Ana is SIX

Now I am Six.
I'm as clever as clever.

I think I'll be Six now forever and ever.

   -from The End by A.A. Milne

You on Being You:

3 words that describe you? Cute, smart, creative

What do you want to be when you grow up? An artist

What is your favorite thing about school? Recess and PMK

What can people do to make the world a better place? Pick up litter

Favorite color: pink

Favorite song: "Here in my House"

Favorite poem:  "30 days" because it's easy; "Give me the Sun" (Whitman) because I just really love how the poet wrote the poem. It's really beautiful.

Favorite book: Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Favorite animal: turtles

I'm good at paying attention and monkey bars.

Your teachers tell me you are a leader, a sought-after playmate, adept at interpreting complex passages of text, even to your 1st and 2nd grade classmates...and what makes me most proud: You are sunny, happy, and LOVE learning.  A joy to teach.  On the day of the Thanksgiving celebration, your teacher, who is not prone to sentimentality, squeezed my arm and said, "Thank you.  THANK YOU.  For Ana."  Oh, if I could take credit for you...but you are just your own unique person.  And to whom can I say Thank you.  THANK YOU.  for you?
My dear, you fascinate me. Each step of this journey, I see you making connections, forming questions, establishing your values, questioning what you've been told, striving to fit in, demanding justices big and small...all the while loving the tickles between your toes, the kisses on your kissing spots (don't call them moles, or you get REALLY mad), the beauty of language, and the joys of creating relationships.  I watch you, and I wonder what you're thinking...and before I can get carried away by my thoughts, you mount the monkey bars and hang upside down and call to your friends down below, smiling with gummy holes.  I can't help but tell you that you are lovely, lovely at least once a day, and that I love you, love you each time we meet or part.  And while you are Oh So Six, and pushing limits, questioning, negotiating, fixating, and fitting, you are so remarkably kind, thoughtful, giving, and optimistic.  I know that your heart will be your beacon, and guide you in tough spots.  You are a champion of the underdog, and always expect and relish those happy endings...

You love making connections--studying Japan + Japanese strangers at Fulton Street =new friends (Mom, can we take a picture with them?  They were such good sports!)

You love having your teeth fall out!  Here you are minus two on the bottom row.  You've lost the bottom two, and the front top ones are loose!!

Your brothers are your loves, driving you mad while being your best friends at the same time.  Elliot and you play so nicely together...and when you thought a neighborhood boy was teasing him, he got your 6 year-old cold shoulder...even though he was 10.  Oliver is your baby.  You join Daddy and me in enjoying his silly moments, you save him from peril several times a day, and tickle his rolls while being swallowed up in his smile.  You have so much love to give, and you love your family, and family life. 

Is it too early to think about having "the talk?" and taking you to New York on a girls weekend?  And wiping your tears when some jerk has broken your sweet heart?  Yes, it is too early.  I think I'll just log off this thing, and go kiss you on your tummy, while it's still the same color and softness of tortilla dough before we make baleadas.  I'm in love with you. And while I can't believe you are that same little baby with a shock of black spikey hair who we fed from our finger those first few days, each day together feels like a part of that same crazy wonderful miracle.  Thank you for just being you.