Snow Day Perfection

One of the big, positive things about working as a school SLP is the possibility of snow days.  We've used 4 already this year, and one of them was today!  Nothing beats the thrill of getting that call and knowing I've been granted 9 extra hours with Scarlett. 

We started the day by watching Frozen.  I don't often let Scarlett just sit and watch a movie, but she woke up extra early and has been begging to watch it for days.  So I thought a lazy morning was in order. 

Later, after lunch, we went outside to play in the snow!  It was her first time really playing in the snow, and she had a blast!

(She insisted on wearing the sunglasses.  Or "eyes" as she calls them.)

 She was so disappointed when we had to go inside she cried big, crocodile tears.  It just about broke my heart!  But she doesn't have the proper snow equipment/clothing to stay out for more than 20 minutes or so, so I had to deal with the heart-wrenching sobs.  She just kept saying, "snow?! snow?! more snow!"  over and over again. 

She eventually got over it, because I made her some hot cocoa, which she immediately fell in love with (obviously).  Then my mom came to visit, so her day was made.

The Lord is teaching me on these special days that it is not always about quantity of time, but quality of time when it comes to Scarlett.  I still struggle with nagging guilt and sadness about leaving her daily to go to my job.  But then God reminds me that if I was with her all day every day, I might not see how special a day like today is.  I might not seize every moment the way I do now.  I'm going to make the most of the time I have with her.  Finding the peace in this situation is a daily battle, but one that I'm getting better at fighting.

And when times are really tough, I just remind myself of another perk or working at a school.  Or should I say 3 perks:  June, July and August!  I'm pretty much going to be in heaven when that time rolls around!

***

And just for fun, a comparison of the first time she ever experienced the snow, vs. a year later the first time she actually played in the snow.  Because we all know how much I love comparison pics.

Halloween 2014 Recap

I'm going to attempt to recap some of the things I've missed in the past 6 months, since I haven't been blogging regularly.

I want to start by recapping our Halloween.  Scarlett had been in a serious Minnie phase for a few months.  (She still is, but not to the same degree).  We decided Minnie would be a perfect Halloween costume idea for her.

There is just something about a non-mass produced/ homemade costume that I just love.  I wanted Scarlett's costume to look unique, and somehow all the pieces of her costume just sort of fell into my lap.  My mom found the red dress at a thrift store.  It originally had wings and black netting and was a lady bug costume, but I fixed it up a bit to look more like Minnie.  Luke's aunt had made the ears when his cousin was a baby, so we borrowed those from her.  I drew three little lines on a pair of mittens, and they became perfect Minnie hands. I just put a black onesie and a pair of black tights on under everything, and voila: Minnie costume! 

 

Oh wait...I almost forgot my favorite part: the tail!  My mom made it.  There was wire inside, so it could be bent and shaped.

The first time we put the costume on Scarlett, you should have seen the look on her face when she looked in the mirror and realized that she was dressed as Minnie!  She could not have been more excited.

Cutest little Minnie Mouse you ever did see!

 

We spent the evening making donuts at our church's big trunk or treat night.  It was FREEZING (I'm pretty sure it snowed the next day) but we had so much fun!

...And just for fun, here's last year's costume:

 Little Princess Leia! 

So fun!  I can't wait to see what next Halloween will have in store, especially since Scarlett will be old enough to have a say in her costume! (Which makes me think we will probably end up with a little Elsa, Anna, or Olaf next year, but we shall see!) 

18 Months Old!

Dear Scarlett,
You are now 18 months old!  Can you believe it?  I thought the first year of your life flew by, but it was nothing compared to the past 6 months. 

Somehow, right before our eyes, you have changed from a baby to a toddler.  You finally started walking at around 16 months, and you've been your own little person ever since.  You seem much happier now that you're fully mobile!  Now you love to run and dance and "jump" (which is really you just bending your knees and standing back up quickly, but we won't break that little secret to you).

You are still our little peanut, and weighed 17 lbs, 11 oz at your 18-month appointment.  You are also 2', 6" tall.  You still fit into 12-month clothing, although we are starting to experience a dilemma with your pants: when they fit around your waste, they are like capris, and when they're long enough, they fall down.  Life is going to be really rough when you are potty trained and we don't have the extra padding of your diaper to keep your pants up! Ha!

You are a bit of a picky eater, and it's hard to predict what you will eat.  One day you will love something and gobble it down, and the next you turn your nose up at the same thing.  You're very inconsistent.  Pizza is the one food we can always count on!  Whenever I ask you want you want to eat, the answer is usually "pizza, pizza, pizza!"  And occasionally  you'll say "cookies,"  which you actually pronounce as "coo-coo!" 

You've been talking a lot lately.  In the past week or so, you've seemed like a sponge just absorbing everything you hear, and repeating it.  Earlier tonight, I told Daddy that I have a cold and feel terrible.  Just like a parrot, your little voice exclaimed, "taa-ble!"  Daddy and I burst out laughing.  We are definitely going to have to have to be good examples and watch what we say around you now!  You repeat so much!

You've also recently started to put two or three simple words together.  You say things like, "no no, kitty!" (you love to yell at them),  "Hi, mama! [or whoever you are talking to]",  "bye bye dada", "oh no!" "oh boy," and sometimes you'll just ramble off a bunch of random words, like you're trying to show us how smart you are: "hi mama dada bye bye kitty nana pappa gapa [what you call grandpa and grandma]..."  Yesterday you had me laughing out loud when you put your sock on your hand and made it speak gibberish in a silly voice.  You must have seen someone else do that!

Your personality is coming out more and more each day, too.  You are one silly girl!  You love to laugh, and you love to make everyone around you laugh.  You can also be a little ham.  However, only when you are very comfortable.  When you are around anyone that you don't know, you freeze up and won't say a word.  I'm afraid you are going to be shy like Mommy!  

You are also a sweetheart, and you love to help out around the house.  You're starting to follow directions pretty well, so it's fun to let you help with things.   We're trying to teach you to pick up after yourself, and you're doing pretty well.

However, there are times when you just don't want to do something, and that's when your stubbornness comes out.  You definitely know what you want, and give us a little attitude when you don't get it.  We are teaching you that you don't always get your way.  I am hoping that we can teach you to obey, but still keep that little bit of fire in you.

 

I always loved the name Scarlett because it sounds feminine, but it's not a "sissy" name.  Although you were not named after Scarlett O'Hara, the name always makes me think of her a little bit, and she was definitely a strong lady with a mind of her own.  And it's funny, because you, little Scarlett, are the same way.  You are dainty and feminine in your mannerisms and even your interests (for example, you are still completely obsessed with Elsa and Frozen).  However, you are also a strong little girl.  Like I said, you know what you want, and you will put up a fight for it.  And you're not just into girly things, but you also love to play ball, play with cars, and you've recently developed a serious fascination with fire trucks.  I think your name matches your personality so well, and I just love getting to know you more and more each day.  God has certainly blessed us through you more than we could have ever imagined!

We love you so much!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy