Again?

Yeah, I know I just wrote yesterday, and my blogging has been less frequent lately, but I really felt the need this morning.

I spent an incredible Friday with Charlie. We played most of the morning and both were exhausted after lunch. Charlie took a 3-hour nap, which is VERY unusual for her.

Her play has become so much more interactive with me. She's pretty rough sometimes. I know that's not so great, but it does please me a little that she is such a tough little girl. She's like her Mom in that way. Just very strong minded and tough.

I have a look that I give Charlie now that makes her scream and giggle all at the same time. I chase her around a little, and she LOVES it. But here's the thing: Instead of crawling or walking AWAY from me... she comes right AT me and buries her head into my chest or side of my head.

I guess for months and months we've done the "I'm gonna get you" game with her and ended it with tons of kisses, maybe she just gets excited for those kisses?? Whatever it is, she certainly isn't scared when I chase her. I just need to get it under control so she doesn't go running around the grocery store in a few months!

We made it... so far.

Has it really been nearly TWO years since we began our journey to parenthood? One year (11/15/07) and 39 weeks ago, we created this unbelievable little character we now laugh and play with. She is just the most precious little person around.

I never realized parenting could be this rewarding. I catch myself all the time starring at her while we're amongst other people. I feel the huge smile I have on my face. I know it must really look as though it is plastered to my face. Frankly, it is. I can't stop it.

I can't say that there has been a day in the past 366 that I've regretted being a Daddy. There have been challenging days, don't get me wrong, but at the end of each of those tough days, all I can think about is the HUGE smile and wave I'm going to get the next morning when I see her.

Beck and I always say that it feels like she's been with us all the time. Meaning, all the memories we share, it always seems like she should be in them too. I guess that's common. I'm not sure. All I know is that when my baby girl smiles at me, she lights up my WHOLE world.

I'm not sure how this feeling matures or changes over the years, but I certainly can't imagine a day when my little peanut won't warm my heart like she does.

People always tease me that Charlie has me wrapped around her finger. But that's okay, isn't it?

She Knows What She's Doing

The other day, Charlie opened the container in the pantry the holds the cat food. She undid the snapping mechanism that locks the canister, and reached in to grab the little cup that we use to scoop the food. She scooped up some food... and than she dumped it all over the floor!

But how does she know how to scoop at all? She watches EVERYTHING!! It's hilarious how much she knows that we haven't even seen yet.

Last night, I started singing an "ABC" song that plays on an activity table she has. She promptly crawled over to the table and spun the part that makes that song play. There are about 12 different buttons she could have hit, but she chose that one! And then of course she clapped and laughed when the song started to play.

She now is doing a high-5. She just started this on Sunday morning. She doesn't really "smack" your hand, but she does pat it. Still very funny to watch.

It's just so amazing to watch her learn.