Dear Charlotte,
I feel like the
last month has flown by even faster than your first year, you’ve changed so
much and are growing so fast! Over the
last month you weaned yourself from nursing, are now drinking whole milk from a
sippy cup and eating real food (no more purees), and just yesterday you took
your first steps. Where did the infant
that smashed her cupcake into her face go? Because the little baby I remember has been
replaced with a full-fledged toddler.
Because of the
timing, your birthday party took place a few days after your actual birthday,
which meant we were able to celebrate for several days, and you loved all of
the attention. You had so much fun
seeing all of your immediate family, loved when we sang to you, loved opening
presents (you might have loved the wrapping and tissue paper the most!), and
loved being the center of attention.
You’re such a sweet and even-tempered girl, and although you have your
Mommy-moments, you loved having such a big group around to celebrate you!
You’re weaned
now and although I miss the extra-special bond that came with nursing, we were
ready, and not rushed, when it ended. I
waited until after your birthday party and we slowly started trying different
sippy cups; it took a few to figure out which one you liked the best and then
it took about a week to get you used to the taste and temperature of whole
milk. We supplemented with whole milk
smoothies that you still like to drink, but you did amazingly well. I came down with a nasty cold a few days
after your birthday party and that actually helped me finalize the weaning
process. We dropped your morning session
first and that was easy because it was replaced with breakfast in your high chair with me and
Anna, and the night time session was the last to go. I will always remember the first day I rocked
you to sleep without nursing you. I
cried a little, but it was happy tears.
We’d made it! I still rock you to
sleep most nights and I will do that for as long as you’ll let me, it’s our
special time and you’re my special girl.
You continue to
be a rock star eater and we can always tell when you’re not feeling well or
overly tired by the amount of food left on your plate. You’re pretty open to most foods, but
especially love fruit. We shop over the
weekend for our weekly meals, but it never fails that we have to make a return
trip by Thursday to stock up on more produce.
You’re getting great at using those pincher fingers to pick up your food
and will be ready to start practicing with a spoon pretty soon. You’re great at telling us “all done” in sign
language at the end of the meal, but are still working on the sign for “more” …
you currently just yell at us to indicate that you’re still hungry and would
like a second serving.
You love to wave
say “hi” and wave “hi” and “bye” to anyone and everyone. Us, your teachers, the cats, even Mickey
Mouse when he comes on the TV. You’ve
also learned to tell us you’re “soooo big” by throwing those little arms above
your head when we ask “how big is Charlotte?”, and the grin that comes with it
melts my heart. You also love to read
books. And I mean love. Before kids I would never have believed that
an infant / toddler would actually understand anything about a book, but you
do. You love touch and feel books and
have a rotation of about four that are your favorites. You also LOVE Mr Brown Can Moo, by Dr. Seuss. You’ll sit and go through those five books
for hours; you know exactly where they are stored in the bookcase and will seek
them out.
You continue to
have one of the most pleasant personalities of any baby I know, you’re just a
happy, happy girl. The only times you
tend to fuss are when you’re tired, hungry, or not feeling well. You had a couple of ear infections last month
and it broke all our hearts to see you so down and out, you ran a fever for
several days and just wanted to cuddle.
And, although I loved the extra snuggles, I was very happy to get my
smiley girl back when you were on the mend.
You moved to a new room at school this month, now with the more mobile
and bigger kids, and did great. Your
teachers were shocked at how content you are and just love you to pieces. You cried at drop off for a few days, but
acclimated quickly and are the apples of Miss Heather and Miss Denise’s
eye.
You’re on your
way to walking and took your first steps just yesterday. Or today if you count what we told your
Dad. You’re getting more stable and can
go from a squatted position to standing and back again pretty well and can
coast around with assistance like a pro, but you’d yet to take any unassisted
steps. Until yesterday at your Gigi’s. All of the sudden you stood-up, took 4 steps
and then did it again. Your Dad wasn’t there, so we set you up to do the same
thing when we got home : ) I’m
predicting that by the time I write your next letter you’ll be off and walking
full speed ahead.
Watching you
grow from a baby to an infant and now moving into the toddler stage has been
such a treat and every “first” amazes us just like it’s the first time we’ve
ever seen anyone, anywhere crawl, take a step, put a bite of food in their mouth. Your big little personality shines through in
everything you do, from the minute you wake up when we hear you talking to your
stuffed animals, to the big grins all day long, to the sweet snuggles at the
end of the day. I can’t wait to be a part of so many more of your “firsts”, but
hope they don’t come along too soon, because for now I love the special
Mommy-moments and the fact that your Dad, your sister, and I are your first
loves.
Love,
Mom
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