Charlotte’s second year started with walking and ended with talking (or at least building out a vocabulary). By the end of the year, the beginning of the year felt like a lifetime away. Looking back on photos it was hard to believe there was ever a time where Charlotte wasn’t walking, wasn’t reacting to a new environment, wasn’t the center of our universe. We no longer had a baby but an actual human being whose distinct personality had emerged.
This year raised the sociological (or is it psychological) nature vs. nurture debate. How much of Charlotte’s development, personality, decisions are innate, inherently part of who she is vs. how much is a product and reaction to her environment. I’ve found its best to take in and enjoy the experience than contemplate life matters that even experts struggle to settle. The best action has been to put her in as many new environments as possible and rather than steer her within that environment, sit back and let her react to the environment. When we go to the playground, it’s up to her whether to stay in the 2–5-year-old area vs. the 5–12-year-old area. When we show up to a party, she can either stay at the table with mom and dad or shake us off and scurry to the dance floor as fast as she can. When we head into the city, she can either be carried or lead the way. At dinner she can either eat the salmon, the steak, the chicken pot pie, the meatloaf, the lobster, the broccoli, the sweet potato…or not.
A late-morning out in Manayunk:
A late-morning out in Manayunk:
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There’s a noticeable contrast in Charlotte’s personality between her shyness and adventurousness. She’s at her most “clingy” when she meets new people – does the grabbing and hiding between the legs maneuver. I think I see a similar shyness with her speaking – she’ll count to ten, I’ll become super excited (although I’ve learned to hide that excitement), then she won’t repeat the counting. I’m not exaggerating when I say that her vocabulary is 200+ words although there’s not yet much stringing of words together or a consistent repetition of those words. I’ll hear “Ready. Set. Go.” Then I won’t. While she may not repeat words, she also doesn’t use words out of context. I’ve never heard her direct “Daddy” at anyone or object other than me. She points at an animal, she says the correct name; points at a body part, says the correct body part.
Putting the Little in Little Italy:
Putting the Little in Little Italy:
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Once she’s assessed the environment, Charlotte the Adventurer mode kicks into place. At fourteen-months, Charlotte was already going down the big kids slide in the 5–12-year-old area at the playground (this is under a controlled environment, no other kids are around). She reached the end of the slide, gave a big smile and a little laugh, and ran off for more fun. This behavior is repeated whenever we enter a new environment. If there’s a dance floor, she will find it and be there the rest of the night. She has a boundless curiosity, constantly spotting new items and trying her hand at a new activity. There’s no intimidation from larger and faster kids – it almost seems as though she’s attracted to the excitement larger kids bring. From trains, to baking, to pumpkin carving, to karaoke…she must be involved in…everything. Even if other kids aren’t singing, if she sees adults with the microphone, she must have the microphone too.
Cooling off at the Warrington Swim Club:
Cooling off at the Warrington Swim Club:
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We were on the Manhattan Beach Pier the first time she saw the ocean. Her immediate reaction was an attempt to climb over the railing and jump into the Pacific Ocean. The next morning, as soon as her feet touched the sand, she immediately raced for the water. A quick look back then full steam ahead. It didn’t matter that the water was freezing cold. At the Jersey Shore the waves knocked her down, she got back up and marched back into ocean. It’s no surprise then that the first time she saw snow she bent over to make snowballs.
There’s a balancing act to encourage Charlotte’s fearlessness within a safe environment. It’s not difficult now, however, you don’t need to look too far on the horizon to know that once Charlotte can run, once she can jump, once we begin adding new places to visit, that the ability to control and provide a safe environment will diminish. I can see a wave approaching. She can’t outrun me before the wave crashes. For now. She’s using the playground as intended. For now. When we took a tour of the preschool, Charlotte climbed up the slide in the big kids section. The director said “whoa”. The days of “for now” are limited in number.
