Dear Anna,
Just a little note to let you know how much I love you.
Here’s a look at what’s happening during the summer you were three:
- You just started swimming lessons today (with Logan again) and the difference in interest is really big. Katie took you today and reported back that you loved it and had a really fun time and did a great job following directions. I saw Logan at the pool and he said you did too (even though it was a cooler cloudy day at an outdoor pool).
- One of my favorite things about you at this point in time is your singing. You are making up songs left and right. I need to try to capture one as you are singing it (they change just about every time and are usually really funny and totally fed by whatever it is you are thinking about at the time).
- You and Katie created a reward chart (Simon has one so you needed one too) and you’ve been really motivated to do some of your alphabet and number worksheets. Loved watching the two of you working together at the table yesterday.
- It’s still all about pink & purple.
- Bedtime has been a bit of a challenge and with the summer here and later natural bedtimes it’s shaking things up even more. Some bedtimes are really hard and others are smooth sailing – just trying to head in the direction of more smooth sailing evenings (I found this article helpful as I was working to get myself back on track: Bedtime Battles – How To Nip Them In The Bud.).
- I love your silliness and giggles and all the life inside you.
- You’ve been saying “I love you” a ton and also “you’re the best.“
- I asked you what your favorite thing right now is and you said “berries” followed by “raspberries” and “blueberries.”
I love you so much Anna,
Love Mom
beautiful! your words and your daughter both!!
Gorgeous photos & words. Must do something similar for our girls!
SHE is growing soooo fast and is ADORABLE!!! I still remember the day you told me you were pregnant and I cherish the photo and the moment! Love you friend..think about you sooo often..wish we lived closer to each other! Happy Summer!!!
The spirit of your words and the preciousness of your daughter speak straight to the heart — so uplifting!
She is so adorable !!! I would looove to hear Anna singing !!! Ali, I have two girls, 9 and 12 years old. My advice ? ( I’m sure this is not the first time your hear it, but is totally true ) ENJOY EVERY SINGLE MINUTE … Time literally FLIES !!!
What a greats idea to document your child’s summer as it’s happening right now. I had been thinking of creating a layout or two for my son’s summer vacation since a lot of activities are in motion. This would be one way to approach the writing. Thank you!
Awww… she is so cute. What a great letter.
I love how you write your posts to your children. You are an amazing mom!
Makes me miss my little girls. They are now 25 and 29 and living far (too far, in my opinion) from home. They are happy, which makes me happy, but I do miss them and treasure the time we do get to spend together!
What an inspiring letter — and something Anna will cherish when she is older
So, what is it like to look at your daughter and see your own face looking back at you?
Love this Ali.
My daughter is 23 and I always say that if I could have her go back to any age it would be three. It’s such a sweet age! Anna is ADORABLE and has the sweetest smile ever!
Love that smile!
So sweet, such a precious smile!
Anna is such a pretty little girl with such a sweet, great smile. I love the way she is growing and changing and becoming. Thanks for keeping us updated so often.
I love this letter to your daughter and always love all your writings. I wish I could write like that. I look at your blog everyday and you do inspire me so much. Thanks for always sharing your life.
I’d love to know more about your reward charts. My twins are 9 and I’m thinking of setting something up like this for the summer – just not sure where to start and how the rewards work.
She is so doggone cute. I think I’d just let her stay up as late as she wants
She is too cute. Beautiful and heart warming. Love reading your words. TFS
Love this.
Ali, I love the ‘grown-up’ hairdo. Precious.
Love your words to your beautiful little girl
love your share.
perfect… thank for sharing..
Everyone should do this for their children. Totally wonderful. I am so thankful for everything I wrote about my children when they were little. And I didn’t write nearly enough.
My niece is 3 and my daughters are 11 & 9 an boy oh boy do i ever love watching my niece. At 3 they are so fun and funny! No attitude and snottiness.
Love this. My son (turned 4 yesterday) is into the singing too. He also makes up his own songs and repeats lyrics of others that he has only heard once. Incredible. We also get awesome dances to go with the singing, usually right in the middle of the aisles at the grocery store!! Love this age.
what a beautiful sentiment and idea. My baby turns 5 in 2 weeks adn I think I want to do a similar blog post and page for his bday. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Ali
I love Anna’s bob-such an adorable style for her.
Ahhhhhhhhhh first of all she is ADORABLE…love this little gal! “SHE” just makes me smile whenever you post a picture of her. Thanks so much for making my day:) And she really is one lucky little girl to have a Momma that takes such good care of her, that documents every day simple or BIG moments. And yes that bob …I am a hairdresser and it is just darling. This IS the good stuff!!!
How can you go wrong with a name like Anna!!!!
the best thing you ever did was have a second child…
This is so amazing. I loved seeing how you addressed this to Anna.
Random request… I remember a post you did almost a year ago around the 4th of July. Their were shots of sparklers taken at night with super cool swirly light effects. Since the fourth is just around the corner, I thought some of your blog readers including me would like a tutorial on how you did this. What do you think?
Anna is super cute and I adore your sweet family.
Hi Libbi – I followed this tutorial: http://digiscrap101.com/2011/07/sparkler-fun-how-to-capture-it.html
Awww, this is so cute!
LOVE LOVE THIS!! So precious she is!!
I love this post! My two-year-old, “I’m almost three” is also having bedtime issues. Thanks for the article!
That face is exactly your mom all over again!
What a precious photo of Anna! Love it! Great letter to her. You were a born writer!
She looks so much like her mom:). I love it that you write these letters to Anna and Simon.
She is so you Ali. Take your vitamins b/c she is incredibly intelligent coupled with receiving unconditional positive prompts that embraces her creativity. She is watching you like a hawk. She’s going to give you the ride of your life…challenging you in great ways. Thank you for sharing her with all of us.She is a gift.
love the letters for each babe. I would love to win this prize.
marilyn
I don’t know when I’ve seen a cuter face. And a sweet little hair cut. There is so much spunk hidden behind that smile. Precious.
Your children are amazing, and your stories so real. I was really touched by something you tweeted, that your mom said that you should sit in stillness about something you had been thinking. I needed to hear that! I feel as if the world is falling down around me, the normal, the ordinary is changing, aside form disliking change it may be time to jump (out of my comfort zone). Sometimes I just need to be still and listen, God is trying to get my attention, I just don’t see it, I need to be a better listener. . .
She is such a little sweetpea, that short haircut is adorable!
What a great idea to write these letters to your children. There have been many times, since I’ve been a scrapper, that I wish I could go back in time and have a do over. I would love to have written to my only child as it was happening, memories fade and you forget those fleeting moments of a 3 year old’s daily antics.
Mine is now 26 and lives on her own, oh how I miss that chatty 3 year old girl and would do it all over again, but I would write it down this time.
P.S. I hope you get a recoding of her singing,you will never get those days back.
Anna in my minds eye looks like Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.
Just had the chance to read this today and it made me very sentimental and somewhat melancholic but also hopeful. Saddened by the time that has gone by with my children and in some ways lost but hopeful by those times yet to come and the memories we all hold and treasure. Thanks Ali for making me think!