The Wrong Driveway

I slowly made my way up the rocky driveway. The house on the right looked deserted. A screen-less window allowed for a torn curtain to drift back and forth, in and out like a heaving chest. An old Chevy rotted away on blocks in front of the dilapidated shed. Weeds as high as my own throat waved in the chilly, blue-skied breeze. I felt uneasy. I should have driven on.

I stepped out and began to unfasten Scarlett's safety straps. She needed a quick diaper change before we would continue on our way to Grandpa's house for Thanksgiving dinner. When did my car become so cluttered? Are all of these items for our short trip? I quickly removed the dirty diaper, cleaned up Scarlett and rifled through countless belongings searching for a makeshift garbage bag.

"Yup. That's burnin' pot, alright." A young voice spoke out of nowhere. I spun around, startled. To my right stood two children under the age of nine. One boy, one girl. Both dirty. Both malnourished. The girl glared at me, stone-faced. She was the one who had spoken. She aimed her statement loudly toward the creepy house to make sure someone heard her.

"Pot?!" I exclaimed, "There's no pot here, that's a dirty diaper you're smelling." The two looked at me as if they were incapable of expressions. I became frightened and noticed my grip on Scarlett tightening. I asked the children to please find a bag for me so I could dispose of the diaper. They walked off into the house. I worked fervently to buckle Scarlett back into her seat and shut the car door. As I stepped toward the front of my car I was halted by a tall figure. A man. Dark haired. Wearing dark green. My heart began to race.

"Kids smell pot." He spoke like a Sheriff  from some backwoods Southern town a la The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I was petrified.

"No pot," I explained with a nervous smile, "Just my daughter's dirty diaper. I'm headed on my way now to meet my father for dinner." I wanted him to know that people were expecting us.

"Oh dinner! Isn't that nice? Special ocassion?" He asked with a smile that suggested he had a sinister plan.

"Yes. Today is Thanksgiving." I reminded him.

"Ohhh that's right! Forgive me. Today is my birthday too. I always forget. Wow, what a day."

I began to make my way toward the driver's side and I was shocked to find a man rifling through my backseat - so close to my baby girl! Terror took over. When did this man get here? How did he open the car door so quickly without me hearing? How can I get Scarlett away from him? What do they want from me?? Please don't take my baby girl!!

"I can carry her up..." The birthday man said to his partner under his breath while never taking his eyes off of me. I became frantic in my mind picturing my daughter being carried away by these monsters, crying for her mama while I am locked away somewhere in some dark dungeon ... unable to help her, unable to see her face again...

This was the dream nightmare that I awoke from this morning. My heart beat out of my chest for what felt like a lifetime. I am plagued by nightmares more often than not but never about Scarlett. This had to be one of the most horrifying, terrifying scenarios I have ever dreamt up. The mere thought of seeing someone, a stranger with bad intentions, steal my daughter from me - it really is almost too much to imagine. 

Have you ever had such a terrible dream/nightmare stay with you, 

haunting you all day?

The Scarlett Letters #1

I'm not usually so generic but I just thought about creating a series of posts about Scarlett. What better a name than The Scarlett Letters? Corny? Maybe, but adorable just the same. Deal with it.

These letters will be anything I want them to be at any given time. No restrictions, no rules. Maybe just a picture or a few lines about her day. Maybe a letter from me letting her know how much she has changed my life. Maybe a list of cutesy things that I found for her on the clearance rack. Ya never know, it's going to be a grab bag ... hope you enjoy them.

Here is the first ever Scarlett Letter:

Well, my big girl is growing SO FAST I can barely catch my breath. I just spent roughly two hours putting away most of her 3-6 month clothing. I have now organized everything into bins and I will admit I got teary while folding away the 0-3 month stuff. I held up the outfit we took her home in and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. She was THIS small?? Where did my baby go? I feel much better having everything packed up and labeled for a possible next baby girl or perhaps to give to a friend in need (if I can ever let these things go).

  

We were both under the weather last week so we've made up for lost time this week. I bought a bunch of new Dr. Seuss books at Target yesterday so Scarlett has been doing a lot of reading... 

We also had a theme day - the theme was hearts, mixed with Punky Brewster I suppose...

She had a little fleece vest spattered with colored hearts to complete the mismatched ensemble.

She's been playing with her feet a lot more these days. She seems to enjoy taking her socks off, thinks she's a big shot with her bare feet - haha - it's pretty cute...

 Scarlett is getting so good at staying on her belly and learning to play with her toys and move herself around. She gets frustrated and takes a time out to suck her thumb now and then but she gets right back at it...

(Sorry, some pictures are a little blurry due to movement, zoom 

and the fact that 99% of uploaded photos are taken with my phone)

And I'll close out my first letter with two last photos ...

^ Transitioning to a sippy cup

^ and I think she's done with the ol' bouncy chair

Hope you all enjoyed the very first Scarlett Letter. Please feel free to comment and let me know what your babies have been up to lately. What's making you proud? What's getting you teary? I'd love to hear it all!

my moon...

I apologize, but I do believe my daughter's smile is responsible for global warming.

Well, maybe not, since she was just born in September but oh man does it melt my heart. I love everything about my little girl.