Happy Birthday, Charlotte!

Today, Charlotte turns three. Three years old. Three years ago today, mine and Josh's life changed forever. I do not want to go over my pregnancy and delivery, as you can read it here, but it was all wonderful and all a miracle. MIRACLE. That is the word I would use to describe Charlotte. This is not just another child's birthday, but a day to celebrate having a successful pregnancy and delivery. There were many teams of doctors with plans to help me deliver so there wouldn't be stress on my heart. Luckily for all of us, Charlotte popped out after twenty minutes of pushing. No complications, just pure bliss. We recognize this as a huge blessing in our lives and we don't take any of the situation lightly or for granted.

 Fast forward three years later and we have a very active toddler. She has more personality than I know what to do with and has at-ti-TUDE! She is like a little woman! We will run errands and she'll talk to me like she is my height and knows exactly what is going on. She keeps josh and I laughing all the time! She has the sharpest memory. When something is familiar or we go to the same place we've been too or whatever sparks her memory, she always will tell me and say, "member mom? Last time?" When things are reoccurring, she says is, "all the time!" And we have started saying it too! Haha. Every time we do something, she always says, "that was fun, mom." Even though sometimes it really isn't. She always looks on the positive side of things.

Until we moved to Atlanta, she loved hanging out with her friends and still talks about them DAILY! She asked to go Carowinds "all the time." 

Charlotte loves babies and dogs. She is excited to start gymnastics this week. She loves going to the doctor's office (thanks Doc McStuffins), although she rarely has to go! She's been into posing for pictures with a very cheesy smile. She talks about her cousins and loves them. She loves to FaceTime. She has gotten very into clothes and will pull something off the rack and hold it up to herself and tel me to look. Oh my my!!  Charlotte has also been potty-trained since February and it has been HEAVEN!!

There are a lot of great qualities Charlotte has like sharing, being kind to other kids, wanting to always please me (she asks me daily, "you happy mom?"), and is social. She is smart and totally understands what is going on around here.

Even though she is my baby girl and I love her more than anything I could ever imagine, she has a couple of things we are working on. And I only write them so they are documented. She is three, so we have just gone through the "terrible twos." I don't know what it is, but she can be thrown off by the slightest thing and have a little mini fit or whine. Ugh! Not the whining!!! She is, however, very good at taking a deep breath (literally) and slowing down and being calm again. She knows to tell me when she's done crying and for that I am grateful. She also has a hard time cleaning up...I wonder where she gets that from! ;) I'm sure I'll think of some other things, but that's what sticks out. I know everyone else goes through these ages with their children and totally understands what I'm dealing with. 

Charlotte has changed me. She made me a mother, she has made me less selfish, she has made me more patient, she has done all those things that only your own child can do. She is seriously my BFF and I hate to think what life would be like without her. She is my miracle baby. Today Josh and I will celebrate her little life and count our blessings and remember how grateful we are for modern medicine, great doctors and a healthy daughter.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Charlotte!! 

Her dress was made by my maternal grandmother and my grandparents and aunt Robyn also gave her the umbrella.  She insisted on bringing it to church, though we left it in the car.  She has been walking around with it since she opened it!  A big thank you to my Grandma Sheila who has made Charlotte four dresses. She loves them!!

Dress 1

Dress 2

Dress 3