I made it through my teenage years without too much drama, at least outwardly. No yelling, sneaking out, silent treatment, fights with friends, or fights with my parents for that matter. I was lots of less than awesome things, but dramatic wasn't really one of them. And so when I'd get the "Girls are fun, but just wait til they're teenagers. SO MUCH DRAMA." winky comments when pregnant with Anna, I'd just smile and think to myself, we'll have to see I guess.

The great and frustrating thing about your own kids though is that they are not you. Figuring out who they are, while they are doing the same thing, and encouraging the best parts of those selves to come forward, is a tricky trick. It is sometimes so obvious they are different than you, but at other times you almost have to pause and literally tell yourself "Stop seeing her as a mini you.", and instead just watch and listen and let them be those differences. And while it's fun and great to have things you can and like to do together,  part of the adventure is letting them also show you so many new ways to be and things to like.

So far, some things about Anna that are similar to me:

• She loves Eric. So much. She can feel what a good person he is and we talk about him all the time when he's at work. She also thinks he is good at "making funny jokes", has strong muscles, and is the best Baba pretty much ever.
• She whole heartedly loves learning new things. She could (and we do) read mountains of books every single day.
• She feels and wants to make music. She loves listening to music in most any form, but particularly watching it live. And man she loves to dance. Which is something I did too as a child, and lost somewhere after I quit ballet in 6th grade. She's a fun and frequent reminder of how delightful it is to just move your body, in no particular or correct way, just because.
• She's always up for an adventure. She loves being outside, in the mountains, on walks, bike rides, picnics, or park visits. And she likes to have good snacks.

Some things that are not:

• She is quite social. I love watching her walk on up to new kids (or adults) at the park and start an interaction. Her little body clearly saying "Of course they are going to be nice, doing something fun, and want to play with/talk to me." Such actions are almost always met with a positive response, and so the behavior is reinforced and continued. 
• She does not like chocolate. Vanilla only please. And all the sugary sweet candy (smarties/skittles/nerds/suckers/in-other-words-the-gross-stuff) I'd always give to Colin after Halloween are her preference to anything chocolate.
• She thrives on a schedule and on having things a very particular way. True joy is found when she moves the little magnet on our preschool schedule from one completed activity to the next. Making a plan for the day each morning gets and keeps her in a good mood.
• She is incredibly sensitive, in all ways. She can sleep only under very specific circumstances and cannot watch shows in which anyone has a struggle or bad motives. She also notices and remembers minute details and names of people we've interacted with. A good "remembery", she calls it. Brilliant mind, I'm pretty sure.
• She is quite prone to dramatic outburst. We are already working on not slamming doors, overreacting,  speaking in unnecessary superlatives and ultimatums, and self calming techniques. Example: When helping her get ready for a nap this week, she had a complete meltdown, for the following reason: "But Mom I can't just sleep in this same bed over and over and over!!!!" Little clenched fists, real tears. 
• Drama in general, seems to be in her future, but possibly (hopefully) as a hobby and/or after school activity. For now, if she could act out the story (no details missed) of Cinderella five times each day, it wouldn't be enough. Wardrobe changes, accents and voices, very particular phrases, songs, and dances. I never want to play it again, but after months of at least once through daily, her eyes still sparkle when she asks "Mom, do you want to play Cinderella??" She sings. She makes faces for many many minutes in the mirror. She directs those around her. She loves it.