Anya: Year 4

Well child visit stats: Weight: 34 pounds (50%), height 39.5 inches (50%), BMI 15.3 (50%), BP: 95/54, hearing: pass, vision R 20/40, L 20/40, pulse: 93
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Yesterday Anya turned 4 for the very first and likely the last time.  This is our annual report on her.  Her progress, her temperament, her likes and dislikes.

Anya is very energetic.  Why walk when you could run is her motto (still).  When she's not running, she literally hops up and down in place until the opportunity to run once again presents itself.

She loves to eat and she does so constantly.  We are very fortunate that she is not a picky eater, but she starts asking for food as soon as her current meal makes it down her throat. 

She's very empathetic, perhaps too much so.  She's always running to help the "hurt cats" or the "poor dog", which basically means she manhandles them endlessly and probably makes any matters far worse then if she just left everyone alone.  But she's awfully sweet.

She has a very literal and scientific mind, she's crazy about dinosaurs, loves to talk about animals, and seems to have no suspension of disbelief.  For example, the other day we were in Hawaii, and saw Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  She didn't say, "Wow, there's Mickey and Minnie," she said, "There's people in those costumes".  She's also started asking how Peter, the Elf on the Shelf, can see through door nobs, and walls.  


She can count to 100 with very little help (she gets stuck sometimes going from 59 to 60, and 69 to 70).  She can read three to four letter words with no tricky stuff in them (just like her dad!), she could doubtlessly read much better if she wasn't so stubborn when we try to explain things to her. She can also write her name and other short words.

Yes Anya is very strong-willed.  She really doesn't like taking instruction or directions from anyone, especially us.  This makes it very difficult for us to teach her how to swim for instance, or how to read, cut with scissors, ride a bike, or anything else that doesn't come naturally or can't be accomplished with brute force.  

She has a remarkable memory. She still remembers Barbara, the woman who did our color consultation two years ago.  She also remembered some specific details about Judith, her photographer, from two years earlier (she had a bubble gun, and two cats).

Here is a breif interview I just performed with Anya. (Mom and Dad's opinions added as well)

What do you want to be when your grow up?:
A Dentist, because I want to help people when they get a cavity. It's bad because cavities get really bigger.
Zoologist (mom)
Medical something or other (dad)


Who are your favorite friends:

• Eva
• Javier
• Eloise
• Riley
• Flynn
• Noelle (mom)

What are your favorite places?: 

• Hawaii, because Andrea is there.
• Seattle, because I like to see Byron and Susan there.
• Any beach (mom)
• Any place where there are animals, especially the zoo (mom)
• Any place she can climb or jump (mom)
• Burke Museum (dad)

What are your favorite things to do?:

• Go to the State Fair
• Go to the pool with Javier, Elloise and Eva
• Go to the jumpy house (dad)
• Go see Grandma and Grandpa (dad)
• Explore outside (mom)
• Arts and Crafts (mom)
• Dressing up (mom)
• Playing board games (mom)
• Harass the cats (dad)

What are your favorite things: 

• Elephant (her lovey)
• iPad
• Laika
• The cats
• Any trampoline (dad)
• Any creature-including bugs (mom)

What are your favorite foods:

• Pizza (Peperoni preferred)
• Bagels
• Indian
• Thai
• Sushi
• Fruit (mom)
• Deli Meats (dad)

Favorite Movies: 

• Tangled 
• Land Before Time (the whole dang series of 11 or so)
• Despicable Me (mom)
• Toy Story 3 (mom)

Best Qualities?:

• I have 100 energy
• I'm funny.
• Compassionate (mom)
• Strong willed (good and bad) (mom and dad)
• Questions things (mom and dad)
• Physically agile (mom) 

We look forward to what the next year brings.