Char-char,
No, that is not a nickname that your daddy and I came up with; it is your very own invention and the way you most commonly refer to yourself with a proud smile on your face. We still prefer to call you Charlotte or Charli, but in the end you will ultimately decide what you want to be called anyway! We just hope you don't take a page out of your aunt's playbook and insist on changing the spelling of your name (to something like "Charlytte") while in high school ; )
Gone are the days of monthly blog updates from your first year of life; at the pace you are moving now, we are doing well to document your quarterly developments... and what a fast-paced quarter these last three months have been! You can now kick a soccer ball while running full speed ahead, jump with both feet lifted off the ground, and you have figured out how to climb out of the crib (!) These are the days when we are most proud and yet sometimes overwhelmed [in the best way possible] by being your parents! You keep us on our toes for sure, little lady.
You continue to LOVE being around people, especially other kids. You have an obsession with "babies!" and wanted to know the name of every single baby that graced the front of beautiful Christmas cards that we received from friends and family. In fact, our display of holiday cards remains hanging in our kitchen because you love looking at them every time you sit beneath them in your high chair. Your favorite weekly activities include Rhythm Babies at our local library [where the librarians all know your name] and Story Time [where you interrupted the story teller to "pound it"- give a fist bump - to him and every other child and parent in the audience]! Your favorite kids to be around are still your cousins, though, and if you aren't with them, you are asking about them. We love how much you love people and are energized by being around both kids and adults.
Along with your spunky side, your sweet side has really been highlighted in the past few months. Most of it has to do with the fact that you now tell us regularly "yuv you!" which is the sweetest sound to a parent's ears. You are becoming more and more affectionate with lots of hugs and kisses to your friends and family. We love that you are so secure that you don't cry when we leave you with family, a babysitter, or in the church nursery. You simply say "Hug. Kiss." and then wave "bye-bye" as you run towards the next fun activity.
We aren't sure what happened to our baby girl who boycotted sleep for the first NINE months of her life... but something changed, and we are SO grateful! You somehow decided that you LOVE sleep now, especially at night. You ask to go to bed pretty consistently between 6 and 7pm and sleep 12-13 hours at night without waking *Momma ducks as some of her other parent friends throw things at her right now* It is not unusual for you to go over to your crib when you're tired, grab your paci and lovey, and say "night-night." Most nights, you still love to be rocked, but sometimes you simply ask for "bed, okay?" Sleep is a good, good thing...for all of us :)
You can throw a temper tantrum with the best of toddlers, and we have carried you kicking and screaming away from the park (your happy place) and other public venues. It is actually neat to watch you test your boundaries and limits because we know you are just exploring your world, but we have implemented our own "mini-timeout" with you, for times that you are clearly being disobedient. This consists of having you sit down with arms folded (so that you will actually be still for a moment), and we count slowly to ten out loud... Needless to say, you know your numbers from 1-10 quite well by now ; ) At the end of ten seconds, you often turn on the charm and say some combination of "Sweeeeeet. Obey. Patient. Kind. Okay!" ... which are words we've focused on but that you put together on your own as if it is a sentence. We can't help but be smiling by the end.
Best of all, you are a joyful, happy girl! Sometimes you spontaneously get the giggles for no apparent reason, and you crack yourself up for 20 minutes at a time; of course, we are uncontrollably laughing before long too. Anytime we turn into our driveway (in the car or from a run) you get so excited and say "HOME! Dogs! Treat! Button! [garage door button that you like to push] Knock!" in the order that has now become your routine every single time we get home. We love that you are so happy to come home, every time.
We love you, sweet Charli-girl! You are a bright spot in our day, every single day!
