14 Months is FUN!

Dear Charlotte,

You turned 14 months old yesterday.  So many fun things have happened this month.  This month, you perfected walking. You started toddling while we were in Maui.  Each day, Mimi would call G. Meme and report on the number of steps you took that day. "She took four steps before falling down." "Six steps today!" And then "seven" and "nine!"  Four weeks later, we've stopped counting.  You walk around the family room, picking up toys and pieces of paper, circling the couches over and over again.  You still fall all the time, but you always stand right back up.  Falling rarely fazes you, but sometimes, you take a serious tumble.  Bruises are not an uncommon occurrence these days, even the ones you get on your face from bumping into the corner of the wall, but even these rarely detract from your infectious smile.

You've become more clingy this month, more affectionate.  You cling to my legs or Daddy's legs when we drop you off at daycare, or when you're faced with a new place.  Luckily it doesn't last very long before you toddle off to explore and play.  Sometimes (not often, thankfully), you wake up in the middle of the night crying and nothing can console you but lying on me or Daddy.  It's as though you wake up needing a little reassurance that we're there.  You hug a lot more, lying your sweet face on my shoulder, or burying your face into a stuffed animal.  It just tugs at my heartstrings.

There have been some frustrations as well.  You, my little Goose, who used to be such a great eater, have turned into a picky one, refusing foods you used to love.  I worry about this somewhat, worrying that maybe cheese quesadillas don't have all the nutritional value you should get in one day.  Luckily, you do like fresh fruit.  So that helps.  You also get frustrated when eating and you throw food and your sippy cup off the high chair.  And my tellling you "No!" only elicits a grin and a "ha, ha, ha" from you.

Daddy and I have also been somewhat worried by your lack of talking, but just like everything else, you show us that we can't force these things.  You've never been one to mimic us -- it's just not your style -- but you listen and you absorb and you understand.

Just yesterday, you surprised us by saying and signing "all done!" (although it might be "all gone" we're not really sure).  Daddy says you did this other day whne he went to get you out of your careseat.  You threw your toy keys and your little pumpkin off to the side, threw up your arms and said "all gone!"  Too cute!  And not even a week after getting the baby signing DVD from the library, you're signing "flower" and saying "ball." So yes, you're getting there, but you do things your way and at your pace.

So my cute, independent, and funny girl, you keep doing your thing, and we'll keep enjoying the ride.  Because every day is an adventure and is more fun than the one before it.

Love always and forever,

Mommy

There she goes!