2007 - Year one, little girl learned to walk, started to talk, liked pretty much everything she ate. The first birthday party was all about the cake, of course.
2008 - In her second year, Anastasia discovered The Backyardigans (still my favorite of all her favorite TV shows). She learned a bit of sign language, which helped her communicate with the two deaf children in her daycare class, learned her colors and numbers and started to hold her own with the dogs. And apparently, she is the only child on the planet who can look sad with cake and a Popsicle.
2009 - As she neared her third birthday, little girl learned all of her letters, loved helping out in the kitchen, and went to her first baseball game. She also paid visits to the West Virginia and New York cousins, and had her first trip to the beach. Her first day of public school was the day before her birthday. The Scooby Doo party featured papier mache masks for the kids to paint and ghosts and clues to help them solve a mystery.
2010 - Before she turned 4, little girl had surgery to repair an issue that caused her to have infections regularly. After the surgery, no more infections! This year also had Snowmaggedon, a trip to Texas, and visits from Grandma and Papa Allen, and cousins Ashley and Andrew. Her "yellow" party featured a butterfly cake made with love by Myney.
2011 - Leading up to Anastasia's 5th birthday, Anastasia started reading on her own and she was named student of the month at school. Little girl proved herself an excellent traveler as we went to the Caribbean and Sweden. Ballet lessons, planting in the garden, and her first ride on a tilt-a-whirl (also Mommy's last ride on the teacups). We got crafty together for her slip 'n' slide birthday party and made personalized cupcake toppers, paper flowers, and other decorations.
2012 - On the way to 6, little girl took on chapter books and explored her love of animals. Easter in the Caribbean, a visit to the beach, and a few sad moments, too. We visited Texas when Papa Jack got sick. She learned to swim, and do somersaults underwater, and built up her confidence. Her birthday party featured painted birdhouses and a decorate your own cupcake bar.
2013 - This was the year that Anastasia's 6 year old portrait was painted. Summer vacation to Alaska, followed by a week in the North Woods of Wisconsin (she's a maniac on a jet ski), and a trip to the Jersey Shore. That was a full summer. Anastasia fell in love with Harry Potter and the Magic Tree House series. Her swimming went to a new level, and in the kitchen, she learned how to follow a recipe by herself. The bowling party with friends from school was a ton of fun for everyone.
2014 - This year, we will be celebrating with a birthday party in a few weeks. But today, little girl started third grade. In the past year, she has grown out of the shyness that seemed so powerful in the early years. She performed in a school play, danced the "Kingdom of Sweets" with her ballet class, and took pride in all of her academic accomplishments. Puzzle solver, budding engineer, avid reader, computer addict. I look forward to seeing what the next year will bring us.
