Big Girl Stuff

Livi, girl you are growing into such a fun little girl. I can't truthfully say baby anymore when you're doing all these big girl things. You bring so much joy and excitement to our family.

With 4 almost 5 teeth now Charlotte and I thought we would teach you how to brush your teeth. At the mention of the task, you run to your bathroom, move the stool to the sink, and stand up reaching for your Eeyore toothbrush. How are you old enough to do such things?! You are very compliant and allow me to brush first knowing you will get your turn to go to town on your own when I am done.

You have also found a love for reading books. Well, choosing a book from the shelf and back up until you find a lap. I am thrilled that you already love to be read to sweet little girl.

We are also teaching you animal names and sounds. You work on it at school too! Your favorite is puppy dog and then kitty cat. Your little face makes the cutest sounds.

Playground battle wounds

It was only a matter of time until adventurous Olivia got a playground battle wound. Girl, at just 15 months old, you love to play with the big kids. You follow your sister around the playground, running to keep up as best you can. When you get to an object too large to scale I hear your screech that your daddy calls your baby pterodactyl sound (cant wait until you consistently replace that sound with a word and sign) and I know you need help. You try so hard to climb, swing in the big kid swings, and run as fast as you can. You especially liked this bouncy airplane that you and Charlotte rode repeatedly. It wasn't until about the fourth trip down the small slide that you decided I shouldn't catch you at the bottom. I thought I would give you a chance to catch yourself on the rubber padded ground, thinking what's the worst that would happen?! Well you sure did catch yourself...with your face, bless your heart. It didn't seem too bad at the time, just a little spec of blood and a little pink scrape. You cried for less than a minute and wanted down and ran right back to the slide. However, you sported a dark brown scab on your nose the following week but don't worry, everyone just thought you had eaten chocolate! I like your resiliency, kiddo! It will take you far in life if I can figure out how to help you shape it throughout the years. I love you beautiful girl.

Loving heart

Charlotte, I want you to know how much I love and appreciate your joyful heart. I thank God for gifting you with this heart and ask Him to show me new ways to model kindness to you and Olivia. Sure, I remind you to speak lovingly and give you examples of how we are kind to our friends, but I find it is the kind and loving things I do for you that I see you trying out on your own. You call your sister sweetie even when you think no one is listening, you tell Saryn it will be okay and that she will feel better when we take her to the vet for a boo boo, today when I asked you to put your plate in the sink you said, "Sure, I would love to!", and when we dropped your daddy off for deployment, I cried as we drove home, you said, "Don't be sad Mommy, it will be okay." Teaching you kindness has been an easy task...it seems to come naturally for you. Thank you for being a sweet little person.