My beautiful Charlotte, you are 10 months my baby. This month has served as one of the most dramatic transitions in your little life. I’m not really sure what it was…if you passed the bulk of teething, if you got over your milk allergy or reflux issues….but whatever it was…you changed BIG time. I feel like a little demon baby took over you from 6 months on and at 10 months if left you!!! I knew that crabby cry all night baby wasn’t my sweet tempered baby I love so much. I knew it. You’re back to the sweetest little baby every. You have such a tender, precious and mild temperament that I quietly thank our creator for. I feel like you’re so even killed and have so much love to give. You’re also such a smart and quick developer!!! Its really amazing the things you seem to grasp so easily. You’re nearly walking, babbling and self-feeding. I get small glimpses into the woman that you will become and feel so much joy and pride. I just know you will be the woman that things come so easily for but that you’ll humbling succeed and take things in stride. I know you’ll be such a lover and have so much love around you. I know you’ll be strong, relax and rarely shaken. I know you’ll just be the most amazing person. I feel so special to be your mama. Thanks for picking me.
-You are already communicating without speaking words. You let me know when Lyla is doing something mean to you. You look at me and give me the most indignant grunt to let me know she needs a talking to. Shades of what’s to come no doubt
-You got you first little sunburn. I felt SOOO bad!! It was cooler so I just didn’t think of it yet. I don’t think your skin is quite like Lyla’s where it takes sun just fine, but It’s not crazy fair which is good
-You just love stuffed animals and I think it’s the sweetest thing ever. You will pack ones around that are as big as you. You always give them the biggest bear hug that melts my heart.
-You’re down to nursing 3 times per day; at wake up, naptime, and bedtime. Outside of that you just eat with the big people!
-You’re such a great eater and rarely refuse anything but favorites are: bananas, Gerber veggie puffs, crackers, fish, chicken, hamburger, apples, potatoes
-You sing along to the gumdrop song! I think it’s so cute. You’ll say “ah ah ah ah”
-You wiggle to music and bob your head. You have moves babe. I think you’re already a music fan
-You love the LMFAO song “Sexy and I know it”. At one part it says “girl look at that body, ahhhh”. I just have to say the first part of the line and you’ll say “ahhhh!” LOL
-You and Lyla wear the same diaper size now!! Size 3 baby. You’re not that big size wise but you got back
-You’re wearing 18-24 month clothes which are the clothes Lyla wore last summer as a nearly 2 year old. Still, you’re small for your age, Lyla was just tiny
-You mastered walking around 03/09 which is pretty impressive!!! You take 5-6 steps with no problem and are getting more sturdy
-You LOVE climbing into cupboards.. I just love the look on your face when you peek out all proud of yourself.
-You’re so smart and I walk you thinking things through. It’s remarkable. You figured out the hole in Lyla’s kitchen leads to another cupboard and would inquisitively put things in the hole.
-You already loved shoes! It cracks me up. You bring me shoes to put on you and stick your foot up in the air and give a little whine. We are in trouble!
Dear Lyla, I can’t believe how much you’ve matured in the last little while. It’s a bittersweet thing in some ways as I hate to say goodbye to your innocent little babyness. In other ways I’m hardly sad because your cuteness doesn’t go away; it just evolves. You say the cutest, smartest and silliest things all the time that I wonder what we did before our life was filled with this personality that explodes from you. More and more I have a little buddy to spend my days with. I love experiencing things with you and seeing the world through your eyes. You imagination is unparalleled and never ceases to amazing me. Your girly side continues to grow which makes me wonder what we’re in for when you’re a teenager. You continue to embrace your role as big sister. You look out for Charlotte and worry about her. You also love playing with her. I can feel you wishing she could interact with you on your level. In due time my baby. In due time. While you are vivacious and have such a zeal for life, you also are so chill and take things in stride. You can be flexible and let few things really bother you. You learn to share and let your toys get used by others. You generally follow instructions and don’t throw too many tantrums. It’s a pleasure to be your mommy babe. Just looking at you feels my heart so full it’s ready to burst. There’s nothing like you whiter than white hair and crystal blue eyes.
-Whenever you see something exciting or do something you’re proud of you gasp and say “mama look!” I love that you want me to experience things along side of you.
-You can give narratives of what kind of creativity is going on in your head. It’s remarkable. When you read stories you interpret the images in a way that’s so much more impressive than the actual words. I love it.
-You went through a phase where your baby had to do everything that Lottie did. So one day walking out to the car, you strapped your baby in the extra carseat we had in the garage and expected me to then strap it into the car. Problem was carseat was the big kind and could not fit into our car between you and Lottie. Oh my this upset you so. I tried everything to fill this need for you but nothing could do. I eventually grabbed a bouncy seat we had for Lottie and convinced you this was a carseat as well. It worked temporarily but was also quite large. Every time we went somewhere you had to strap in your baby. WE eventually bought you a little careseat and you’ve since lost interest. Go figure. LOL..But I love how you’re determined to do things that you think are important 
-You have the best and infectious giggle. I love it
-You’re officially into dressing up like mom. You just LOVE wearing my high heels around. It melts me
-You encourage Charlotte in the way I encourage you. When she started walking or when she signs you say “good job Char!”. It’s so sweet
-You are now fighting me with clothing. Me oh my what I must be in for. You say everyday “I want to wear pink!” You want the pink jacket, the pink clothes AND the pink shoes. Kinda like a walking bubble of pepto bismo.
-You know your schedule these days and frequently ask “dance today?” or, “we go swimming"?” LOL. I’m thinking you’re starting to understand the word tomorrow which is helpful since you’re usually a day ahead of whatever you want to do.
-Since Lottie eats more, you’ve been branching out and trying more foods. It makes me so happy! You’re eating some fruits and the occasional vegetable which makes me even happier!
-Sleep continues to be a struggle which I presume will always be an issue. You can take SO long to go to sleep at night it makes me crazy. Some nights you’ll lay in bed half asleep for up to an hour. But if I roll over you’re instantly awake and freak out. It’s probably my biggest frustration as you mom. But I supposed it could be much worse. You occasionally nap and then sleeping at night is even harder!
-You will ask me to take your picture. It cracks me up
-You’re understanding pronouns more and more. Dad is a he and mom is a she and so on
-Your favorite book is the Lorax. You just LOVE it. You know the Onceler, the Yorax, the Truffula Trees and the Barbaloots! It’s so fun to watch you read it
-You watch TV a little more now but are really still disinterested. I’ve never wanted you to watch too much TV but sure wish I could get the occasional break to put Lottie to sleep or whatever need be. You’ll watch most of a 30 min Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the occasional Little Einstein.
-You dance and sing to LMFAO’s “Sexy and I know it”. You’ll do the “ahhh” part and dance. It’s so cute.
-You call letters “abcbd”. LOL
-You go on missions when you can’t find things. It’s my way of trying to keep you from getting frustrated. I’ll say, lets go on a mission babe! It’s hilarious how cute you are when you get into it.