First day of pre-school:
There’s a balancing act to encourage Charlotte’s fearlessness within a safe environment. It’s not difficult now, however, you don’t need to look too far on the horizon to know that once Charlotte can run, once she can jump, once we begin adding new places to visit, that the ability to control and provide a safe environment will diminish. I can see a wave approaching. She can’t outrun me before the wave crashes. For now. She’s using the playground as intended. For now. When we took a tour of the preschool, Charlotte climbed up the slide in the big kids section. The director said “whoa”. The days of “for now” are limited in number.
First day of pre-school:
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Inside the house Charlotte explores her creative side with coloring, playing music, and an interest in books. Charlotte has gone Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel on the walls in my office. Fortunately for Lola and Papa she writes in the color books at their house. She likes strumming the guitar. Playing the drums. At Mary Wood Park we always make a loop through their musical instrument area. When it’s time for a break, she grabs a book and says “up”, to join Dad, Mom, Lola or Papa on the couch for a read.
From opening doors, to climbing up chairs, to some slight manipulation, she’s clever and a quick learner. She sees something done once and must try it herself. That extends to helping around the house. She knows where the trash can is. She knows what to do with the mop. She’s very caring with her stuffed animals and dolls ensuring they have plenty to drink and brush their teeth. The baby dolls join her when she colors.
Making meals in her kitchen:
From opening doors, to climbing up chairs, to some slight manipulation, she’s clever and a quick learner. She sees something done once and must try it herself. That extends to helping around the house. She knows where the trash can is. She knows what to do with the mop. She’s very caring with her stuffed animals and dolls ensuring they have plenty to drink and brush their teeth. The baby dolls join her when she colors.
Making meals in her kitchen:
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Above all she is fun to be with. The highlight of every workday is chasing her after she’s grabbed my notepad checklist. She has all the elusive moves to avoid capture. She’s great travel companion. All our weekend excursions from walking through Old City and visiting Independence Hall, to the Elmwood Park Zoo, to exploring the Delaware River, to Lancaster day trips, are “funner”. Even the mundane. Grocery shopping and Target runs are more exciting as we race the shopping cart up and down the aisles. Something’s missing when I’m shopping alone carrying a basket. I loved exploring cities on my own. Now I’m only interested in following Charlotte through New York.
Charlotte's Baptism:
Charlotte's Baptism:
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There’s a bittersweet element to this age. I thought the first eighteen months of Charlotte’s life lasted forever – in a good way. In a way, it felt like your life didn’t truly begin until you had a child. You couldn’t remember life before Charlotte. Life seemed to slow down a bit. She could wander around my workspace all day and be content. I could get work done. Each interval, each major milestone from sitting up, to crawling, to solid foods, to walking was well defined. Then Charlotte hit the eighteen-month mark (or more like the sixteen-and-a-half-month mark) and it was off to the races. For the first time I wanted to press pause and enjoy this stage forever. She’s a fun, do everything walker, not yet a talker. I want to spend as much time with Charlotte as possible. I became much less concerned about milestones and appreciated the moment. I know this is a brief period. When I drop her off at preschool and see three-year-olds, I think “those are kids”. You know this perfect period, when Charlotte isn’t a baby but not quite a kid, will soon end. I need to remind myself that it’s not about Dad, it’s about Charlotte. It’s about Charlotte growing and reaching her full potential. She doesn’t peak at two.
Halloween 2023 (more Halloween photos):
Halloween 2023 (more Halloween photos):
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It all makes you think about what her future holds. This adventurous, curious, clever, creative, helpful, kind, sometimes shy, child has emerged, and you wonder how to continue to develop those qualities. How do you nurture her natural tendencies? There’s already a list of things to do and places to see in year three. Heck, I have a four-year-old list. We’ve already gone from three-days-a-week of preschool to four. There was no way we could keep her holed up in the house on Mondays. Fridays are still designated as fun days and the warmer weather can’t arrive soon enough. This Goldilocks period is ending soon, however, the next phase will be full of more discoveries.
2023 Fall Weekends (full recap):
2023 Fall Weekends (full recap):
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From mischievously stealing lunch off the counter and eating it on the stairs to personal hygiene, she's the take charge type.
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A cutey even when she's grumpy.
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She is the Filipino Dance Party.
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Hanging out at home:
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