Silly Scarlett

                                                              (Almost 2 1/2 years)

If I had to describe Scarlett in one word at this age it would be FUN (which is adult caretaker code for exhausting).  She is starting to get the cutest imagination during play time.  She loves to move and dance and swim and sing and make baby sister laugh.  She is quite hesitant to spend much time eating and sleeping, although she always feels much happier when she does.  I finally have 100% confidence in her potty training skills. She went out with a bang and had one accident every day, then something clicked the next week and she's been awesome every since.  She loves her neighbors, nursery, her family, repeating everything we say and sitting on tiny chairs.  

She picked out all of the items herself.  It seems as though she though she was going on a trip--to the Bahamas, maybe? We ended up buying the sunnies for $2 then lost them a week later. Typical.

Scarlett is ALWAYS climbing and jumping on this couch when we are in the main room.  That couch can take a beating.

Lipstick Loves

Raspberry Feet

Biking in the rain.  This was the funnest day. I was packing Alice and following with an umbrella.

She finally let me french braid her hair.  She said it was her Elsa ponytails. 

Lately she shivers and explains, "I FREEZING!" then goes and gets herself a warm blanket to snuggle in. So cute.

This was her "Birthday Cakes". She's obsessed with birthday anything, and makes many a stray item into a pretend birthday hat or birthday cake.

She insisted on biking on the train tracks.  Thrill seeker.

This pool was 75 degrees and we still swam in it.  I'm proud to say that I lasted longer than she did.

We enjoyed trapping the Rolly Polly bugs in her diving ring.  Her "steering wheel".

Still an expert climber.

Angelic Alice

(About 4 Months)

 Alice is the SWEETEST baby.  She does nothing but eat, sleep, coo, and smile.  She is always happy, even when she is sick (she's already had two colds, which I both caught and endured half as cheerfully). She sleeps 5-8 hour stretches at night, and wakes up just once a night to eat. Perfect. 

 Alice is always very easy going with Scarlett.  Occasionally she receives a playful bite or gets jumped on, and then she'll show Scarlett her pain with a sad little cry. Scar always seems surprised and remorseful, which is a relief.

Sweet babe even falls asleep during tummy time without a binky. That is something baby Scarlett never would have done.

 When we swim she usually just chills on the side of the pool.  I'm so glad I can still swim with Scar while Al relaxes.

 She is starting to get interested in grabbing things-- yesterday it was her toes when her diaper came off.  She's rolled from her belly onto her back, but mostly from the inertia from her heavy head dropping.

 Scarlett is interested in her for short periods of time, but I could say that for anything that interests her, perhaps except Team Umizoomi (her favorite show), pickles, and milk.

 She is getting deliciously chubby, loves to snuggle, but is amazingly patient when I can't hold her.  She likes to be in her crib by 9 or she gets cranky, loves to smile, spit-up, burp, and watch Scarlett be crazy.

She is seriously the yummiest.  I'm so glad Alice came to live with us, and especially thankful for how loving and patient she is.

I Cut My Hair and I Took a Lot of Pictures of It

I love my hair short.  It's so easy. It goes from wet to styled in 5 minutes.  It's NEVER pulled.  Every mother should do this.  I'm gonna stay short for awhile, maybe at least until little hands and little bodies don't use me as a jungle gym anymore.

Here's the real proof that I like my new cut--way too many selfies.  And here's a taste of the different styles and angles my hair can do. Good job, hair. Now I'll stop looking at myself and go find something important to do.

Our New Family Hobby

Brian left to Boulder, Colorado for a conference last week.  This is his third one this year; he's also visited Seattle, Washington and Portland, Maine and although his traveling is getting kind of old for both of us, we're VERY excited to visit Salt Lake City in November for a fourth.  

Whenever he travels, I try to go have new, fun adventures with Scarlett (and now Alice) to distract us from how much we miss our Dad.  So one afternoon we all woke up from a nap and I felt inspired to go rollerblading.  I didn't have rollerblades, so after researching where to purchase as quickly and cheaply as possible, I bought some on the east side of town at this cool second-hand sports store I've never been to. Love my new old blades. 

We cruised around City Park and enjoyed a lovely performance on the cool little theater they have there.  I think they put on small plays and Shakespeare there, but I've never seen one.

I think Brian was jealous of our fun, so it was his idea to go cruisin' that weekend. He dug out his beloved longboard from his high school days and we went all around the park.  Then we HAD to go sing on stage.

Here was Act II.  Mom Solo.