Bread Making

Esther at one year

One year ago today, my niece was almost born en route to the birth center.  She was overdue (the best babies always are!) and then, when she decided to make her entrance, she made it very quickly.

And now, the word "Esther" is one of Scarlett's favorite things to say.  She likes to share water with her little cousin, shoving the sippy cup in Esther's face.  This week, Scarlett bit her.  But you have to understand, Esther's arms are very chubby, a real delicacy, and you would bite them too if you had the chance.

Happy Birthday, Esther Rose!

Beach trip

Nap News

This week, we decided to play around with Scar's nap times.  Lately she hasn't seemed as tired during the day and is taking longer to fall asleep.  So instead of putting her down at the regular times- 9ish and 2ish- we let her stay up as long as she wanted, until she was reaaaaaaaally tired.  And for the past 3 days, she's just taken one long mid-day nap instead- sleeping 2 to 2.5 hours starting around noon instead.  Hooray!  This gives us so much more flexibility when we want to do daytime activities like zoo trips.

I know this'll be a process, and she'll still have two nap days moving forward.  But I'm really excited for this new venture.  Plus, it gives Charlie some extra mid-day time with Ramona or to bake bread for his lovely wife when she gets home from work.

Scarlett with grandparents, last weekend

Alarm

Where's the snooze on this thing?

A factoid

In 2010, the name 'Scarlett' was #114 on the list of babies born in the US.  The equivalent name for a boy?  Giovanni.

16 Months

Dear Scarlett Ray, Today I am the proud mama of a joyful, silly, sweet 16-month old.  Your daddy is calling you 'four thirds'.  You like running up to your dad and tickling his knee, we call it a 'sneak tickle'.  With your plodding feet and silly laughter, you aren't very sneaky, but we don't mind.  You like pretending to hide under blankets.  You like to help daddy pick out a t-shirt every morning; you sit in the big flat tupperware that holds all his shirts and laugh.  Mama and daddy like chasing you around the house, hiding, and jumping out to scare you.

This month, we went to a fair with Lucy, where we saw alpacas, and baby pigs with their mama.  When we got back to the parking lot after, I saw that I'd left Arnie sitting on top of the car.  Wow.  Really dodged a bullet there.  I'm thinking Arnie should stay at home from now on.

Daddy started watching little Ramona about two months ago, and you've been so helpful.  You share your toys and give her kisses.  One of your favorite words is 'Eddie', Ramona's daddy.  You point at him enthusiastically and say 'Eddie, Eddie, Eddie' when he comes to pick her up.  Lately, you've been saying his name when he's not around. 

You also discovered a love of these seasonally inappropriate boots.  You and Hope were playing in the water fountain last weekend and your boots were all wet, so after that they were out of commission for a couple days.  This was very hard for you, because you love those boots.  Maybe you'll be a shoe-lover like your Auntie Lo Lo?  You certainly wouldn't have gotten that from me.

Life with you is getting more fun, and sometimes much easier.  This weekend you and I made a batch of blueberry muffins together.  You helped me pour and stir, though I waited until you were napping to fill the muffin tins.  I want us to start cooking together.  You seem very interested in it- at least, in putting your hand in a hot pan. 

I think I'm going to start saying that you are one & a half. 

I couldn't be more blessed than I am with you and your daddy.  I love you.
Mama

Stop, Collaborate and Listen

On Thursday, Scarlett learned two new words, which she has put on repeat.  Charlie taught her "ice", and now she keeps asking us for more ice in her water.  She says it softly and hangs on to the ssss sound, ice.

And she so loved my leftover Thai food that I coerced her into saying "Noodle".  Oh boy, did she love those noodles.

With the introduction of Ice, she now has all the words in her verbal toolkit to speak the phrase 'Ice Ice Baby'.  We're working very hard on this.

39 Years

I'd like to wish a very special Happy Anniversary to my parents.  Thirty-Nine Years!  That's a suuuuuuper long time.

And, because it's so cute and shocking, here is a photo of Scarlett from one year ago today.  She's like, way to go Grandma and Grandpa!'

Clifford

Baby it's hot outside

There was a bright, hot glowing orb in the sky this week- something we haven't seen in these parts in a long time.  We went downtown on Saturday to introduce Scarlett to her first fountain.  We were the novice parents who forgot to bring a bathing suit but she didn't mind.

We went for a family run.  When we mention 'run', Scar points to her jogging stroller (which is really a bike trailer, and is extremely clunky for running).  She knows the drill, and probably thinks she's running too.

Charlie in his running gear:

Scarlett in hers:

Log Baby

Her log saw something.

Up The Lazy River

Jon and I are super hardcore and ran a 10K and then ate enormous breakfast after.  He and Charlie have made the unfortunate decision to run the marathon this year.  HA HA suckers.

Belly!

Coloring