that spelled. She, of course, says, "train." I also taught her this morning that her hair is red, so when I asked her what color of train she is she says that she is a red train. When you ask her why, she says, "Because I have red hair."

Of course for those thinking about Anna's birthday presents, you may want to follow Anna's identity shift as I am sure she would like Thomas the Train supplies.

Here is another picture from Easter. Sorry, I don't have more recent ones.

Anna has also developed her vocabulary well enough that she isn't waiting around for us to say things anymore. In the last week she has started saying, "What's that?" This question is occurring at a much higher frequency each day. A few days ago I heard Anna say, "What's that," then a tiny set of stomping feet came running my way to get the answer. She then opens her beautiful little fingers to show me..."oooooh, Anna, drop that, that's cat poop." I guess being closer to the ground means that she is better at scoping out errant cat 'packages' than we are.

Ok, one more picture since it has been so long and because I don't have new photos. I've learned...quantity usually pacifies the grandparents.

One last note, Anna has also started wearing hats again. Kerry started a new holiday called 'Hat Day' and sold it as being a very fun day where you go around and wish everyone happy hat day. Of course, we also went to the zoo that day, so it was actually a bit festive. (Zoo pictures will be coming via Snapfish within the week). So far this trick has worked, though I fear Anna is sharp enough that one day she will recognize hat day for what it really is -- just any other day.