HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA CLAIRE (APRIL 17, 2006)

(Picture by Brecht Photography)

Dear Anna Claire,

How can Ma and Granddad put in writing how much you mean to us? You bring more joy to us than we could have ever expected. Just saying your name brings a smile to our face. The main reason Ma started this blog was so that years from now you will know how much Ma and Granddad loved you.

Some of Ma's happiest moments are just laying in bed beside you tickling your little arms and legs. Granddad loves it when you kiss his leg and then you say "Say Yucky Granddad!" Ma is so sad when she has to leave you and especially when you say "Ma, I'm gonna miss you...can you come next week?"

We adore you...just absoutely adore you Anna Claire. We love your smile, personality, that you love God so much, and that you make your Mommy and Daddy so happy.

We love you so much,

Ma and Granddad

(Picture by Brecht Photography)

Some of your favorite things at three years old are:

You love to pretend to talk on the phone
You love to do ballet
You love to use glitter paint
You always tell Ma your best friend is Meghan
When you stay with Granddad and Ma you tell us that you no longer take naps or baths
You would watch Bob the Builder all day if we let you
You put ketchup on everything
You love your "mousey" and "pink blankie"
You love to snuggle with Ma
You love pink (you used to love orange but now it is pink and purple)
You love shoes, shoes, shoes! (especially sparkly shoes and high heels)
You love to play "teacher"
You can count to 20 and you know your ABC's
You have a plastic tea set and you absolutely love to pretend to drink "chocolate chip milk" and eat "Kashi cookies or chocolate chip cookies."
You know the Bible better than most adults!
(Picture by Brecht Photography)

Some of my favorite Anna Claire stories:
____________________

March 2009: Also during this time at the house I asked her if she wanted to poo poo in the potty. She replied "Ma, I don't know how. Will you show me?" (Poor Anna Claire, good thing she is so young. Years from now I'll have to delete posts like this one!)
___________________

Feb 25, 2009: I asked Anna Claire if she enjoyed my letters to her. She replied back "You can just text me, Ma."

Anna Claire woke up one morning and told me that her leg hurt. I said "Oh, I'm sorry. Does it still hurt?" She replied, "Ma...no...God healed it."

We were driving to Bass Pro in Oklahoma City and I asked Anna Claire what she knew about Jesus. She said "Don't eat the apple...there's a sneaky snake."

___________________

Feb 15, 2009: She goes to my computer desk and tells me that she has to "work" and "send email." She sits in the computer chair, pulls the keyboard to where she can reach it and just starts typing. I will ask her what she is doing and she says "emailing."
___________________

Feb 10, 2009: Anna Claire, Jessica and Bennett went to the Nursing Home to give out Valentines. Before they left Jessica said "Now, Anna Claire, what are you going to do when you see the old people?" Anna Claire said "I'm going to yell, hello old people, look at my new shoes."
___________________

Jan 8, 2009: I was taking Bennett and Anna Claire to meet Brent and Jessica. Gary and I had the kids for a few days while Brent and Jessica had a conference in Tulsa. Anna Claire asked me if I was going to Oklahoma. I told her no because I lived in Arkansas. She then said "Ma, do you want to live with me?"
____________________

Oct 30, 2008: Anna Claire called me and screamed in the phone "I poo pooed in the potty." I told her I was so excited for her and then she said "I'll show you how Ma when we go camping."
____________________

Mar 11, 2008: Jessica told Anna Claire it was bath time and she said "Anna Claire, you want to go take a bath." Anna Claire said "No thank you Mommy."
___________________

SLIDESHOW OF ANNA CLAIRE'S LIFE. (I will add captions probably over the weekend and put the pictures in the order of her life.)