Love,
Momma and Daddy
No, that is not a nickname that your daddy and I came up with; it is your very own invention and the way you most commonly refer to yourself with a proud smile on your face. We still prefer to call you Charlotte or Charli, but in the end you will ultimately decide what you want to be called anyway! We just hope you don't take a page out of your aunt's playbook and insist on changing the spelling of your name (to something like "Charlytte") while in high school ; )
Gone are the days of monthly blog updates from your first year of life; at the pace you are moving now, we are doing well to document your quarterly developments... and what a fast-paced quarter these last three months have been! You can now kick a soccer ball while running full speed ahead, jump with both feet lifted off the ground, and you have figured out how to climb out of the crib (!) These are the days when we are most proud and yet sometimes overwhelmed [in the best way possible] by being your parents! You keep us on our toes for sure, little lady.
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| Daddy's boots |
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| Momma's running shoes |
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| Look out, world...she's a crazy driver! |
You continue to LOVE being around people, especially other kids. You have an obsession with "babies!" and wanted to know the name of every single baby that graced the front of beautiful Christmas cards that we received from friends and family. In fact, our display of holiday cards remains hanging in our kitchen because you love looking at them every time you sit beneath them in your high chair. Your favorite weekly activities include Rhythm Babies at our local library [where the librarians all know your name] and Story Time [where you interrupted the story teller to "pound it"- give a fist bump - to him and every other child and parent in the audience]! Your favorite kids to be around are still your cousins, though, and if you aren't with them, you are asking about them. We love how much you love people and are energized by being around both kids and adults.
 |
| Story time with friends! |
 |
| Roadtrip to Tulsa to visit "Aunt" Danielle |
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| Zoo day with the boys |
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| Girl cousins! |
Along with your spunky side, your sweet side has really been highlighted in the past few months. Most of it has to do with the fact that you now tell us regularly "yuv you!" which is the sweetest sound to a parent's ears. You are becoming more and more affectionate with lots of hugs and kisses to your friends and family. We love that you are so secure that you don't cry when we leave you with family, a babysitter, or in the church nursery. You simply say "Hug. Kiss." and then wave "bye-bye" as you run towards the next fun activity.
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| Valentine's Day with some of your favorites! |
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| BFF |
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| Momma's little Valentine (and our typical blurry selfie) |
We aren't sure what happened to our baby girl who boycotted sleep for the first NINE months of her life... but something changed, and we are SO grateful! You somehow decided that you LOVE sleep now, especially at night. You ask to go to bed pretty consistently between 6 and 7pm and sleep 12-13 hours at night without waking *Momma ducks as some of her other parent friends throw things at her right now* It is not unusual for you to go over to your crib when you're tired, grab your paci and lovey, and say "night-night." Most nights, you still love to be rocked, but sometimes you simply ask for "bed, okay?" Sleep is a good, good thing...for all of us :)
 |
| Clean baby in a bathrobe |
You can throw a temper tantrum with the best of toddlers, and we have carried you kicking and screaming away from the park (your happy place) and other public venues. It is actually neat to watch you test your boundaries and limits because we know you are just exploring your world, but we have implemented our own "mini-timeout" with you, for times that you are clearly being disobedient. This consists of having you sit down with arms folded (so that you will actually be still for a moment), and we count slowly to ten out loud... Needless to say, you know your numbers from 1-10 quite well by now ; ) At the end of ten seconds, you often turn on the charm and say some combination of "Sweeeeeet. Obey. Patient. Kind. Okay!" ... which are words we've focused on but that you put together on your own as if it is a sentence. We can't help but be smiling by the end.
 |
| Ornery and sweet all at the same time |
Best of all, you are a joyful, happy girl! Sometimes you spontaneously get the giggles for no apparent reason, and you crack yourself up for 20 minutes at a time; of course, we are uncontrollably laughing before long too. Anytime we turn into our driveway (in the car or from a run) you get so excited and say "HOME! Dogs! Treat! Button! [garage door button that you like to push] Knock!" in the order that has now become your routine every single time we get home. We love that you are so happy to come home, every time.
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| Your happy place...the park! |
We love you, sweet Charli-girl! You are a bright spot in our day, every single day!
Love,
Momma and Daddy
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| Best buds |
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