Yes or No?

My Dearest Charlotte,

It has been several months since I wrote to you and you are the reason why - you are so busy! When I first found out I was having another girl I was very excited because I thought I would have a sweet little girl that would cuddle, sit quietly, and be my little buddy. Well, you are sweet! Ha! You love to move and shake, you have an opinion and a personality and while you are my little buddy, you are also your own self. You have a stubborn streak that loves to get what you want and you don't like being told no. I think you will go far in life because you know what you want and are willing to fight tooth and nail to get it! It is a wonderful trait for a young woman, but as a baby it makes me want to pull my hair out! You are an individual and I am so grateful for your spunk.

You have learned to shake your head yes or no to questions. At first we thought you just did it whenever you wanted, not really in answer, but that slowly changed. Now you say yes or no food, whether you want a bath, go for a walk, play with a toy, which book to read. You have an opinion about everything. It is a wonderful stage because I know exactly what you want and you are very happy to let us know! It is challenging when what you want is not what I can give you, such as breakable glasses, your sister's favorite toy she is playing with, or running into on coming traffic. Yes you do love to run!

I can't wait to see what this year holds for you because I can already tell you are going to take on life head on and you won't let anything stand in your way, especially not mommy, daddy, or Ella!

I love you my sweet child.
Mommy

My Little One Year Old

Dear Charlotte,

This birthday post is a little late, as with most things these days! You keep me on my toes constantly and for that I am grateful.

You turned one a few weeks ago and it was a whirlwind of presents, family, and milestones for you! On your first birthday we woke up and had birthday pancakes - pancakes with sprinkles and whipped cream. You loved them and ate TWO pancakes all on your own! For your birthday we got you a glow lady bug so that you would have a night light in your room, a baby doll which you picked out at the toy store, and some clothes. You had a good time pulling them out of bags while Ella instructed you what to do once you got them. We then took you out to dinner to Red Robin where you had a yummy macaroni and cheese and french fry dinner. You had a fun time playing and laughing at the table.

We came home and you were exhausted so you went to bed early!

A few days later we left for your birthday part in Spokane! There were over 50 people who came to celebrate you and it was so much fun. I had a "vintage rose" theme and you ate cake and crawled all over the room being careful to avoid anyone but Mommy or Grandma Nancy who would try to pick you up!

Soon after your birthday you started walking! You still aren't sure about it and you only like to do it every so often, but you can do and it is adorable!

The words that you can say just keep growing. Right now you can say Mom, Mommy, Momma, Dadda, Daddy, Ella, Mine, No, Done, Yes, Baby, That, This, and you said Horse yesterday! Crazy! You like to babble and sing and your favorite song is Let it Go from Frozen. You can sing Let it Go over and over!

It makes me so excited to thing of all the things you have done and will continue to do. You are a sweet and crazy little girl that likes to do your own thing. You have a stubborn streak and do not like to be told no. I hope that you continue to be a strong spirited little girl but always keep the sweet side of you that likes to crawl into my lap and give me kisses. You have grown so much.

Love you!
Mommy

Charlotte at the lake and the ocean

My dear little Charlotte,

This summer has been an adventure for you! You went to both lake cabins - Twin Lakes and Deer Lake and then we headed to the ocean! It was fun and exhausting. You were not enthused with the water, but did taste a little sand despite mom's best effort to keep it away. You didn't mind the car ride too much, but you did mind other people holding you that you didn't know. You aren't much a fan of strangers. That's okay by me right now but I do hope you learn to grow some wings and make new friends and try new challenges. I didn't push going in the water with you, but I will one day because the water is a special place where you can be free.

Here are some photos from you trips. You are my little baby, always and forever, and I am so happy that I got to spend these days with you!

Love you my sweet Charlotte,

Love Mommy

Army Crawls, No sleep, and Other Baby News

Dear Charlotte,

You have been army crawling for a while now. It is absolutely hilarious and you love every moment of your freedom! We have to gate the top of the stairs because you are very much bent on trying to fling yourself down them. You also like to crawl up and down the hallway. You could do it all day if I let you and if your sweet little knees could handle it!

