Charlotte turned 4!

It's been awhile since I have updated, but we've been busy. If you've been following along since day one you must know that already. The best place to follow us now is Instagram! I seem to post our adventures there the most. Search #lifewithcharlotte or username: jessicaandlotte 

On to the post! I wanted to post Charlotte's birthday, as we reached another milestone and had a blast together! Charlotte turned 4 this summer, and she still loves Frozen and asked for a Frozen movie party. Well as usual, I set about to make her dreams come true. I rented a movie theater brought the frozen DVD for everyone to watch on the big screen! Charlotte loved it, we had popcorn and cake, played and sang along and danced. 

We also spent a day at Hammerman beach with friends, and on her actual birthday she dressed herself up, and wanted to go to target to spend her birthday money! She got a doll and a stuffed puppy! 

At four years old, she is still very talkative. She loves talking, about everything and anything. She loves frozen and all things princess. She loves to dress up, only likes to wear dresses now, which at times can be a fight. She weighs almost 30lbs, which is hard to believe, she was just a tiny 5lb peanut when she was born! She is kind and caring, sometimes funny. She is very cautious. She is not the first one to jump in to do something, she takes her time, and gets nervous, but will ask for help and keep trying! She finished her first dance class and said it was fun, but prefers soccer. She is still my everything! 

Every birthday is bittersweet for me. I miss the sweet smell of a baby and long to hold her in my arms and rock her the way I used too, to always keep her safe. But watching her grow and change and learn everyday is such a joy and a privilege. I am always so proud of her, and so grateful that I was chosen to be her mommy. I hope she always knows how special she really is, how much she means to me, and that everything I do, I do for her. 

 

Blowing out her candles! 

 

Birthday girl all dressed up! 

 

We all got glow sticks to use in the theater! 

 

 

 

 

 

Beach Trip!

So here's something tough about being a single mom...vacations. First, I work two jobs, and not because it's fun, but because I need the money. So I don't have a lot of extra cash laying around for a vacation. Second, when this amazing baby girl was in my tummy, I had big dreams of all the trips we'd take as a family. But obviously that didn't work out. So it's just me and her, and well sometimes that's hard. It's hard to always be on and do everything myself. But even when it's just us two, it's still always amazing. Just different, and sometimes that brings up some feels. 

The good news?! I have Ana amazing family. This was the second year we were able to stay with my mom and Rob at his condo (free of charge!!). It was an amazing trip! The best part of having family around is that Charlotte had her cousin to play with, I had other adults to speak too, and my own mom to make me pancakes :) 

We went to the beach and/or the pool everyday. I finally got a tan. We built a sandcastle, dug for sand crabs and jumped waves with GG. We had a fun night out at the boardwalk, French fries and rides and games! We had a fun morning on the boardwalk too where we rented a surrey and road up and down the boards! We even flew a kite on the beach. I am so lucky and thankful to have been able to create these memories for Charlotte and myself. I look forward to this every year!