Dear Charlotte,

When someone asks how old you are, you proudly announce, “I’m two!”  This is usually accompanied by you holding up your thumb and pointer finger instead of your pointer and middle finger.  I hear Europeans start finger counts with the thumb, and thus you show two on your hands like an English or French child.  Daddy and are proud of your worldliness with this display.  Way to go kiddo!  Excuse me, Manière d’aller kiddo !

Today you are officially 2-and-a-half.  I don’t know if I want to tell you that for fear that you will stop shouting “I’m two!” These last six months of having you as a two-year-old has been wonderful!  Two has brought discovery.  You have discovered what you like and what you strongly dislike.  You notice everything now!  Everyday you learn something new or ask another question.  Just the other day in the car we talked about the traffic lights and how they turn green and red.  You shout, “Schoo Bus!” whenever you see one.

You adore your friends and talk about them all the time.  You name every kid in your class and talk about them with affection.  Today you even hugged each one before we left.  They all shout “Bye Chalette!” When you leave.  Two-year-old’s love to shout I’ve learned.  With this adoration of your peers comes fierce competitiveness.  You are not one to be pushed around by other toddlers and will vehemently defend yourself with a returned shove.  Sharing and being nice are things you and your friends work on daily.

You still love Sesame Street but your interests have expanded.  Any book or toy with Mickey Mouse is a favorite because of the hit TV preschool show “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.”  If Daddy and I are being honest, it makes us want to drive nails through our skulls, but you love it.  Being an ever growing girly-girl you have discovered princesses and adore any book or movie with a princess.  I am weary of too much princess because of the messages that can send little girls, but I like the newer princesses in today’s movies.  Besides, your favorite princess is now my favorite too.  You love Rapunzel from “Tangled.” I mean, LOVE her!   You talk about how brave and kind Rapunzel is all the time.  I like the “Tangled” story and I’m okay with your fanaticism.  I try not to get tired of singing the song from the movie in the car over and over to you.  I know it won’t be long until you ask for some other song and I’ll miss the “Rapunzel song.”

You love your baby dolls, blocks, books, balls, kitchen set, trains, dress-up clothes and games.  You are on the move all the time.  Sometimes we can’t keep up.  You have improved identifying your colors and shapes.  I can tell your fine motor skills are getting better and better when you color and play blocks.  You are more adventurous with your food, trying new things that Daddy and I like to eat.  We’re proud of how many fruits and vegetables you love.  Sometimes we just have to tell you that “Rapunzel likes green beans” to get you to eat something.  It makes Daddy and I laugh.

The potty is still a daily learning experience, but I have a feeling you will turn the corner soon.  Especially as it gets closer to when the new baby will be born.

In the morning I ask you what you dreamed about.  It’s  always the same answer, “I dweamed about my baby sister!  She took a nap wiff me!”  That’s when my heart melts and I want to bottle you up at 2-and-a-half forever.

I love you, my darling, darling girl.

Love,

Mama

Hold her a little longer.

Rock her a little more.

Tell her another story.

(You’ve only told her four.)

Let her sleep on your shoulder.

Rejoice in her happy smile.

She’s only two-and-a-half

for such a little while. 

-Author Unknown

This week I sort of geeked out over 12-12-12. All the other matching dates in this past decade were cool. I mean, who could forget lucky 07-07-07? This year was different because it’s likely the last triple date we’ll have in our lifetime. It will be 01-01-01 again on January 1, 2101, but that is 89 years away. With advances in modern science I could envision living to the extremely ripe old age of 120, but it’s unlikely. Another 12-12-12 is out of the question for me.

But, not for my daughter. She could live to see it.

Upon this realization I stopped and prayed. I prayed to God my baby would live 100 more years to see the next 12-12-12 on December 12, 2112. I prayed she would celebrate her 102nd birthday the month before, surrounded by her Great-Great Grandchildren. I imagined myself as a stunningly beautiful 131-year-old angel looking down from heaven. I’d watch her wheel up to her birthday cake in a super space age wheelchair she controls with her brain. I envisioned a 22nd century Willard Scott-like person wishing her a “Happy Birthday” on whatever medium has replaced television. She will regale her posterity with stories of her silly mother who typed out tales of her child’s life on an ancient computer. I will smile and laugh at my baby turning 102.

