Charlie turns 1

It's time to party!  My baby's 1st birthday is this week and I'm so happy to celebrate her and all the joy she's brought me and all we've gotten through as a family this year.  Charlie is one of a kind.  Looking back it's amazing how much she's been her own little person & had her personality built into her since the day she was born.  She is a fun, happy, and feisty little thing.  I loved that new baby on my chest more than I thought I could love anything and it's a much stronger love now than it was then as we've spent this year together.  

 We had our learning curve with newborn Charlie and learning what she liked and didn't.  What she's always wanted was to move and be free.  She grew more and more content with each passing month and milestone and when she started walking at 10 months I can say that I don't think I've seen a more pleased person.  She walks miles/day I swear just doing laps around our basement apartment.  She isn't necessarily getting into things, she just walks in and out of rooms and laughs and is so happy with herself.  I loved when she started walking!

 She is always up for an adventure.  If she's having a grumpy day that's when I know we need to get out of the house and go do something.  She loves to be out and about and is so in awe of the world around her.  She's observant and I can see her just scanning the situation and trying to take it all in wherever we go.  She's the baby that walks up to people eating ice cream at the water park and stands there like a puppy begging for a treat.  

 My dancer!  She can't hold still when she hears music.  I love this about her since I'm the same way.  She loves to carry my phone while it's playing music around and bounce and shake her arms & hands.  It's just my favorite.

 She didn't eat food until she was 8 months old because she just wanted breast milk and she still loves nursing.  I'm not really sure how that will end ha ha.  You might be weirded out by someone nursing a toddler and then realize it's me - yikes.  She's intelligent and truly blows me away when she will show me something she's learned and my thoughts are "hooooow do you know how to do that" ha ha.  She's always surprising Bryce and I by what she knows, but of course we are the biased parents so she's probably just right on track with where she should be (jk she's a genius I know it)  

 I think Charlie's personality is going to be very different from my own and I'm actually really excited about that.  I think she's going to be a strong personality and I'm looking forward to seeing that drive make a difference in the world and watching her accomplish tasks.  I know she will teach me a lot.  She's already a class clown and loves to do things to make us laugh at dinner time.  I see a lot of her dad in her which is wonderful.  She's determined, curious, independent, social, and knows what she wants.  All positive things that I know will help her be happy & successful. 

I love these little girls...they love being sisters

When Charlie screams I brace myself for broken glass and she's really the worst sleeper, but she's so smart, funny, sweet, happy, & beautiful.  I know she's going to take life by the horns and just be a mighty force in the world.  I'm excited to enjoy the show!
Happy birthday to Charlie Marie cute as can be...