14 & 33

Dear Charlotte,

It's late but for some reason you aren't tired (not like you). As I type this you sit next to me typing on your little pink laptop. You went and grabbed it, sat right next to me and smiled at your self as you mimicked me typing away furiously. You looked so cute with your flirty little grin, pop belly and marker-stained face. It so easily sums up everything I love about you. Your good nature. Your humor. Your messiness. Your adorable cubby body. You quiet beauty. Your companionship. The more you grow, the more you become Lyla and I's little besty. Its remarkable how overnight you go from a non-verbal baby to this interactive, VERY verbal little being. How does that happen? Maybe it's a shotty memory, but I swear you master concepts and milestones so much sooner in life than Lyla did. Maybe I'm just in denial at just how big you really are. I live for the way your hair curls around your ears, your pouty lips and the way you say 1000 words just with your face. You must do everything your big sister does, including vying for attention and love. You and Lyla play as well as you fight these days. When i'm at my wits end with it I remind myself what a lonely life I could've led had you two not been in it. What a marvelous gift the universe bestowed upon me when it entrusted me with your spirit. A marvelous gift indeed.

-You just LOVE Lyla's kitchen (that's now yours too of course). You spend so much time in there slamming doors and mixing up concoctions. You bring me the most delectable food to eat. You're so good about entertaining yourself and playing. I think I take it for granted sometimes because it's the very opposite of your big sis.

- You have become my little helper. I'm always taken aback at how much you really understand. When I say "lets clean up", you hop right up and start picking up whatever it is that needs picking up. Sometimes you even serve as an example to your big sis. You smile so proudly when you do it, and it makes me swoon inside. You're just so cute. Will you always clean up? ;)

-Lately you've been giving the best little snuggles. It's like the best little surprise treasure when I go to hug you or comfort you and you lean in for an extra long squeeze. You're usually so busy that you don't have time for such silliness.

-You DIG Ketchup!

-You have 10 ish teeth

-Your sleeping as been a little disturbed lately. Or rather, my sleep has been a little disturbed lately! You've been waking up 1-2x a night with what I think is teething pain

-You LOVE animals. Dogs, cats, whatever. Whenever we pass one you go crazy with this loud, very informative SQUWAK!

-All animals are currently whoa whoas which you announce very loudly as well

-You recognize mickey and minnie mouse on TV and also get very excited over it. You say Mimmie for Minnie and AAAAH AAAH for Mickey ( I think it's more that you're saying the first part of the Hot Dog song and pair that with mickey. It's hilarious)

-Your first sentence was "I want my mom" which is quite fitting because you are a MOMMA MOUSE!! I know it's just a phase because your sister did it too. You just don't want anyone else and have no problem telling them so

-You say your L's now. You seriously say LYLA so cute and are so proud to do so. ALL morning long you ask for her until she gets her lazy bum out of bed.

-You say Bbbbb for bite. It's so perfect that it was one of your very first words because you LOVE food!

-Another first word was pizza! Also fitting since you and Lyla love it. It's more like "Paa Paa" but very obvious what you mean

-You language development has flourished this last month. You now say the beginning or a rendition of lots of little words

-You also say Dad and have developed such a sweet little bond with your dada. I swear sometimes you tease him because you know he gets overwhelmed by a breast-feeding baby who wants their mama! You'll tap him, half smile and say dad in an exasperated way. Its so funny

- I've said it before but it really is crazy that you understand so much. Just now I asked you to hand me a towel because you dumped out a glass of water, and you did it! And smiled to boot!

-you LOVE being led by hand and I just love doing it!

-You have LEGIT RAGE for flies. It kills me. KILLS me! You will scream, point and demand that it get away from you. it's so funny

-You really like mail. and bringing people main. You unload our filing cabinet full of mail nearly every day, bringing us piece by piece. You'll also do it at Grandmas. Such a good little currier.

-The other day we went to the library after a while of not going. You were SO excited and screamed boo boo (book) the whole time

-You pretend to eat the play food. What an imagination you have little one!

-You have learned to LOVE the sensory bin just like your big sis. You get so excited when you see something new in it and giggle when you stick your feet in whatever it is (you explore by feet not hands I swear).

-You've become quite the little dancer! LOL. You spins when dancing to the point of dizziness and sometimes go caput! It's just the cutest thing ever!!!

Dear Lyla, I find it harder and harder to capture your essence in these letters. I've decided it's because you've outgrown all the most beautiful and sophisticated words our language has to describe you. You're simply more beautiful than beautiful. Simply more Alive than alive and most definitely more loveable than loveable. Gosh I just think the world of you. I still sometimes worry that Heavenly Father is going to realize i dont deserve you and snatch you away as if this was all just a dream but alas you are here with me. Making me count my blessing and getting a daily glimpse of what eternal love must feel like. Thank you for that and a zillion other things. Love mom.

I always say you become more imaginative but its true!! Your ability to create things in your mind and see amazing things out of ordinary things just astound me!

-You talk to yourself when you're playing sometimes. I can't help but listen in and smile at the things you say like "want to come play at my house today Kinney?". You stop as soon as you notice me listening though

-This month has been One of those quick changes when it seems like instantly you've become so mature. Like 2 going on 20. You talk so fluently, are so involved on the day to day, and chat so maturely with me that I feel like you've gotten so big so quick!

- You make requests when I do your hair each morning and it's always for " two piggies"

-you love princesses. You say you're a Princess and ask for stories of Princesses. I love that you love fantasy but hope you don't expect life to be like their fairy tales. Those stories don't each you about real love, real beauty, or a life with substance

- Suddenly you're super brave after. I think you must've had a turning point one day after Lottie showed u up at the park. She went on the big slide and you were afraid to. After she went you did and since them you have yet to be out done.

- youve recently become more more independent. You'll entertain yourself for a period of time.

-You call your vitamins tums. LOL

- You've been going through a big time naked stage. Clothes completely offend you

-Dad introduced you to the term "free ballin it" which is what we let you do once you've bathed and in your pjs but not quite ready for a nighttime diaper (which completely offends you that you have to wear). SO one night you said to Lottie, "you free-ballin it too Lottie?" and checked her diaper. LOL.

-Sooo you've decided that you need my cell phone to play on while you take a poop. I think we can thank Dad for that one as well.

-You will -tell us stories now at bedtime. I just love getting glimpse into your imagination. It's a beautiful think

-You understand up high and down low and will sing the song

-Grandma Bet send you an old black and white Betty Bop movie they put to DVD. I cannot believe it but you really like it! SO random

-You will calls us by name. LOL

-You have added the work "Amazing" to your repertoire.

-You're rockin the 2T clothes now and size 5 shoes

-You like to tease you silly girl. Sometimes your sister does not appreciate your little teaser personality but it's pretty funny

-When you don't want to eat anything you'll say, "my belly full".

- I'm going to miss your toddler talk when it's fully done. It's starting to melt away day by day. I want to always remember your sweet little voice tackling words your mouth isn't quite ready to master. Like "I mell something" for "I smell something" or Charotte for Charlotte or "morrow
" for "tomorrow"

-When you're hungry now you'll just go into the kitchen and whip open the fridge. Shades of the teenage years...haha