You also had food for the first time and very loudly told us that you did not like it. Ha! You don't like "baby" food but will eat all kinds of "big kid" food like chicken, toast, eggs, oatmeal, rice crispies. It is fun but kind of scary to watch you eat so many big things! Here is the video of your first taste of food. It cracks me up every single time!

You don't like to sleep which has been a problem since you were born. In the hospital you would just stare at me all wide eyed and not sleepy. The nurses thought it was strange, I thought it was strange, and you have carried on with the no sleeping into your eight months with us. Now it is accompanied by screams and thrashing around. Hooray. I would very much like for you to sleep. It is just a little hint.

We took you on an airplane for the first time in June. You went to Las Vegas! You, just like mommy, did not care for it. What can I say, the loud casinos and hot dry heat are not our thing. Oh well, we survived and you slept the whole time no the plane so it was wonderful! People thought you were the sweetest little thing!

All dressed up for the wedding mommy was in!

First Airplane Ride!

Baby at the Tropicana Hotel

All of these fun adventures happened between May and June! It was a very busy time for you and you grew and changed so much! We were excited to take you on your first plane ride, to feed you some super yummy (though you didn't believe us) food, and to watch you learn to crawl. There is no stopping you now!

Love you!
Mommy

Chompers!

Dear Charlotte,

Ella didn't get teeth until close to one year. As is holding true about you, you are bound and determined to be different! You got teeth at five months! That's right! You cut your first tooth at five months and shortly after another one popped up. I am going to be honest, you hate teething. You were a little grump for weeks before and we weren't sure what was going on! You took us by surprise when you chomped on my finger at dinner one day and there it was! The most sweet little pearly tooth poking out.

You love to chew and slobber and your newest thing is to scream like a pterodactyl.  Daddy calls you Terry because of it. Your have a very sweet personality, but also love to cry and scream when you aren't happy. Very emotional! You smile and giggle and your favorite person in the whole world is Ella. You light up when she comes near you and it is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. I hope as you grow you both continue to love each other as much as you do at this very moment. I never had a sister and seeing the two of you makes me realize just how much I missed out on. Ella calls you "my baby" and kisses you and hugs you every morning when you get up.

You are my sweet baby and each day you remind me of just how much I love you. It is like you shine when you smile and it melts my heart. Now if you could learn to sleep...

Love you,
Mommy

Five months already!

Dear Charlotte,

I'm sorry I haven't written in a while, but you keep me on my toes! You are snuggler that loves to be held and if I have to put you down you give me this hurt look and start crying giant tears. It breaks my heart. Sometimes I just sit with you on the couch and watch you sleeping. It is the sweetest and most calm thing and I wish I could bottle it and take a daily dose for the rest of my life.

At five months you giggle out of control, smile, roll from front back, reach for me and things, and are still not sleeping through the night. Often you are up three or four times and I just have to hold you until you can get back to sleep. The strange thing is that people ask if you sleep through the night and give me sad looks when I say no, but I don't really mind it. I don't really mind anything because I know it won't last. I know soon you will be able to crawl away from me and then hobble, then run and soon you won't want me to hold you while you sleep or tickle your little toes. You will want to run full force into life and leave me behind. So when I get up in the middle of the night I just hold you a little tighter. I don't want to let you go. I just want to hold on to you forever.

These past five months haven't been easy but they have been so special to me. I am blessed to have a sweet little baby that loves me more than anything. I know it won't last but I'll keep these little bits of you in my heart forever.

Love you,
Momma

And she rolls!

Dear Charlotte,

You are three months old and you just rolled from back to belly. Stop growing up! While I love the fact that you are smart and strong and capable, a little part of me cries when you meet these milestones.  I want to keep you small and tiny for just a little longer. I want to be able to cuddle you and tickle your little ears and kiss your sweet cheeks and the more you breeze through these milestones the more I know you won't stay like this forever.

At three months you giggle and smile whenever we look at you. You absolutely adore your sister. If you are crying and she comes up to you it is like you light up inside! It is amazing to watch my first baby love my second baby and see how much you love and look up to her. You aren't able to play with her yet, but you like to sit and watch her constantly. I know it is only a matter of time before you will be right there with her coloring and pretending.

Please try to slow down just a little, if only for your mommy's sake. You are my sweet tiny baby and I want to hold on to you just a little tighter and just a little longer because I know it won't last forever.

All my love,

Mommy