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

Baby Snuggles & Girl Night

Dear Charlotte,

Yesterday we cuddled on the couch and it occurred to me that you will one day grow up and not want to cuddle. You are a little cuddle bug and love to fall asleep in the crook of my arm. You snuggle right up and then you are gone to dream land. I love it so much and I hope that this phase lasts longer with you than it did with your sister.

Yesterday was also your very first Cooking Club with my girlfriends. I hosted at our house because I wasn't sure how you would do with having to be up later than normal. I sat you in the car seat in the kitchen so you could see us and you sat there for two hours smiling and kicking your feet happy as can be! It was like you knew it was a Girl's Night and you were enjoying the entire experience. You are just the happiest little baby and everyone kept commenting on how sweet and calm you were the entire time!

I'm so happy that you are happy!

Love you!
Mommy

Two Months!

Dear Charlotte,

You are two months old now and I have to say you are wonderful! We started out a little rocky, you were new here after all, but now we are rocking this whole Mommy-Charlotte thing. We nurse like a champ and are sleeping wonderfully at night. Sure you have your ups and downs and you really hate when I have to stop cuddling you to do other things...like feed myself...but other than that you are doing so good.

You can lift your head almost 90 degrees off the floor when we do tummy time, you smile a lot, especially when you are on the changing table. It is so much fun watching you grow and change and make little baby noises.

You are still getting used to your sister. I have a feeling this will be a life-long challenge for you because she is loud and rambunctious and so in love with you that she attacks you. She loves giving you kisses and hugs and she especially loves to do them when you are sound asleep. Did I mention you hate to be woken up? Yeah, not the best combo!

Needless to say you are a sweet and very patient little girl and I am falling more and more in love with you everyday.

Love you,
Mommy

Sleeping and Other Things...

Dear Charlotte,

Mommy would very much appreciate if you would sleep at night. Yes...I know that sounds very hard for you, but most people sleep when it is dark out and are awake when it is light out. You like to stay up until after 2am and cry and cry and cry. It is very hard on your Dad and I because we like to sleep. I know you are new here and just learning how things work, so I thought I'd give you a little tip on this one.

In other news, you can hold your head up all on your own! You can do it when you are sitting up in my arms or when you are on the floor on your tummy. You like to look around and your sister and I get down too and cheer you on! Way to go! Such a strong little thing!

We got your birth announcements in the mail the other day and sent them out to everyone so they can see just how sweet you are! Here is a peek at them:

We had your pictures done by a family friend so that I could remember how tiny you were and the way you looked. You grow so fast and change everyday, that these photos are forever special to me.

Okay, that is all for now, but remember - SLEEP AT NIGHT!

Love you,
Mommy

Welcome to the World my Baby!

Dear Charlotte.

You are just over a week old today and your first week has been a crazy one! Grandma Connie came over the day you were born and just made it in time to watch your sister. I wasn't feeling well all day and had a doctor's appointment where they told me you might be here soon. After several hours I started to feel contractions and we headed to the hospital. I was in labor for a little over four hours and then you came into the world full of life and had a lot to tell us! You were screaming and pink and perfect and I got to spend an entire hour just holding and snuggling you before anyone else could hold you. It was so special and so wonderful to feel your little body and touch your nose, ears, hands, and feet.

You were born at 12:21 am, so one week, four days, and 21 minutes late. Perfection is worth the wait I guess!

We came home that Wednesday and we had a wonderful day of you sleeping and making sweet baby noises. That night you decided you were done being sweet and sleeping so you cried all night. In fact, you cry most nights. It is a little exhausting and combined with your sister waking up early Mommy and Daddy and very tired.

Your sister loves you very much. She always asks where Baby Charlotte is and gets worried when you cry. She will be a great friend to you and I hope that you grow close as you grow up and that you become the best of sisters. It is such a gift to have a sister, and Ella is truly a wonderful soul to have near.

Right now you are sleeping in the swing. Enjoying some quiet time with mommy before your sister gets home from daycare. My little baby, you may be my last baby. That makes me both sad and excited because that means you are my baby forever. My little gift that even though we had a rough start we are forever each other's. My sweet baby - you are my heart. I have loved you from the moment I knew you were mine and the second I held you I knew that you were special. I'm so excited for all that you will do in this life.

Love,
Your Mommy

To My Daughter

Dear Charlotte,

I am sitting here waiting for you to come. You are due in six days and I would love for you to come at any moment! I can't wait to meet you, hold you, and see your sweet little face.

It hasn't been an easy journey with you. Momma was very sick for the first few months together. It was hard and exhausting, but worth it to be able to bring your sweet soul into this world! I am excited to see this little life that caused so much havoc on my life!

Your Daddy and I went around and around on names. Mommy was set on Diana but Daddy held strong and finally convinced me that Charlotte was the right name. You can thank him if you hate Diana...ha!

Please hurry and join your family. Your big sister Ella has been talking to you and rubbing my belly trying to coax you out to play. At first you won't be able to join her, but soon you will be running and jumping right a long with her. She will be a good big sister, and I'm sure you will be a good little sister. It is very special you will have a sister. I never had one and feel that your journey in this world will be so much better having a friend to share memories and secrets. Just remember to include Mommy sometimes!

All my love,
Momma