In the last quarter of Charlotte’s first year, I felt like Charlotte started to become Charlotte. She was no longer an accessory that you toted around to restaurants and microbreweries. Carried in your backpack around the city. Propped up for a quick photoshoot. She became the attraction. Ten months felt like a great time to celebrate a first Christmas – Charlotte was cognizant something special was taking place but not exactly aware of the specifics of that something special.
Instead of bringing her to the holidays. She became the center of the holiday - the holidays came to her. The entire holiday season for that matter. There was her first-time eating turkey. Her first-time seeing reindeer. Her first photos with Santa Paws. On Christmas Day she was initially a bit of unsure of herself, I think wondering why there were five sets of eyes (Pete made it home) staring at her, urging her to remove wrapping paper. So much excitement that the Christmas holiday needed its own page: Charlotte’s First Christmas.
Instead of bringing her to the holidays. She became the center of the holiday - the holidays came to her. The entire holiday season for that matter. There was her first-time eating turkey. Her first-time seeing reindeer. Her first photos with Santa Paws. On Christmas Day she was initially a bit of unsure of herself, I think wondering why there were five sets of eyes (Pete made it home) staring at her, urging her to remove wrapping paper. So much excitement that the Christmas holiday needed its own page: Charlotte’s First Christmas.
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And I can’t forget to mention the first time she saw snow. We will definitely need to pick up a snow suit next year. I tried to purchase one this year but oddly many of them weren't full body suits, instead leaving the feet exposed, which defeats the purpose of the snow suit.
Charlotte doesn’t simply want to watch TV, she wants to be in charge of the remote. And cries when she can’t reach the remote. There seems to be more general crying – she went from crying to let us know that she was hungry or tired or had a messy diaper to now crying because she’s not included or may be left behind (even though she never is). She uses the furniture to pull herself up. Even though we did get a walking toy of sorts, Charlotte seems most content to shimmy around the furniture to go from Point A to Point B. I love watching her little legs move around and always get a kick out of seeing her stand with a smile.
Nothing was safe. Everything was within her reach. Books, toys, work items - all had to be placed in boxes.
I no longer grocery shop for myself, I shop for meals that Charlotte and I can eat together. Around Thanksgiving, shortly before the ten month mark, Charlotte decided that she was through with purees and wanted big girl meals. That means we eat a lot of ground turkey, beef, and chicken. But even Italian Red Hots (bottom left) and Chicken Chili (bottom right) have made their way into our meal rotation. Bananas or avocados sneak into every meal. Eggs and sausage for breakfast. I will need to start a Charlotte and me recipe book because once she turns one, we won’t be able to be as reliant on formula as a quick meal solution.
It wasn’t my birthday dinner; it was Charlotte’s first time at a hibachi grill where we will always remember her bursting into tears when the chef lit the grill. She recovered to bravely watch the cooking at the table over.
We suspended Charlotte’s swim lessons due to time constraints and cold weather but not before Papa was able to get in the pool with Charlotte for one of her classes.
And a few bath photos. Charlotte enjoys the water and this nightime routine helps prepare her for bed. The ducks swim several laps around her tub each night. Getting her into the towel is always a bit tricky. If you think she's squirmy, try holding her when she's wet.
Charlotte and Annie continue to be great co-workers. Work meetings have never been better and I am glad these two have started to get along although I think most of these meetings are Annie complaining that Charlotte has invaded her nap space. Both of them seem to know that 3pm is treat time.
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We've been fortunate that Charlotte is able to entertain herself. We can plop her down and she will immediately begin exploring the room, finding things to do, spotting new objects, and hitting old favorites.
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It is still tough to get her to smile on command but she remains a happy baby and I love spending all the time with her that I can.
Her infectious giggles in all their glory...
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I always got a kick out of coming in to the room after she'd wake up from a nap and greet me with a smile.
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It took several false start video shoots but I successfully captured Charlotte's first step.
And we will always remember Charlotte's first birthday party. A massive celebration that only her mother could pull off. Charlotte and I returned home the night before the party to find our living room filled with balloons. We now know that Charlotte is not allergic to latex.
Joyce rented out the Spring Mill Fire Hall. The balloons were strung together then wrapped around a metal arch. Joyce ordered a double-layered (vanilla on top, chocolate on the bottom) tre leche cake from Eli's Bakery. Nearly a week later I was still eating the cake.
While living in Hong Kong, I read about the Zhuazhou ceremony that the Chinese perform when their children turn one. Various objects representing future life and career paths are placed around the child. The child then crawls toward an object and whichever one they chose, the parents guide them on a life to fulfill that selection. For Charlotte's ceremony we had a copy of the Wall Street Journal, representing a successful business career; a soccer ball, representing that she'd become a star athlete; a guitar, representing a creative path; a globe, representing a world traveler and global path; and a Moana doll, representing a future Miss Universe.
I swear I filmed that in a single take. Charlotte went with the globe putting her on a path to a future world traveler and global citizen. She spent the most time with the soccer ball so perhaps an athletic career awaits her in the future. She also enjoyed playing the guitar.