Growing Up In Lots of Little Ways

It seems like Charlotte has been growing and maturing so quickly ever since she turned three.

Physically, she had a growth spurt that finally put her in the right size clothes for her age for the first time in her life.  Her legs are longer, and her face and belly are losing some of their toddler roundness.

She is becoming more independent in her play and abilities.  In one big leap toward independence, C spent her first night away from us last night.  She's been asking for months now when she could have a sleepover after seeing characters in Angelina Ballerina have one.  At the same time, Adam and I would like to take an overnight trip together before the baby comes, so practice sleepover at Pake and Beppe's house seemed like a good idea.  I helped her pack and overnight bag and dropped her off for babysitting like we normally do on Tuesday nights.  The only difference was that she stayed there and slept in Beppe's bed.  She expressed a desire to go home a few times, but was easily distracted from it and pretty much slept through the night without incident.  Hopefully it will go as well when we are at a hotel and not next door!

She cried at the sad part of a movie today, a leap forward in empathy and emotional growth.  She was watching the original Fox and The Hound, and when it came to the part where the Widow Tweed dropped Todd off in the nature preserve, Charlotte cried as though heartbroken.  When she finally calmed down enough to talk, she said, "The fox didn't want to go to that place!"

And, she is trying out the power of words lately.  Today she called me a "stupid mommy" for not letting her eat her raisin bread on the couch instead of at the tray table where I wanted her to eat it.  I calmly told her that it's ok to not be happy with mommy's decision or the situation, but calling names was not acceptable.  I told her to try again, and suggested a kinder way to say it.  My child development books have prepared me for this phase, and equipped me with tools for teaching and guiding her to use words kindly and properly, but it was still a little unnerving to hear her talk that way!

Without a doubt, Charlotte is growing and changing every day!