Turning Two

 

 

This picture pretty much sums up Charlotte.  She is on the go, has a mind of her own, and a smile on her sweet little face!  I snapped this pic in late November as we were heading to pick MJ up from preschool.  She is very adamant at times about the clothes she wants to wear, and she was insisting on putting this shirt on over her other shirt and sweatshirt.  I was in a rush to get her out of the house and loaded up in the van to go pick up MJ, so I just went with it.  In her hand she had a Dora Wii game that she was determined to not let go.  Sometimes you fight the battle and sometimes you just go with it, right?!  Picking up MJ doesn't required me getting her out of the car luckily.  ;)  She was proud of her wardrobe and Wii game as she paraded back in the house after preschool pick up. 

 

This sweet and determined little girl just turned TWO!  Seriously, where does the time go? Yep, it's so cliche, I know, but it really does seem like we were just pregnant with this little baby and finding out she'd be a GIRL!  I can't even begin to imagine life without her.  There aren't enough adjectives to describe her.  She's really such a wonderful mix of attributes....she has such a sweet and loving side and enjoys cuddles and kisses, she's a little comedian and cracks herself up, as well as us, on a daily basis.  She's fearless at times and makes me gasp with her daredevil antics, yet she's developed a bit more of a shy and reserved side lately as well.  She adores her brothers, comes running to mommy or daddy when we arrive home, and likes to play with other little ones.  On the flip side she can be very stubborn and strong willed.  She can be full of drama, especially in the mornings.  She warms up slow and is content lying in her bed for awhile and can be rather stand offish after first getting up. 

 

As a new two year-old, Charlee Noelle is talking up a storm.  She is using new words daily and even putting sentences together.  At least once a day it seems like Mat and I look at each other with that "Did she really just say what I think she said?!" look.  Yesterday it was "Twizzler".  Yep, she's my daughter for sure!  ;)  She now says "I love you" from time to time, she says sentences like "I see ...." , "I want...." or "Where's ....?"

 

Charlotte loves playing by herself, with MJ (whom she calls "J"), or with mommy or daddy.  She keeps up with the big kids by running, playing chase, wrestling, etc. She's recently enjoyed playing with babies and pretending to hug, rock, and feed them.  She enjoys looking at books or being read aloud to, although she doesn't typically sit still for more than a few pages before she's on to the next book.  She LOVES Dora...watching Dora the Explorer, looking at Dora books, eating with her Dora silverware, playing with Dora dolls..you name it!  If it's Dora, she loves it! 

 

She likes to run, kick, throw and dance!  I'm not sure if she'll be an athlete, a gymnast and dancer, or maybe all of the above.  She seems to like it all!  She amazes me how well she can run and kick balls and throw as well.  Turn on some music though and she's all giggles and booty shakin'. 

 

Charlotte continues to be a pretty good eater.  Vegetables are most challenging unless they're in a pureed form.  Some favorites include scrambled eggs, grilled cheese, breads, yogurt, applesauce, and all things sweet!  She drinks skim milk (likes to ask for chocolate milk) and water.  She's really thinned out and is rather tall and lean.  I'll be excited to see what her 2 year stats are at her well child check up. 

 

Charlotte's birthday is of course right before Christmas, so she was lucky enough to celebrate with family... 

 

 

 Her first celebration was at Mema and Papa's when we also celebrated Christmas.  She shared a birthday cake with Grandma Keyes, who has a birthday just a few days before Charlotte's.  Mema made them a yummy jello cake!  She also received some presents to open from Mema and Papa as well as Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Keyes. 

 

 

Could she be any cuter all dressed in her birthday outfit?

Her next birthday celebration was the day before her actual birthday.  We knew we'd be spending her actual birthday driving back to Dubuque, so we were sure to celebrate this sweet girl the day prior.  After lots of debating, I decided on taking her to Chuck E Cheese for the first time.  Honestly, it was kind of my last resort after some other ideas didn't seem to pan out too well, but I don't think it could have been any more perfect for her.  She LOVED it!  Big brother did too, of course! 

Time for games!  There were so many games that were perfect for MJ's age and many small rides, slides, and even a couple games that Charlotte enjoyed as well. 

 

Uncle Jeff and Charlotte checking it all out...

Both kids were a  bit stand offish of big Chuck behind us.  Ha!



Off with PopPop to play some games!

Wheeeee!

Ready, set, go!

Cheeeeese!  Happy to pose for a few pictures

He shoots, he scores!

Gigi, PopPop, and Uncle Jeff celebrating Charlotte with us

Singing to the birthday girl! 

Dora cupcakes of course!

Last year, this little girl turning 1 dove headfirst into her cake.  This year it was more like trying to shove the whole cupcake in her mouth!

Opening a couple presents...a Dora toothbrush from big brother MJ and a Dora doll and other Dora goodies from mommy and daddy

 After Chuck E Cheese, it was back to Gigi and PopPop's, change into pj's, and open presents from Gigi, PopPop, Uncle Jeff, and a mommy and daddy. She went to bed a tired and very happy little girl!

 

 

The next morning, I shot a quick video as I went in to greet Charlotte on the morning of her actual birthday. 

December 23, 2013.  Happy 2nd Birthday, Charlotte Noelle!

 

Luckily she didn't realize that she was spending her actual birthday riding in the car.  She was tired and it was a bit of a rough day for her.  We stopped for lunch at a Chick Fila on the way back to Dubuque, and she got bit pretty good by another child on the playground.  She was quite a little trooper and did pretty well most of the time in the car, but the last hour or so she'd had it.  I finally gave her he iPad in hopes that it would keep her calm.  Before I knew it, she was quiet, and this is what I saw...

Charlotte doesn't fall asleep in the car too easily unless she's REALLY tired! 

What a day!

We're so blessed by your life, Charlee, and love you SO much!

 

Just a couple little recent videos...

 

We just recently rented the Stuart Little movie.  If not familiar, this movie is about a family that adopts a mouse as their child.  The mouse is walking, talking, and human like in many ways.  For some reason Charlotte was just blown away by this mouse.  It was like she was in shock that a mouse was on the TV and she kept loudly exclaiming, "Mouse!!".  Maybe she's inherited her mommy's huge fear of mice!  I don't know where it came from honestly, but it was hilarious!  The next day she was carrying around the DVD case saying "Mouse!!" 

 

 

Little Miss showing off her her body part knowledge.  We have a similar video of MJ right when he turned 2 as well.