Scarlett Letter #6

Breakfast Time...

Zany Zoo...

Favorite New Pose...

The Play Pen...

The Scarlett Letters: #5

My dear, sweet six month old love,

My, how you've grown. It seems like everyday you are learning something new and everyday you are showing off your more mature mind. You are soooooooo close to sitting up on your own, each day a few seconds longer than the last. You have mastered the art of crawling/scooting backwards and are so eager to learn how to move forward. You get onto your hands and knees and rock back and forth, just wishing you would magically GO ahead. It's so precious. I can see the frustration in your eyes. Don't worry, keep at it, you'll get there very soon, my dear.

Some big news to report: You are cutting your first two teeth! Last night I felt the jagged edges and after you'd finally moved your tongue I saw the two front, bottom teeth are poking through!! Yikes!! That's why you've been gnawing on your teething toys so frequently and eating your bibs! And maybe that's why you were crying for Mama the night before. My poor darlin'.

You have been a very good eater so far! We've tried: apples, pears, bananas, mango, peaches, prunes, plums, avocado, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, peas, green beans, spinach... I'm sure I'm leaving some out. I've cooked and pureed everything up myself so far but finally broke down yesterday and bought some organic jarred mixes because I want you to have a great variety. I think you're going to love them! I think I'M going to love them too - might be a new snack for Mama - haha. You continue to drink four bottles each day and 26 oz. total. You enjoy rice cereal, oatmeal and mixed grains and we're going to try brown rice cereal and barley next! After your doctor's visit next week (more shots - boooo) we're going to add meats to your diet. How exciting!

You're still sleeping through the night consistently. I put you in the crib at eight o'clock and you wake around seven. You play by yourself, happily, until I come to get you. I love your little playtime noises and sometimes it sounds like you're singing. Let's hope if you enjoy music as much as Mama that you have a way better voice than I do. Your naps are about the same each day - one between 10:30 am and 11:30 am and the other around 2 o'clock. They last anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and a half on average.

For playtime you still love the doorway jumper, it's a favorite. You get so excited and have learned to take a few steps and lift your legs so you can swing a bit - it's pretty adorable. I think you're going to be quite sad when you outgrow it - which won't be long. You also love to look at yourself in our mirrored closet doors. You roll around in the floor and stare at your beautiful face. Laughing and smiling. And now you like to watch yourself sitting up - I think it might even be helping you! You enjoy playing with a plethora of toys in your crib, on the floor or in the pack 'n' play. And have also mastered the art of jumping in your Baby Einstein entertainer now that your feet finally touch the floor.

I am anxious to see how much you weigh and how long you measure. You sure look like you've grown a lot to us. Our big girl. I love to see you learning, playing and changing every day but I wish I could pause time now and then. I have been soaking up every second I spend with you. I couldn't love you more.

~Mama      

Dr. Switchyswappy

Well, I've done it. I've already switched pediatricians. I've been thinking it over since Scarlett was just one month old. I just had this instinct about another doctor within the same practice. One that I'd met while I was in the hospital recovering from my C-section. She was so wonderfully sweet and had such an authenticity about her. I remember how softly she spoke and how she was always smiling and complimenting the baby. Treating her with that little 'specialness' that I'd hoped for. It stuck with me.

The doctor that I had chosen was perfectly nice; she did nothing to offend me. But I felt that her relationship with Scarlett was a very general one. There was nothing special about it. No wonderful remarks, no compliments, nothing in particular that might have set this relationship apart from the hundreds of others she keeps. It was always strictly business. First, the typical questions to make sure Scarlett was hitting all of her marks. Then the Q&A which was always very broad and I was left to google the majority of my uncertainties. And I realized that if I didn't ask it - it wasn't being discussed. We do receive a sheet of generic guidelines for the upcoming months but I feel like I need to get a little more out of each visit. I am hoping the new doctor will be more descriptive and informative.

I'm guessing it might sound unrealistic to want this magical doctor experience since Scarlett is barely six months old. But as a new mom I want her to have the best she can if it's in my power to make it so. I want her to be in the best of company as long as I am the one making those decisions. Most importantly, I want to be sure that I'm leaving every doctor's appointment with the knowledge and satisfaction that we deserve.

Hope I don't pass the old doc in the hall ... awkwarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd

   

 {photo source}

Monday: minute by minute

Now THIS is a beautiful day. It is currently 72 degrees, sunny and blue. Absolutely gorgeous. As soon as I got out of bed this morning I flung open the windows. I'll admit I had to dust a few that hadn't been touched since probably October. One awesome thing about our house is that we get fantastic cross breezes. The scent of fresh air is one of the things I enjoy most about a nice day.

I chose Scarlett's outfit easily this morning. It's nice to not have to bundle her up so much... gives us both more freedom. I settled on a long-sleeved Hello Kitty onesie with polka-dotted sleeves and cupcakes on the front. The colors are so soft and summery - pastel pink, purple, yellow and aqua. I was pleased and amazed to find aqua colored pants to match it perfectly. So cute. 

We enjoyed our slow morning. I sipped coffee at the dining room table, leafing through the Sunday fliers while listening to a relaxing ipod playlist. Scarlett had a ball screeching and practicing her acrobatics in her doorway jumper. She's such a maniac in that thing. It's hilarious. I never would have bought one and am so glad my sister-in-law gave us hers. While S was taking her morning nap I decided that I would bring her over to see her ninety year old great-grandmother today. She gets such joy out of her visits. It's priceless to see her playing with the baby. She smiles the entire time and even has to take Ibuprofin because her back hurts from leaning over so much!

Whilst I was getting myself ready our power went out. Not a big deal since I was just about ready to go to Grammie's. I packed up the car with our bags and stroller and heard my neighbor's voice. She asked if I had also lost power and then walked over to see the baby (for the first time) and we chatted for a minute. We both marveled at the fact that Scarlett will be SIX MONTHS OLD on Saturday. I can't even fathom it. 

Upon arriving at my mother's house I noticed that she had lost power too. Bummer. I was hoping for a delicious lunch but ended up with a peanut butter sandwich. Still not bad. We played with the baby for a while and I decided to come home to do some writing but of COURSE I'm drawing blanks. So here I sit with my Monday minute by minute that's about as exciting as a beige necklace. I'll get back to my project one day ... when the inspiration is dripping from my fingertips. 

Hope you are all enjoying your Monday wherever you are, whatever you're up to.