Dear Charlotte,
Today you are 20 months old. I don’t notice it as much as in person, but looking at these pictures makes me realize what a big girl you are and how much you have changed in the past few months.

You are still as sweet and funny as ever, but in the last few weeks have really started to test your boundaries and figure out what you can get away with. It’s a learning curve for both of us- you dealing with your frustrations and acting out, and me, trying to learn how best to discipline you while still ensuring you feel secure and loved. It’s tricky.

Your verbal skills continue to grow; most recently, you’ve started using three word sentences with the possessive (“It’s Mommy’s phone”, “That’s Daddy’s shoe”). You also surprise me almost daily with words I had no idea you can say (“refrigerator” being the most recent). It’s such a blessing to be able to communicate with you, even though sometimes we both get frustrated when I don’t know exactly what you are saying (Mommy mixes up “Milton” (the dog) and “Megan” (the cousin) quite frequently, and you do NOT like that).

You’ve had a big month in September. Last week, you took your first airplane ride and got to visit our family in Charlotte, NC, the city you were named after. We had a great time seeing and playing with your cousins, and you came home with a whole new arsenal of family names to say- you still talk about family members incessantly. You also started school a few weeks ago, and are loving the Butterflies class- your teachers report that you are always happy and are quite the little leader in class. I don’t doubt it!

Charlotte, at 20 months you:

• Weigh 25 pounds, 12 ounces.
• Wear size 18-24 month and 2T clothes, size 5 diapers and size 5 shoes
• Still LOVE your bottle before naps and bed
• Have becoming a little pickier with food, but generally are still a really good eater
• Have 4 and two halves teeth. I was so excited to see 2 molars poking through a few weeks ago, but they sure are taking their sweet time actually coming in. No sign of any eye teeth or any other pearly-whites. Oh well!
• Love to hold things in your hands. We call them your “treasures” and usually it’s various utensils from your play kitchen. You always have a random spoon, cup, or bowl in your hand.
• Sleep about 12 hours at night and take anywhere from 1.5-3 hour naps in the afternoon.

Charlotte, you make me crazy, but in a good way. I love how you make me laugh, challenge me, and allow me to experience the excitement of new things through you. I love you so, so much.

Love,
Mommy