Charlotte's First Birthday

Today Charlotte turned ONE! Oh how exciting it is to have a birthday! We had family over for dinner and cake on Sunday. She had absolutely no interest in the cake. In fact she dumped it on the floor several times. In my attempts to get a great cake picture, I kept giving it back to her. She dumped it on the floor every time. Maybe she's not a chocolate cake lover, I'm not either. She got a fun mail box toy from Grandma Bean and a gum ball machine with little balls from Uncle Tim and his family.

From us she got a pink cozy coupe, the Little People car, a bubble blower and a fun birthday outfit. We've had all our Little People toys packs away since before she was born. So I unpacked all the old toys and got them out for her to play with. It's MAGIC! They're just like new toys! Even the big girls are mesmerized by them.

I told David that this has been the fastest "first year" out of all our children. We are so grateful to have Charlotte in our family. She is very smiley and goofy. No matter what the situation, she can instantly put a smile on any of our faces! Her sisters LOVE her to pieces, some times a little too much. She doesn't say any words yet except for mama. I think she tries to say all done, but it probably only sounds like that to me, no one else would understand it. She is very busy and constantly on the move. She's not walking yet, but I'm sure she's very close.

I don't know if it's motherly instinct or not, but I've had "insights" to each of our girls personalities since the day they were born. I felt Carmen was going to grow to be very strong and outgoing and that we will always have the special first born bond between us. Before Aliza was even born, I felt strongly that she has a very special spirit and I still feel the same way. I know that she needs to be in our family for a reason. What reason I don't know yet, but I know she is supposed to be with us. And with Charlotte, I have always felt she is going to be very dainty and delicate, very much a lady. Now I don't know if any of this is going to be true, but so far my instincts have been right. I don't know what my children will grow to be, but I love them each and am grateful to be their mother.