October, 2006

Charlie is growing by leaps and bounds.  She has lovingly embraced Chase and feels no resentment of his presence.  At home she is helpful and affectionate and shows just the slightest need for a little extra Mommy time.  She helps Mommy with dinner, plays near her in whatever room she is in, and helps her clean up and take care of the baby.  She has shown a strong interest in dolls since the arrival of her brother.  She carries them, dresses them, and makes them food from the play kitchen.  She even "nurses" them like mommy.  She puts them in a stroller or sling and walks them around (and she has a few babies from her belly each week).

At school, she is doing wonderfully. She absolutely LOVES it! Her teacher says she works very hard.  She is constantly trying to master some new skill.  She is working on her cutting, snapping, white reading ("s m a t") and writing her name (although she isn't writing too well yet). She works on her numbers and sorts colors by shade. She loves "working" at school.  Additionally, she has become quite social at school; she has A LOT of friends (and a "boyfriend", named Robert).  Many of her friends come running up to tell us that they are Charlie's "best friend".  She and her new friends Corina, Nyah, Leigh, Pricilla, and Jacqueline have also requested lots of play dates.  She is affectionate with her teachers and is not shy to hug them.  One of her teachers rubs her back at nap time to help her fall asleep (which works about 80% of the time).  Still, Charlie is tired at the end of the day and she looks forward to her snack and milk and a little creative time at home.  After an early dinner and bath she works on her sounds and then it's story time and bedtime. 

Charlie's latest shoot was for a ladybug and Japanese princess costume.  It was at a San Diego studio, and she did a great job and had fun having her hair and make up done for her pictures. She did a great job of listening and following the directions and loved the attention during the shoot.  When they were all done she got to eat her favorite snack, popcorn!

Charlie blowing bubbles at Grandma (20 sec.)