Little Miss Independent

My Dear Charlotte Grace,

You have grown up so much over the past 22 months and you are so smart.  I look at you and see what was once my little baby who has now become a little girl…and it makes me sad 😦  Mostly happy, but a little sad.  You don’t want my help with anything, you want to do everything on your own – and if I don’t let you, you go bananas!!!!! From drinking out of a water bottle, to brushing your teeth, to getting dressed…you want to do it YOUR way.  I miss the days when you would hold my hand to go down the stairs.  You are so smart and have begun talking…your favorite word being NO!  You can say Mommy, Daddy, Layla, Ball, Up, Bad (Tyson), Aaron, Thank You, Blue, Bubble, Bath. I look forward to the day you are speaking full sentences.  We have had a very busy summer and unfortunately it is coming to an end soon.  Most of July was spent in North Carolina – the Outer Banks (Corolla) and Raleigh.  We spent two weeks in OBX with family going to the beach and soaking up the sun.  You have made great progress from our April trip to Turks and Caicos when you hated the sand and the ocean.  By the end of our trip in Corolla you were a champ at playing in the sand and even getting your feet wet in the surf.  You have become a fish in the pool – never wanting to leave, and jumping in all by yourself 🙂  After OBX we went to Raleigh to visit Aunt P, Sergey, Nana, and to look for a new house.  Mommy and Daddy have decided that we would like to move our family to North Carolina and are hoping we can sell our house in New York.  You had so much fun in Raleigh playing with Misty and Buckley, going to the lake and the pool, and even doing a little house hunting with us.  Next week we are leaving for Maine to finish up the summer with Grandpa, Aunt Sue and Uncle Mike – we will have so much fun.  The Fall will bring new adventures and trips…not to mention your birthday!  I am beyond privileged to be your mommy and to be able to spend each day with you.  Not a day passes that you don’t make me laugh, smile, or make me proud.  I love you to the moon and back xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo