Scarlett & Friends.

Dear Scarlett,

You have had some pretty fun days with friends, Chloe, Kathryn and some random babies at the gym. 

Here are some photos of your play dates. 

This Week.

Dear Scarlett, 

Morning Peeko-a-boo.

Getting the Mail with Scarlett.

First Trip to the Horse Race Track.

My little Block stacker.

Snack Time: Banana & Grains

Running from Mommy so she doesn't have to wash her blankie.

Putting the babies to bed.

Love Mommy & Daddy 

15 Months!!!

Dear Scarlett,

You are 15 months old today. I want to cry and smile at the same time. I can't believe what a happy little girl you are becoming. You seem to grow bigger every time I turn around. Little miss. This is what we have been doing this month....We went on a mini weekend Getaway to the Ocean to visit Nunna and Grampy Bobby. It was a fun weekend and you loved playing in the sand. We have been going to lots of play dates. You made a new friend, Chloe. Mommy made a new friend, too. (Chloe's mom) So we have been hanging out with them. You are talking more and more. You say "more" now and "all done". You also sign them in baby sign language as you say them. You say "Dadda" mostly. And usually you say it while he is at work. Then when he comes home and tells you to say it, you don't.....You do what you want and you are very independent. I see a bit of me in you. That scares me and makes me smile at the same time. It makes me happy to know that you are independent and strong. It scares me to think that you might be as rebellious and naughty as I was.

Right now, you are into everything. I can't keep track of you long enough to catch you. You pull all of the clothes out of the drawers. You empty the tuppawares all over the kitchen floor. You pick up every tiny piece of anything that you find on the ground. As I clean, my little twister is behind me fixing that. But I love every moment of it. I love the sound of your pitter patter as you run across the floor looking for me. I love that you reach for me every morning. I love the mess that you leave for me to pick up. Everyday after you go to bed, I go around picking up the storm that you leave behind. As I organize books and put babies back in cradles, I think of how lucky I am to have such a beautiful baby girl. Before I know it, you will be all grown up. And I do not take one single day for granted. I cherish your spaghetti sauce face, your curly cues, your wondering fingers, your tiny baby toes, your devilish eyes and that big beautiful smile.

I can't get down the aisle at the grocery store without someone telling me how beautiful you are. I never get sick of hearing it. You smile as soon as the camera turns to you. Those eyes.....so inviting and loving. You are really a joy to have. When we go for walks, you pick a stuffed animal or baby to take with you. It is the cutest thing. Well Scarlett, I can no longer call you "Baby Scarlett". You are becoming my "Little Scarlett". I know soon you will be my Big Scarlett so I'm taking this time to suck up all the little you that I can. We love you sweet girl.....

Love, Mommy & Daddy

Watching Olivia on the way to the beach.

Taking in the view from our Hotel Room

Daddy building you a sand castle.

Beach Toes

Waking up in our Hotel.

Baby play dates. 

Duck Feeding with Chloe.

Baby Play Dates

Dear Scarlett,

    Here's what we've been doing lately....

Love Mommy

4th of July & You Said MAMA!!

Dear Scarlett,

     Yesterday, on July 8th 2012, you said Mama for the very first time! I asked you to say it and out of nowhere, "Mama".  And then you continued to say it throughout the day. We clapped and you joined in with us. I love your little "Mama Mama" voice talking to me. You are walking a lot now. And why did I want you to walk so much??? Haha. You are into everything. I have my hands full with you Peanut.

   But you are really a good baby. You are starting to be more social at the gym now. You even have a little friend! He's a blond haired boy about 2. Yesterday, you were crying and he rubbed your back and said, "It's okay. Don't cry." It was the sweetest thing ever!  You also saw your first fireworks this 4th of July. You were scared at first but as soon as Daddy showed you the pretty lights in the sky, you got excited and started waving your glow sticks around. It was sweet. Anyway, just leaving you a quick note today, to tell you about your first "Mama." Here are a few photos from the 4th of July.

Your words so far are: 

Dadda

Mama

Hot

Paa. ( I think this means Oppa)

Wow

Oh Yeah

Yes

Cold

My 14 month Old Baby.

Dear Scarlett,

     Tonight, I looked through photos of you when you were a baby. The day you were born, that terrible week at the hospital when you were sick, and all the sweet photos of you growing up. I look at you now and see you becoming a little girl. A beautiful, healthy, smart little girl. And it fills my eyes with tears to see what a kind person you are. You cuddle me when I'm sick, you look to me with concern when I'm crying, and you hold me when I ask for hugs.

