2 years 10 months.

Dear Scarlett,


You have begun a new phase in life. You are transitioning from toddler to little girl. As you approach three, I am finding it harder and harder to be patient with you. You seem to know just what to do to push my buttons and how to bring me to my breaking point.  I guess this is what they call the "terrible twos".  My mother has been waiting for this day since I was little. The day that I would get a dose of my own medicine as I too, was a strong-willed, independent girl who wouldn't give up. With a stubborn mind and a tough outer-shell, you are the spitting image of me. But I remember what it felt like.

And I don't think you are terrible-two.

You are growing. You are learning that life isn't always fair. You are testing boundaries. Learning new things from other children. Realizing that you have choices and options. Becoming aware that being human is not always fun.

There are good days too. Days that you make me laugh and smile. The way that you say, "...and Mickey in the morning light" while saying bedtime prayers makes me smile every time.
The way you pretend to be the teacher and shout to your dolls, "Sit down now, I'm not going to tell you again."Your sweetness shines through even in your naughty moments. You reach your arms for me and ask for a big hug. You love to say, "I love you Pet Pet Pooch." at bedtime so that I will have the stuffed doggy give you kisses.


I am sad to see you leave the baby days behind. I have loved every stage. I will be honest, this new stage has been the hardest yet. I know that there will be harder ones to come.  I see that look in your eyes and I realize….you are just like me. This scares me. Why? I took the hard path. I fell off the path and sprinted towards the dark. I just wanted someone to understand me, someone to care. At a time when I needed someone the most, no one was there. I saw some pretty dark and lonely days. I never want that for you…ever.

 I envision you in 15 years. I'm sure that you will be head-strong and independent just like I was. But I hope that you are wiser than I was. I hope that you can see past the present. My dear Scarlett, no matter what is happening in life, or how hard times may be in the future, I promise you one thing. I will always be there. I won't leave you. Someday, you might be a mother and you will understand what it is like to have something you love so deeply walking around this world  so vulnerable and fragile. It's terrifying. I would do anything to protect you. You will always be my little girl. My Scarlett.


I love you.


Love, Mama.

2 years 9 months.

Dear Scarlett,

You are Mermaid obsessed. Anything that has to do with a mermaid, you are all about it!
Tantrums come more often now, usually when you are sleepy.
Favorite foods: Blueberries, strawberries, fruit snacks, drinkable yogurts, cereal in a bowl with no milk, waffles, and veggie chik-patties and melon. (You call all meat or meatless foods that look like meat, chicken.)

Favorite song: "Do You Want To Build A Snowman" Frozen Soundtrack.

You love: Your rain boots, Dancing, The Little Mermaid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, school, and pretending to drink coffee with me.

You don't like: Getting in the bath tub, and then getting out. ;) Getting up early (Just like your mama). Peas, or getting dressed.

We went ice skating with you for the first time this month. You did well for a 2 1/2 year old. Daddy did pretty good too, although you may have been better than him….haha.

Love Mama

Your First Movie Theater Experience: Frozen.

Dear Scarlett,

 I love when weekends like these come around. Ya know, the awesome ones that go down in the memory books as great weekends. 

Sunday, we took you to see your very first movie at the Theater. I have been looking forward to this all week. You did very well, as I expected. You are a movie buff. We saw Frozen. Lots of singing and two princesses were details from a movie that you gave 2 thumbs up. You didn't even flinch when the giant, scary snowman part came on. Possibly reading the book a few times helped prepare you. You came home and played with your Anna doll all day. You fed her, played house with her and spun her around. You remind me so much of myself when I was younger. I would see something and then be compelled to reenact it or play it out. My sweet little girl….I love you so...

Although I'm really not ready for the week to begin yet, we are all settled in at home preparing for work/school in the morning. The house is clean and the laundry is washed. Lunches prepped and you are snuggled in your bed fast asleep. 

Love Mama

2 years, 8 months.

I've got my hands full with you lately…. my little 2 year and 8 month old girl. You are very independent. You have to dress yourself and pick your own shoes. This is sometimes a struggle when we are getting ready to go to school in the morning. You come out with the funniest things. You make me laugh. Recently:

~Anyone who enters our home, you tell them that you got a dollhouse and you bring them into your room to show them.
~You love princesses lately. Your obsession. You know all the princesses and you can sing each song    that they sing. Although Princess and the Frog was your first Disney movie, Belle and the Little Mermaid are your favorite. We watch those movie very often!
~Your favorite foods right now are yogurt raisins, cantaloupe, vegetarian chic patties,  & yogurt shakes.
~You read books to yourself lately. You don't want me to read them to you much.
~We are still potty training

Last week, we went to the ENT specialist to see about your ears. You have been getting ear infections A LOT since you started going back to school. Even colds seem to turn into an ear infections. I feel so bad that you have been so sick. Always on antibiotics. I sometimes debate on whether I should quit work and just stay home with you but I know that you will have to go to school eventually. I really don't want you to have tubes put in your ears but if it means less suffering for you, then it's worth looking into. Daddy had tubes put in his ears when he was little.

Love you Scarlett…..

Christmas 2013.

Dear Scarlett,
This was our Christmas this year……….

Holiday Sangria

It's the morning after Christmas. I'm sitting here curled up on the love seat watching the snow fall outside the big bay window. A calm has come over the house. Scarlett is in her room sitting inside her new play canopy, a gift from her auntie Shauna.  I can hear her little voice reading books.

My family came this past weekend and we had a houseful here. Lots of laughing, eating and Christmas movies. They all left by Monday and it wasn't long enough. Ty's sister came from Massachusetts to stay with us for a few days during Christmas. We spent Christmas day with Ty's family. Another dinner and a full day of presents, Christmas music & delicious desserts.

Scarlett loved Christmas this year. As a lot of you know, she's been asking for a dollhouse for quite awhile. She has been telling everyone we come across. She must have been on the nice list because this year, Santa brought her a beautiful wooden dollhouse. Scarlett received so many gifts from family,  too. We are so thankful for all the fun toys that she got to open up. (Yes, even the scary Ursula doll, Kalin. haha.)  Scarlett is so appreciative for everything that she opened and that makes me feel good- like we are doing something right. I expected screaming and screeches of delight when she saw her dollhouse. But no, it was a quiet, modest expression of wonder and delight, which we are finding is most definitely a Scarlett trait.

There was so much excitement and I truly felt blessed to be surrounded by family. I know it sounds so cliche, but it really was a home filled with laughter and holiday cheer. Every year this happens. I feel sad after it's all over. I plan to keep my Christmas tree up until the New Year, along with the lights. Although the holidays are over, I still have a lot of things coming up. We are having New Year's Eve at our house with a couple friends and hosting a Holiday Party for 14 girls the weekend after!

The holidays always make me realize how blessed I am. Ty and I didn't exchange gifts this year. We just decided that we didn't need a thing. As I get older, it becomes more clear that the holidays aren't about what we get. My present was watching Scarlett open her gifts with wide eyes. That and spending time with all the ones I love. Someone asked me if I got anything good for Christmas this year and I replied with, "Yes, I got the best gifts ever! Scarlett is happy and healthy, I have a good man next to me, and a cozy place to call home." What could be better than that? Happy Holidays to you all! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.