W!

Love note to Charlie,

Although I think that 20 months is generally a pretty cute age, you are the most delicious of them all. (at present time)

Seeing your face light up when you see me, running toward me is just the best. You run to us just for hugs. You run to us and hold a finger and say, "wing-ger" and you want us to kiss it and make it better. ( Jack never did this so it wasn't modeled for you- you just made it up for yourself). You are now making an attempt at words all day long. Although you are starting to talk earlier than Jack did-- you are talking just like you do everything else-- jump in and then see if you know what you are doing. And then-- it mostly works out well.

I don't get to be here for bedtime three nights a week and so when I am here-- I love putting you both to bed. As I am leaving the room, I can't resist one last look and now you are accustomed to standing up and smiling at me saying "bye!!!!!" and " night!"

I always say "I love you" and then you and Jack both blow kisses to me and say 'love you' back over and over again. It's all selfishness. You are doing it to see how much longer I'll stay, and I am doing it to see how much longer you will say that you love me.

Tonight during the routine, I realized that when you say love you, it actually sounds like you are saying "W!!!!"

Jack noticed and he and I both started saying, " love you W!"

You are doing better and better at interacting at school- with toys and with other kids and teachers. Our school class is intended for kids from around 2 to around 5 before they go to school. You are one of the youngest in there. But today as we were leaving-- you turned around at the door, threw up your waving hand and yelled "BYE!!!!!!!!!"

Charlie Brown Bear----you are exactly this way for a purpose. I pray for you every night that God will keep you safe as you jump in to life. The world needs people that jump in with faith that they will be able to climb from the rocking chair to the computer chair and balance one foot to reach the toy train. But what the world doesn't need is someone who jumps in to the wrong things and then wonders why they came falling down. I pray for you every day that you will be able to balance for the benefit of others so they can see God's light in you.

And you're going to be in your crib until you are 7.