Call Her the Breeze

I cannot believe that my little girl is starting second grade tomorrow!  It just does not seem possible.  Surely we should be starting kindergarten, or even first grade?  There's just no way she's pushing eight.

Five words to describe her right now are headstrong, repetitive, compassionate, demanding, and playful.  Alli's favorite foods remain steadfast - she consumes a healthy rotation of chicken nuggets, corndogs, and cottage cheese.  Her favorite show right now is Phineas and Ferb.

She is constantly malcontent with Ryan and I - always wanting more, something else for dinner, and someone to play with her.  She wants to know what's next and is never content with what's right now - I think she gets that from her mama...

She's incredibly smart and funny, almost making you double take with her quick wit.  She remembers things verbatim after the first time she hears them, and she loves to see the same movies over and over.  She is always acting out some TV show she's seen, putting her own spin on it.

She is excellent at Uno and almost cruel while playing it.  Every card she lays down in preceded by a "You look like you could draw two." or "How about we skip you?"  Ryan and I are each so thankful when reverses keep her from going before us.

She is absolutely baby crazy.  It doesn't matter if it's a baby monkey, a baby bird, or a baby baby.  She wants to see them all and she gets the silliest high pitched voice when she talks to them.  I'm eternally dragging her away from perfect strangers and their small children.  Part of this is because she's above and beyond the most compassionate person I know.  She kisses boo boos, she gets bandaids, she hugs, and she comforts.  She's definitely the person you want around when you are blue.  She will stroke your cheek and tell you it's all okay.

She's my little tomboy!  She loves all colors, but she's really drawn to orange and blue right now.  Her having bows in her hair in the above pictures is a miracle.  She doesn't mind being girly, but she really doesn't have time for it.

Seriously - this kid is the light of my and her daddy's life, and we can't imagine a time without her.  Best wishes for a wonderful second grade, Allison Bryanne!!