Even as a centenarian she will still be my baby.

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

Dear Charlotte,

Happy 18 months!  Daddy and I spent today in disbelief that you are 1 1/2.  For your entire first year I wrote you a letter every month.  I’m kicking myself for not continuing that into your second year.  That’s okay though, I’m doing one now.

The past 6 months have been pure joy.  You have grown so fast and learned so much.  You transitioned into the Waddler (Young Toddler) class at school. You grew lots of teeth with much more grace than I would have, if bone were pushing through my soft tissue.  (ouch!)  You cracked 20 pounds.  You walk faster, steadier and sometimes break out into a little run that makes Daddy and I simultaneously laugh and panic that you will run into something.  You can now climb on to the toddler playground equipment and up on the couch.

Oh my dare devil girl!  Is there anything you fear?

Daddy and I have realized you have no idea that you are little.  Whether at the park or at school, you like to run with the big kids.  You watch them and do what they do.  I’ve seen you at the local kids’ museum bolt head-first into a crowd of ball-throwing 6 to 10 year-olds like it’s nothing.  You giggle and squeal when you see your classmates.  You wave hello and bye-bye to them everyday.  You can point to each one of them when I say “Where is so-and-so?”

Around the family you are the center of attention, the belle of the ball.  Everyone wants to play with you.  You charm your grandparents with your coos and coy looks.

Your favorite toys are books.  You love to flip pages and chatter away, “reading” to yourself.  The best part of the day for Daddy and I is when you bring a book to us and curl up in our laps.  You like to throw balls and play with your baby dolls too.  We are quite confident you are playing out some pretend scenario in your mind when you line up your dolls and talk to them.

Your speech as come so far!  You say things like, “‘Dada”, “Mama”, “JingJing” (Ginger), “baby”, “ball”, “wa-wa” (water), “Elmo”, “Abby”, “hi”, “bye”, “book” and the newest, “mine.”  You love to tell us what the dog, sheep, lion, cow, pig, dog, cat, and monkey “say”.  You tell us how the car goes “vroom” and the train goes “choo choo!”

It’s not even close.  Tomatoes top your list of favorite foods.  You love cheese, yogurt, and pasta too.  Tomatoes still reign supreme in your high chair.  You are hit and miss with veggies.  Sometimes we have to hide them.  You sort of use your spoon or fork, but mostly your hands.  Eating is a messy affair for you, Missy.

Naturally, Daddy is the number 1 man in your life.  But, another little guy has made his way into your heart and all over our house.  Elmo is king.  You light up when we let you watch a little Sesame Street.  He’s on your new potty and in your books.  You carry your Elmo and Abby Cadabby dolls all around the house.

You are so headstrong and average a tantrum a day.  As frustrated as I get sometimes, I love it.  You are strong and independent.  You rarely cry when we drop you off at school.  You say, “Bye”.  You may be Miss Independent, but you still give hugs and kisses freely and rock every night before bed with me.

You are the joy of our world.  You have made our lives better everyday for the past 18 months.

I love you, my darling, darling girl.

Love,

Mama.

Dear Charlotte,
“Hi!  Happy Birthday!”  Those were the first words I spoke to you one year ago today when you were just a wet, squishy, crying little creature.  You were the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. 



November 2, 2010



Then I dropped a shoe and woke you up.  Don’t tell Daddy, but I’m really glad I did.  That meant I got to hold you.  I rocked you in the dark and whispered birthday wishes. 

I rocked and prayed.  I thanked God for you.  I thanked him you were healthy.  I thanked him for the experience of being your mother.  I thanked him for the opportunity to watch you grow. 

Daddy always says it’s hard to believe you’re the same person you were a year ago as a newborn.  It’s gone by so fast and I’ve loved every stage of the first year.  I will never say one phase was my “favorite” over another.  I will continue to love something about every stage. 

Now you’re a cake smashing, squishy, laughing little creature.  You are still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. 

I prayed for one more thing.  I asked God to give you at least 99 more birthdays this happy….

I love you, my darling, darling girl. 
Love,
Mama