Scarlett in Words

Loves to cuddle. In fact, she usually refuses to sleep unless we are. (We are cuddling right now while I type one-handed).
Gets really talkative when she's sleepy.
Talks like a screechy baby dinosaur.
Eats everything.  Except her newborn cereal we've tried twice so far.  She eats the spoon, though.
Sucks on her toes.
Laughs, rarely.  It has been a several days since she's laughed. Brian and I aren't as funny anymore:(.
Smiles with her eyes, just like me.  It amazes me that she can still see when she smiles.  From experience and close observation, I know she can. 
Loves plastic and wrappers.
Loves to scratch her nails on the side of her carseat, her bed, pillows, her head.
Grabs really hard.  She grabbed and squeezed my throat skin the other day. Talk about painful. (Please, no throat skin jokes allowed. You know you have grabbable neck fat, too).
Broke the new necklace I just bought.  Will be fixed with super glue.
 Loves bath time and splashing.
Turning into a Momma's Girl.  Sometimes she cries until I, alone hold her and give her 100% attention.  Uh oh.
Wears 3-6 months size clothing.  Size 3 diapers. Weighs 15 lbs. Wakes up twice a night to eat.
Will NOT fall asleep without her binky. Naps 4 to 5 times a day.
Lost almost all of her newborn hair. She has 3 or 4 long whisps and the rest is growing in as light brown peach fuzz.
Baby blue eyes.
Chunky legs, skinny arms.
Cutest Bum.
Big head.
Super cute, happy baby girl.

Scarlett (& Friends) in Pictures

Look Who's Laughing Now

    Brian and I were enjoying some television and chemistry homework one night when Scarlett cooked up a nice poopy diaper for me to change.  We were both pretty focused on our tasks at hand when Scar did something she'd never done before.  A low belly laugh escaped out of  her binky sucking baby mouth. 
     Brian and I looked up and uttered excitedly, "Did you hear that!? Was that what I think it was?"   I looked down and egged her on to laugh again.  It was the coolest, cutest, heart-meltingist thing I have ever seen and heard simultaneously. She has a knack for drama; she definitely caught us by surprise. Scarlett usually smiles at me and enjoys getting a nice bum whipe-down, but I didn't think it would be so fun she'd laugh out loud. Maybe her little cheeks are ticklish.
    Now Brian and I dance and giggle night and day trying to get her to laugh. It is tricky.  She has to be in the perfect well-fed well-rested mood, and even then we're lucky if we can get her laughing.  Now its a competition between us, and I think I'm winning. I don't mind that it's rare because it makes it more exciting, but it is also very addictive. Baby laughter is like a parent's abused prescription drug (Using Meth as a metaphor would have been overkill. If you watch Breaking Bad, you understand). 
    I love that kid.

Wilson's Orchard

Rows and rows of 120 different apple varieties.  Awesome.

We went to this Apple Orchard a couple miles outside Iowa City with some friends (even though we didn't get a picture of them, the Johannsons are real). You just park your car and "Take a Walk, Eat an Apple."  Then you wait in an enormous line to purchase all the apples you picked and haven't eaten already and  buy some amazing apple cider donuts that we wished we bought in bulk.

I was bee patrol while Scarlett sucked on her apple cores.

   After we bought too many apples, we took a ride around the orchard on Ol' Bessy, the tractor & trailer.  We almost got eaten by the apple-gator when we got "stuck" in the creek. Scarlett was so scared, she fell asleep. It was a great time.

I'd eat my apple until I got bored of that kind, or until the bees started competing for it.

Stopped for Scarlett's lunch. Her belly's too full to fit her shirt over it, apparently.

Our Iowan Home

       Before our move, I was slightly nervous that the on-campus housing we are renting was going to be a dump, to put it delicately. But as usual, my low expectations were exceeded.  It may not be the trendiest apartment for social calls and teaparties (and definitely not new, our apts were built in the 1960's),  but its totally functional and it feels like home. Come, let me give you a tour.

The Following Is A Complete Photo Dump That May Get Boring For Those that Hate Watching HGTV (Brian):

Front Room/Family Room

Brian's Cool Grown-Up Desk

Still trying to get rid of that TV.

 

The new TV.

The Master Bedroom 

There are indented lines throughout the apt to hang pictures on with S hooks. One way to protect the walls for 50 years I guess.

The entire apt is floored with tile so I got a few rugs for our tootsies.

This diaper baby loves her feet.

Yes, I have too many shoes and sometimes I still sleep beside Dusty, my Horsie.

 The Eensy Teensy Pantry

 

The Lickle Monkey Bathroom

The Kitchen/Hallway (View From The Bathroom)

Just bought these lovelies from Craigslist. Washer, Dryer, Microwave. Also, brand new oven courtesy of the University.  The old one didn't know when it was time to stop heating.

First time with a double sink and a disposal. Hurray!

Scarlett's Room

Redneck Portable Dishwasher/Changing Table. 

This was the perfect thing to hang over her bed in Tornado Town; and it's a special reminder.

I'm planning on painting something on that wood block I made. Maybe an "S" for Scarlett or I could just Put A Bird On It.Please go to that link, it is wonderful.

So hey guys, come visit! We have a big couch, a queen size blow-up mattress and a *California King Size Bed we can share!  If we get really full we can hang you from the sturdy, tested-by-time ceilings in Brian's old hammock from his mission, mon!   So head on down to Iowa, because: 

           *We probably won't share our bed unless you have a doctor's note

except for kidnappers, thieves, and overall weirdos.