"Happy Birthday to You ..."

Tonight at dinner, Christian was reading a book in his lap and chatting to himself as he often does.  I was telling Jonathan a story about something when he stopped me, "Did you hear that?  Scarlett just sang happy birthday!"

 

Scarlett was imitating Christian, who had just quietly sung happy birthday as he was reading his book.   I didn't believe it, so Jonathan had her do it again and naturally, I rushed to get my camera.

 

Enjoy! :)

 

Scarlett at 15 Months

Our Miss Scarlett is now 15 months old!  And she's more energetic, adventurous and feisty than ever! :)

Look at all those teeth ... and all that hair!

Yesterday we had her 15 month doctor exam, and one of the doctor's first comments was about her small stature.  You can find her historical growth statistics at the bottom of the page.  She hasn't even gained two pounds since her 12 month visit three months ago - and she still doesn't appear on the growth charge for her weight.   However, she did grow about two inches since January, which puts her in the 14th percentil for length!  So that is a great improvement!

The doctor's written notes were:  Patient is underweight.  I advise increasing high protein / high fat foods, including whole milk, meats, peanut butter and cheese.  We will continue to monitor patient's weight closely at subsequent well-child visits (the next of which will be at 18 months)."

While we, of course, wish she'd eat more, we're not too concerned about her weight.  Although the doctor used the word "skinny" to describe her, and let us know she's still labeled as "failure to thrive," I don't think she's skinny at all.  Sure, she's slender ... but she's got a tummy that sticks out and her legs are getting chunkier again.  There are no ribs sticking out.

But once again, the doctor noticed that Jonathan and I are "skinny people" (not too sure what his frame of reference is ... I'd hardly consider myself to be "skinny) and that Christian is a skinny child with a big head.   So he seems to accept that we are smaller people who have procreated smaller people.   We will continue to encourage Scarlett to eat more food.  The kicker is that she really likes veggies ... and veggies aren't high in fat or protein.  But dipped in ranch dressing ... there's the fat and extra calories!

Although, to put her weight into perspective:  she's only gained about 3 pounds since her six month exam. 

Her list of words at 12 months:

Papa
Mama
Baby
Bella
Brother
Bubble
Ball
Cheese

New words at 15 months (at her doc's visit, we were asked if she spoke at least two words):

Up / Uppa
Down
More
Wah-wah (water)
book
ring
poo-poo
hi
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm-mmmmaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh (her kiss sound)

We were asked if Scarlett is using a spoon.  We haven't tried utensils, as we're too focused on getting her to actually eat something - and we don't care HOW it gets in there - ha!   But after being asked that question, we decided to try a spoon tonight - and she used it just fine!!  WOW!  Jonathan commented that Christian - at 5 - STILL isn't too keen on using his utensils.

Scarlett's level of comprehension is amazing!  If we ask her a question, she gives us a very affirmative head nod.  I thought she was doing this for any ol' question and then I tested her and asked questions she either wouldn't say yes to, or wouldn't fully understand - and she did NOT nod her head. 

She's very good at following directions, too.  She'll sit down/stand up on request, she'll give us something we ask for ... even walk to another room to get it.  For example, in our front room, she'd got wooden blocks.  I asked her to get me a block, and she stood up, went to the front room and came back with a block.  And she did so several times - I should probably teach her she can carry one block per hand and get twice as many blocks in one trip. :)

She'll also do things like wipe her nose or face, or brush her teeth, upon request (ha!  Christian STILL doesn't like his face wiped or teeth brushed).

Within the past couple of days, she's figured out how to get up on the couch, and also onto Christian's bed.  She can get down, too, but that makes me a bit nervous.  The other day she fell from the first chair she figured out how to get onto - and there were lots of tears. 

She's been able to get down from our bed from some time, but I always make sure to help her over the edge.  Yesterday, she was asleep on our bed, and I walked into check on her to find she was hanging off the side of the bed, holding onto the comforter.  She was just a few inches from the floor, so she was almost there. 

And she's so dang independent!  She walks off without a care in the world where her Mommy is.  She did it at the mall when we were visiting with her cousins.  We did Parent's Night Out at Christian's school on Friday and took Scarlett for the first time.  Until recently, Christian had always been very clingy with us when we took him for Parent's Night Out.   However, as soon as I put Scarlett down, she walked over to the toys and didn't know - or care - that we were leaving. 

