The Davis Group: Charlotte Grace- 2.5 years old!

Our First Baby Girl (2 days new)

Dear Charlotte,

Happy Half Birthday! You are now two and a half, and are unambiguously a big girl. Your mama and I have had a hard time starting this letter because there is not that much "new" to report. That sounds bad, like we haven't been paying attention, but really it is because you are the same person you have always been, just... bigger.

You have always been great with words, but now they are bigger. I have found myself using Charlotte quotes that are now out of date. The other day I said "Thank you making food, Mama" and you promptly followed with "Thank you FOR making food, Mama." Every time this happens, I well up with simultaneous pride and nostalgia. Mama remembered the other day that last year you were saying "bawk bawk" instead of "chicken." You have started working on letters and can name about 10 of them. My favorites are "O for Octopus" and "C for us"(because Charlotte and Cailin both start with C). I am grateful that you are so expressive, because you are able to tell us about who you are and what you are feeling. I feel like we get to know you more than most parents know their two year olds.

Such a happy baby! (3 months)

Language is one example, but you generally love to learn new things. We played with a map puzzle the other day, and you repeated “Kota…Dakota…NORTH…Dakota…” Upon discovering Texas, you said “Whoa, look at that big one!” You have been back to school for a few weeks now, and seem to be getting a lot out of it. It is kind of strange that you have stories, songs, and experiences that Mama and I have not seen first-hand. You periodically try to get us to sing along to songs we do not know. The other day you counted to thirteen, and I replied in shock, “Where are you learning words like that??” I felt bad that we pulled you out of school when we moved last March, because school was the highlight of the week for you then. Now that school is back in session, the world has restored to harmony.

You are excited to tell us about your classmates and friends you have at other activities. It has always been very important to you to spend time with other kids, and that continues to be true. At the same time, you are an introvert. You are shy around new people, nervous in new environments, and physically exhausted by activities where you are surrounded by big groups. Above all, you want to be accepted, especially by girls who are older than you. I can vividly recall your mom saying last year at the Aurora Highlands playground: “Charlotte just wants to be everyone’s friend, and someday a kid will be mean to her, and I can’t handle that.” Personally, my concern is that you will someday have to sit at a middle school lunch table.

Tubby time! (6 months)

Fortunately, there are relationships even more important than friends. You love your Mama, and you and I are good friends. You frequently talk about your Papi and Vovo even though you don’t see them very often and your Auntie even though you see her less. We got to see all three of them in mid-September, which was basically all you had talked about for the six weeks prior to that trip. Of course, one of your top concerns was where Uncle was, because you have always found it important for families to be together.

Most of all, we love to see you with your baby sister. You two have started to “gang up” on us, which is troubling on one hand, but also makes us happy that you two are that close. When you steal snacks, you share with your accomplice (probably so she doesn’t rat you out). When you tackle your Baby, she giggles and/or fights back. We have tried to delineate things that Big Girls do and Babies don’t, but some of those lines have been crossed now that Cailin is getting bigger (e.g., eating food). Rather than resent that the Baby Sister is encroaching on your rights, you have been very supportive. You are among the first to interpret when Cailin talks. You have taught her to fold her hands for prayers and you insist on praying for her at night. You cheer her on when she crawls up the stairs.

Sharing some cake on your first birthday (12 months)

Loving Boston in "Spring" (13 months)

You are also a good role model for Cailin as she works on her climbing. You have become both bold and skillful at climbing structures at playgrounds. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen you climb a ten foot “rock” at a playground and make the vertical ascent up the Chick-fil-A playspace. This has been one of your favorite pastimes this summer, and I think you were inspired, in part, by the Women’s Olympics Gymnastics (or, as you called it, “real gymnastics”). You have also been inspired by Mama’s exercising and racing. You love to run. You were rightfully proud of yourself for running a race this summer (“I didn’t fall down!”) and wanted to cross the finish line with Mama at her half-marathon and me at my triathlon.

You have always been very sensitive and this continues to be true. When other children are upset, you are immediately concerned about them. It makes you sad to see your friends cry. You said something at dinner once which we found funny. You thought you were being laughed at and began to cry. We quickly learned to be careful of accidentally offending you. We hope this trait will make you an empathetic and loving friend as you get older.

You have an incredible memory. You are able to recall people, places, events, words, letters, etc. even after extended periods. You help us to keep it together since you are able to tell us where we placed our keys or what we're supposed to be doing today.

Up to something! (15 months)

We learned some new things about you this summer. Living by the beach in the summer has given plenty of outdoor opportunities for you. You love going to the Bay and the Pool. Your confidence has built from touching the water in April to swimming (with a life jacket) by July. Seeing you play at the beach really looks like you are in your “happy place.” If / when we move again, my one regret will be taking you away from the Bay.

Running with Dada is always fun! (18 months)

Two other traits that I appreciate but haven’t worked into this yet are that you know your limits and that you are flexible. You are bold where you feel comfortable (see climbing / swimming comments above), but you have lines that you won’t cross. You have no interest in swimming without a life jacket, and you are hesitant to jump in even with assistance. While driving on a long car trip, you get to watch movies, but you still tell us “Can you turn this off please. I want my blankee” when it is time for bed. You are also flexible enough to handle things like long car trips. You jump into strange situations (e.g., getting dropped off in a church nursery) easily. On a trip to Arlington recently, we pulled you out of bed at 8pm and said “This is Claire, we just met her, but she is a babysitter. You are going to play with her while we go to dinner.” You said “OK. Where are the toys?”

We miss Baby Grace, but we love Big Girl Grace and can’t wait to see her become bigger yet*.
-Dada