My baby?

I can't believe how quickly time is flying by in so many regards, but I have been hit with the realization recently as Charlotte has officially turned 18 months. I don't know what it is about the 18 month mark that somehow signifies "big kid" to me (maybe it's that I'm usually about to have another baby at this point....) Charlotte is definitely turning into a little lady, or rather tomboy, and I just love watching it all. Charlotte has been a dream child and I adore just about everything about her. I'm trying to stay grounded in reality about the fact that someday very soon she is going to wake up in the morning and suddenly have immediate, fierce opinions about everything around her and my baby will be gone, but for now, I'm just enjoying my pleasant little friend.

Here's a couple of things ala-Charlotte these days:

1. Charlotte adores Ryan and Ryan will do ANYTHING Charlotte wants him to do. She has him so wrapped around her chubby little finger. (However, I'm wondering if this is going to be a lifetime thing - hopefully NOT the chubby finger, the wrapping)

2. Somehow she gets by with a vocabulary consisting of about only 10 words and lots of pointed fingers. I figure she has reasoned that with 4 people at her beck-and-call, there is no point to overdo the talking thing....

3. She immediately starts crying foul anytime one of her brothers LOOKS at something she has.

4. She loves animals, cars, trucks, balls, balloons, "cookies", and her doll (7 of her approximate 10 words)

5. Despite attempts to make Charlotte presentable, she looks homeless 99% of the time. She HATES to have anything in her hair, she always has something on her face, and she digs her "play shoes", Nike hand-me-downs from Brayden and Landon.

6. Charlotte is a laugher. She thinks so many things are sooo funny and she is easy to reward with riotous laughter.

7. Charlotte is not a fan of sippy cups and usually demands to have a normal cup like the boys.

8. Charlotte is very social and loves other kids.

9. Charlotte is a great sleeper at night, not so great in the napping department.

and last (for now), but definitely not least:

10. I swear Charlotte can read. Anytime we pass a sign that says "Pâtisserie" (aka: The Bakery) Charlotte gets all sorts of excited and starts saying, "Mmmmm, Mmmmmm, Mmmmm." Maybe she's just mimicking me, but I swear it's that she read the sign!