Nothing to wear

Searching

Ways to spend an afternoon...

Reading

Laying around

Picking out recipes

Riding a horse, and reading more

Pushing buttons

And helping daddy bake.

This here is the end result of the day.  Butternut squash, red onions, caramelized onions, ricotta, and Parmesan.

  

Fish Baby

Yesterday Scarlett had her first swimming lesson.  In class with her were two other babies- Riley and Miles.  Her favorite part was standing on the side of the pool and 'jumping' in, into my arms.  Her least favorite part was lying on her back.  I think she's gonna like kicking though, once she gets the hang of it.

Scarlett & Arnie

Relaxing

Looking for a shirt

Favorite food

Her favorite food has got to be cell phone

Scenes from a bathtub

Things Scarlett threw- or attempted to throw- into the bathtub last night:

• empty cream cheese container
• plastic lid
• shoe (attempted only)
• toy rings
• two mini rubber ducks
• unopened package of tights (attempted only)
• empty bubble bath bottle

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Multitasking

Scarlett on her horse with her book and shape sorter.

Things about lately

Lately, Scarlett's favorite thing to do in the bathtub is put things on her feet.  Things that do not belong on feet.  She tries to shove her foot into yogurt containers with so much fervor that she sometimes falls backwards.  She tries to pull rings over her feet.  She leans over and drinks the bath water, or blows bubbles in it, and laughs.  I need to record the sound of her laugh, because it's the most perfect noise.

Now that she has mastered the art of walking, she is getting curious about things she sees when she walks around the block.  She likes to touch others people's cars, parked innocently in their driveways.  She goes for the dangerous stuff- rose bushes with prickly stems- whenever they're in reach.  She recognizes her friend Anders' house and heads up his walk every time we pass by.

13 months

Dear Scarlett Ray,

Happy 13 month birthday!  Over the past month, you've matured so much, every day you do things that surprise me.  You understand words and instructions.  I couldn't help but smile when you heard me ask your dad to 'run to the grocery store' and you started making running arm motions.  I ask you to carry things into the kitchen so your daddy can recycle them, and you do.  Yesterday I asked you to offer your babydoll some water, and you did, grinning because you knew that was a silly thing to do. 

• At the playground, you like climbing backward up the slide.  You also like crawling up stairs.  Which makes it difficult sometimes to leave our front lawn- because those stairs are so inviting.
• You're less excited about the swing these days.
• This week, you walked all the way around the block!

The one time you did play in the swing, Ella was there too, I think you liked it because she was doing it.

Are you allergic to cheese, baby?  I really hope not.  We've given you cheese once and a few days later, you had a killer diaper rash.  I really really hope they're unrelated, because cheese is one of the really good things about life.  But you, my dear, are the very best thing about life.

This month...

• We visited your Grandpa in the hospital after his surgery.  Your second trip to a hospital- the first being over a year ago when you were born.
• I stopped breastfeeding.
• You spent a lot of time on your rocking horse.

I can see where the baby Scarlett is fading away and the toddler Scarlett is emerging.  I love how you reach out for my hand- or, if my hand is unavailable, grab my pants or my shirt- and start pulling me towards whatever want; into the bathroom if you want a bath, to the front door if you want to look outside, or into the kitchen if you're hungry.

Also lately, you're really into holding hands WHICH IS THE CUTEST THING EVER.

I look forward to another month's worth of adventures with you.
Love, your Mama

Out Walking

Out for a walk

Last year, This Year

Oh the times, they are a changin'

One year ago today...

.

And, today...

Last year's baby is almost unrecognizable to me.  She's so scrawny and dark-headed and her cry was tiny.  We would prop her up on the couch and she'd just sit there, staring.  This year's baby plows over everything in site, squirms and flips and falls.  She got a bloody lip today and it barely slowed her down.

Bowling