Lots of Firsts Around Here Lately

Clementine took her first steps this week! It’s so fun watching your babies grow and learn. I feel like everyone says “oh just wait until they walk” but even with Silas, I’ve always felt like every milestone they reach that gives them a little more independence, also gives me a little more of my own independence back! Especially when you think about how much Clementine demanded to be held (talk about lower back problems - she’s heavy)! The last couple days, she has totally changed her tune and now just wants to be on the ground where she can practice her standing up and walking.

It looks like all 4 of her molars are through too, so her entire demeanor has been so much more pleasant vs a couple weeks ago when they were cutting. I don’t remember teething being a thing with Silas but I think maybe it had to do with him having his pacifier as his comfort item. She never took a pacifier so it does seem like each transition period with her has been slightly more complicated. We are still working on breaking her off the bottle at 13 months…though we did change the nipple to a sippy nipple at least (and it is milk, not formula). She just refuses to drink milk out of her straw cup even though she drinks water out of it all day! I have a feeling she will always do things her own way, so we might as well get used to it now.

Silas has been doing well. We are practicing his letters and letter sounds, and I found a cool app on iPad that helps him practice. We are transitioning to no nanny support in the coming weeks, so it will be just mom and both kids every afternoon. In true Charlotte fashion, I’ve already built an outline of our days to give us a predictable (but flexible) routine.

I’m honestly looking forward to it - this is why I’m taking a break from work after all, to spend more time with the kids.

Speaking of work, I’m incredibly proud I got my website up and running with one paid product over the last few weeks! And I even had my first sale! Next steps are launching my kitchen brain and kids packing system products, and then focusing on growing my audience. I need to remind myself I don’t need to keep building more products, I need to perfect the ones I have (and actually use) and make sure my messaging is reaching more people. Running your own business / side hustle is truly no joke…especially for a perfectionist like me. It takes so much time but it’s also incredibly rewarding to own something that is all yours. And yes, of course I’ve been using AI to help me but that requires actually learning enough about AI to ensure it actually executes your vision in the way you want it. AI has changed so much in just the last couple of months, and I think it’s going to quickly become a tool that will put people ahead who are using it the right way and put people behind who are using it as a shortcut / not using it at all.

We decorated for Halloween today (finally - I know, I'm about 3 weeks behind). Silas was a big help. He also thought the Pennywise mask was too funny...thankfully his baby sister thought so as well.

Though she didn't love some of my other decorations. Next steps - figuring out the family costumes! My friends recommended The Jetsons (so fitting for me in my current phase of life), but Silas wants to be a dragon. I said, I suppose everyone can be a dragon and I can be a dragon tamer...basically my life every day!

We are getting ready to go on our first Disney cruise next week and Silas is SO excited (I am too)! I’ve heard nothing but great things about Disney cruises, so I’m excited to report back about our adventure. AND to report back about my kids packing system! I definitely upgraded from Apple notes…hopefully I didn’t overcomplicate it!

Lots of firsts around here lately…first steps, a first sale, and soon our first Disney cruise. It’s still butterfly season and I’m loving having the mental space to figure out what comes next on my own terms.