    The way that you squeal with excitement every time a dog comes near us, makes me chuckle. You are funny. You make me laugh everyday. You love to be scared. Daddy and I always run up and scare you. You love it. You could play "I'm Gonna Get Scarlett" all day long.
Last week, I brought you to Animal Land with a group of moms and kids. We went on a safari ride. At one point, the camels were sticking their heads in and nudging us. Some of the ladies were screaming and pushing to get away from the back of the trolley. Not you, you giggled and smiled at them. Things that I think you would be afraid of, you aren't.

    We found the one thing that you are afraid of, though.  Car washes. Who would have thought? I have to get in the back seat with you, every time we go through one. Your little hands grab hold of me and your scared little eyes make me want to take all of your fear away.

    I think about all the fear and sadness that you may encounter in this world. I know that I can't shield you from it all. But I can promise you that I will be there. Sometimes I will be in front of you, guiding you and showing you the way. Sometimes I will be beside you, holding your hand through the hard times and helping you understand. And sometimes I will be behind you, letting you figure it out on your own, giving you some independence, but still there in case you want to look back for me.

    Scarlett, Daddy is pretty over protective of you right now. I'm sure part of the excessive worry is because of the scare with your seizure & the fever. But I have a feeling it will be like that a lot of your life. He is always afraid you will fall, or scared that you might trip. He is your protector. I like it that way. Daddy makes me feel safe and I know that you will feel the same when you get older, too.

Anyway, I guess I will get to the part I'm avoiding. You are 14 months old today. I know, I know, I always get so bittersweet about your birthdays. I always say how time goes too fast and I cry. Mommy is a cry baby. (Haha) But it's because I love you.

This Past Month:

Talking more and more (Still no Mama)

Walking on your own stronger and steadier.

Eating lots now! (Thank God the bird eating phase is over)

It takes you forever to eat!

You had a febrile seizure from your fever.

You love walks. We go every night before bed.

Joined Toga Tots

You are 21 lbs and 8 oz

You love Weeble Wobble toys

Bath time is a favorite

Our Scare.

Dear Scarlett,

     This weekend you scared Daddy and I. The massachusetts family was up to visit and the weekend started out wonderful. We had lots of fun things planned: pool, shopping, dining, Jazz Festival, gelato, movies and games. But on Saturday night, you started feeling warm and acting sleepy. I could tell that you didn't feel good. You were quiet and relaxed. Everyone knows that my little Scarbaby is a mischievous little devil on the go go go! Mommy had Oppa bring you back home after dinner. When the rest of us got back, I could tell you weren't feeling good so I put you down to sleep. When I checked on you at 9 pm, you were burning up with a fever. I stripped your clothes, got a cold cloth and grabbed the Tylenol. Before I could even finish, you started having a seizure. 

    This was the scariest 4 minutes of my life. Besides the last hospital scare when you were 6 months old. 

   Thankfully, I was on the phone with the doctor when this happened. She assured me it was a febrile seizure and it was because of the fever, so not to panic. I still did. Daddy called 911 and before I knew it, you were being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance with me by your side. Daddy followed behind. The paramedic calmed me by telling me that his son had the same thing when he was little and not to panic. You would be just fine. When we got to the hospital, you were given Motrin and Tylenol which brought your fever right down and you started to come out of your lethargic daze. I cried happy tears because that cry meant you were okay. You held your arms for me and it made my heart beat loud and strong. 

My heart beats for you now, Scarlett. It used to beat for me. But now, it belongs to you. 

We were allowed to go home 3 hours later. I was surprised to hear that these seizures are common in babies when fevers spike. They usually dissipate after 3 or 4 years old, and sometimes, only happen once. I just have to be cautious when you spike fevers. I need to give you Tylenol at the first sign of a fever to prevent this from happening again. Daddy and I both cried. We love you so much that a scare like this is torture. Thankfully, it wasn't as serious as it seemed. Mostly just scary. 

So that was our scare. When you grow up and if/when you have children, know that this is something that sometimes happens. I had no idea that little ones sometimes had seizures from rapid rising fevers. It's the body's was of protecting itself. How much you learn as a first time parent. We are thankful that you are feeling better peanut. And I'm sorry that I have to torture you with that gross medicine all the time. Haha. We love you.....

Love, Mommy & Daddy