Anna Kate - Turns 3

January 8th, we celebrated Anna Kate's third birthday.  We have now have had more birthdays with AK than without her.  We made this birthday more like a birthday month. 

Anna Kate has become such a big girl.  She is 30 lbs 8 oz and 36.75" tall.  She has a big vocabulary and has a great sense of humor.  She had me rolling in the floor the other day.  She was outside sitting in her chair.  She gets up, bends over, and puts her hands on her back.  Then she says, "My back is killing me."  Do what?  She could not have been any more serious. 

Anna Kate loves music and singing.  We have to listen to "our songs" in the car.  This really is any children's music.  She loves playing mommy and taking care of her babies.  AK and Bennett play mommy and daddy with Kevin being Bennett and me being Anna Kate.  It is so funny to hear the change in the pitch of their voice as they talk to babies.  AK is such a good helper and loves to clean. 

Over Christmas holidays, we were able to potty train Anna Kate.  She really was so easy.  This was such a huge blessing.  Although we have known that AK did not have spina bifida, we still had the voices in our head that the doctors had told us that she may not be able to be potty trained.  It seems from a health perspective, Anna Kate has overcome all obstacles and would be considered healthy.  Behaviorally, Anna Kate has made tremendous improvements.  We have also learned more about what triggers her behavior issues and what discipline works to correct it. 

Anna Kate had requested a Frozen party since last June after Bennett's party.  She never wavered.  Having a January birthday makes it hard to figure out what to do.  I thought ice skating would fit the theme, but AK does not handle large groups well.  With Bennett and AK being so young, I was unsure if it would be something they would enjoy.  We had a trial run Christmas Eve and it went well.  So February 14th, we had Anna Kate's third birthday party at the ice rink.  I was worried how it would go, but could not have been better.  Anna Kate and Bennett both were eager to go ice skating.  Anna Kate really is a pro.  She does so well holding her feet together.  After a few laps, they were done and ready to do some crafts I had plans.  I have to say I had a lot of fun skating and watching our friends and their kids skate.  After skating, I had a few crafts planned - coloring, making snowflakes, and making snow.  The kids loved making snow.  It worked, but not quite as easy as I expected.  Let me say, it is messy which was even more fun for the kids and Kevin.  I really appreciate family and friends who came and celebrated with us.

As if the party was not enough, we left the party to go to the Chinese New Year celebration.  Kevin had taken Anna Kate last year, but it was the first time Bennett and I had attended.  It was good, but not exactly what I expected.  They have vendors and different local Chinese organization booths.  They have events on stage from aerobatics, singing, yoga, dancing, etc.   I was so surprised to see how much Bennett got into it.  I had to pick him up to get him to leave watching the show and let us look at the vendors.  I think it was his first time seeing so many people that look like Anna Kate. 

It was a big weekend with lots of great memories. 

 AK's birthday celebration at home.

 Present from Granddaddy.

 Bennett got her Hello Kitty piggy bank.

 Anna Kate got a doll house from Mommy and Daddy.

 Frozen party

 Granddaddy and Bennett

 They said another lap.  Oh no.

 My princess.

 Making snow experiment

My attempt at baking.

My baby girl is three.