Our Tender-Hearted Hannah

Joanna is 12 years younger than I am, so I remember when she was a baby. One of the things that was notable about her baby years was a period of time when she would cry about anything. In particular, slow and sad music did her in every time. Her crib played lullabies, which of course soothe most kids, but poor baby Joanna just burst into tears every time she heard the music.  She eventually grew out of that particular phase, but probably anyone in our family would say that she is, even today, the most tender-hearted person we know.  Very sweet and loving and caring, but still the most likely person in our extended family to cry in an emotional situation.  It's one of the many things I love about her, as I think it's a positive trait and indicative of her true heart.  Well, if that's somehow hereditary, we know who else got that trait: little Hannah.  For the past few months, Hannah will cry at the drop of a hat.  Possibly literally.  Like if you dropped a hat, she might be distressed about why it happened and what we might do about it that she would cry (I haven't actually tried this, but it seems plausible).  But if you look at her the wrong way, or even if you say something totally innocent and in a super-sweet and pleasant voice like, "Hannah, maybe you'd like to play with the cars instead of the trucks" she often starts crying, as if you'd just scolded and insulted her.  In particular at dinner, I tend to be the problem.  Sometimes we'll have her try a new food, and she and I will make eye contact, and I'll say something encouraging like, "Mmmm, is that yummy chicken?" and then any remaining happiness will drain from her face, and she'll stare at me, and then after what seems like forever but is probably only 5 or 10 seconds, she'll start crying.  It's as if she has to think about it, but the decision always seems to be the same.  Tonight we had a similar incident, though not about food.  On the left she was normal happy Hannah.  Then toward the end of dinner, after the bib was off but before she got down, someone said something, and she was then in tears, as you can see on the right.  She's actually starting to get over it, so maybe this phase is about over.  It's cute in a way, but I'd gladly give it up if it means she has a lot less sadness in her life.