We’re sitting here on a Sunday night in our living room with decaf coffees in hand, catching up on missed shows on the DVR.  The dog is snuggled up by my legs and the warm glow of the laptop reflects our warm, happy glow.  I keep looking up and Greyson and we smile.  We just spent the weekend celebrating Charlotte’s 2nd birthday.  We were so busy I failed at my goal of posting every day in November for NaBloPoMo.  Oh well.  I don’t care.  We had that much fun.  

The fabulous Brooke from Brooke Wolfe Photography took pictures at the party.  I will post them soon!  Check out her site and like her on Facebook.  She is a doll, I love her!  The photos in the post are Instagram pics for now.  

I didn’t write this on Charlotte’s actual birthday, November 2nd, so I’m writing it now.  

Dear Charlotte,

You woke up the morning of your 2nd birthday grinning and giggling in your crib.  Daddy and I came upstairs to greet you together.  I was able to take the day off and Daddy took a half-day.  For a week you have been practicing.  You say, “Happy Birfday Chalatte!”  Even when we discussed what you would say on Halloween when you went to neighbors’ doors you said, “Happy Birfday Chalatte!”  We laughed and taught you how to say “Trick-or-Treat!”  We ask you how old you are and you say, “Two!”  We are not certain you’re a genius, but we think you’re pretty close anyway.

We came downstairs and you saw your tricycle.  You knew exactly what to do.  You hopped right out of Daddy’s arms and went straight for your trike.  You said, “Abby hat!” When you saw your helmet.  After breakfast when you got back on your tricycle you asked for your “hemet!”  You had your tricycle for all of 10 minutes before you flipped forward over the handlebars.  Fortunately you had your “Abby hemet” on and only cried a little after the initial scary “boom.”   You got up, and got right back on.  That is you in a nutshell, Charlotte, determined.

I spent the whole day soaking you up and taking in your “twoness”.  You are at an age where I’m amazed by everything you do and everything you’re learning.  Some time in the past year our little baby grew into a little person.  You have thoughts, feelings, ideas, opinions, and wants.  You repeat and remember things.  Your speech has exploded in recent months.  You can name your friends in your class.  Your teachers say you are excellent with your artwork, songs, and flashcards.  The other day you remembered your friend Jackson’s name starts with “J”.

Your list of loves is long.  You love coloring with your crayons, stickers, blocks, your baby dolls, your new Little People farm and truck, and you LOVE books.  You want us to read to you constantly.  When we’re not reading to you, you flip through books yourself.  We hear you point to pictures and “read.”  Sesame Street is still your favorite and captures your imagination.  The gang on Sesame Street are all your buddies.  You call them by name and run to any image of them you see.

We haven’t had your 2-year-old well appointment yet, but I think you’re about 23 lbs.  You are small compared to your friends, but you are mighty.  You still fit comfortably in your size 18 mo. clothes.  Anything 24mos. or 2T is too big.  There are even some old 12 mos. sizes you can squeak by wearing.  You are Little Miss Tiny Feet with your size 5 shoes.  You have a great appetite.  You love bananas, eggs, tomatoes, apples, yogurt, cheese, and pizza the most.  Lately you have wanted to drink without a lid like a “big kid.”  You love your daily gummy vitamin and you make me brush my teeth along with you every night.  Your hair is thick and falls in curly waves.  It is light brown with slight blond highlights.  Everyone who sees you comments on your big blue eyes.

You have quite the personality.  You are fearless.  I have seen you attempt to hang off playground equipment and dive head first into a bouncy castle full of kids twice your size.  You love your friends in your class, but do have a tendency to boss them around a bit.  You are headstrong and defend yourself with a hair pull or a hit.  We have been putting you in Time-Out for that behavior and you are getting better.  There are many times, though, that you hurry to comfort a crying friend in your class or give your teachers a high-five.

We are so proud of you!  You make our world so much better and we love watching the person you are becoming.  I’m so excited for the next year and all that being 2 brings.

I love you, my darling, darling girl.

Love,

Mama