Scarlett's Growth Chart

15 Months:
Weight:  17lbs, 12.8 ounces (still not on the growth chart)
Length:  29.33 inches (14th percentile ... movin' on up the chart!)
Head:  Not noted on our paperwork

Twelve Months:
Weight: 16 lbs, 1.7 ounces (not on the percentile chart)
Length: 27.26 inches (4th percentile)
Head: 18.25 inches (84th percentile)

Nine Months:

Weight: 15 lbs, 11.9 oz (5th percentile)
Length: 25.25 inches (1st percentile ... 99% of female babies Scarlett's age are longer than she is!)
Head: 18 inches (90th percentile)

Six Months:
Weight: 14 lbs, 7 oz (5th percentile)
Length: 24.25 inches (5th percentile)
Head: 17 1/4 inches (85th percentile!)

Four Months:
Weight: 12 lbs, 6.5 oz
Length: 23.75 inches
Head: 16.5 inches

Two Months:
Weight: 9 lbs, 15 oz
Length: 21 inches
Head: 15.5 inches

One Month:
Weight: 8 lbs, 9 oz
Length: 21.25 inches
Head: 14.75 inches

Birth: Weight:
7 lbs, 5 oz
Length: 19 inches

Scarlett's First "Parent's Night Out"

Christian's school held its quarterly "Parent's Night Out" tonight and it was finally time to leave Scarlett in somebody else's care for a few hours.

We weren't too sure how Scarlett would handle us leaving her, esp. given Christian still gets anxious when we take him to school for Parent's Night Out.  But as soon as I put her down, Scarlett was off to play with toys.  Since the event took place in Christian's usual classroom, she knew exactly where everything was and was ready to go!

We returned three hours later to actually find her asleep on a beanbag.  She'd fallen asleep in the teacher's arms and she then laid her on the beanbag.  The room was very noisy and busy, but she slept through it.

Who knew date night could be this easy???

Scarlett's First Day of School ... But Not Really

Today, for the first time ever, we left Scarlett in somebody else's care.  We had an appointment to get our taxes done, and Scarlett is such a busy little girl that it would have been a hectic appointment.  So she stayed at Christian's school in their toddler class for the morning.

 

 



Unlike the first time we dropped off Christian at school all those years ago, Scarlett wasn't devastated that we left her.  We put her down, and she immediatley went on a search for fun and excitement.  She didn't even care that we left!

I wasn't sure how she'd do, since she has unpredictable nap times and doesn't eat much ... but she did GREAT!  She played and played and interacted nicely with the other kiddos.  She never got cranky.

Well ... not until we came back to get her and she saw us. :)

We are so pleased with how well she did.  When Christian moves onto kindergarten at a new school in August, we're considering putting her in daycare a couple of days a week so she can have fun and interact with other kiddos.   She's sooo ready for it!

Scarlett Graduates to the Big Tub

Until today, I'd still been giving Scarlett a bath in the baby tub in the kitchen sink.  Tonight, on a whim, I put her into the bath with Chrsitian.  I wasn't too sure how she'd like it ... but she did great!  She enjoyed having all the water to splash, and all the room to move around.  And Christian thought it was pretty cool to have his sister join him.

Scarlett Doing Some Zumba

We've got a dancer in the making! Christian has a Zumba class on Wednesday nights and Scarlett just LOVES it!

 

Scarlett kisses pretty much everything these days. :)

A Beautiful Easter Princess

Our thanks to Granny and Grandpa for the beautiful Easter dress!!

A lil' video of the Easter Princess on her Easter Stroll!

Mommy's First Sewing Project

I have wanted to learn to sew for a long time.  But life happens, kids happen, etc., and sometimes there just isn't time for everything.

But, when one loses her job ... possibilities open up!  :)

My first project was a simple outfit for Scarlett ... with a Hello Kitty fabric, of course.  I made the shirt and black bloomers underneath.   My next project will be a dress for Miss Scarlett.

Scarlett Has Croup

As Scarlett continues to prove, she's VERY different from Christian.   Christian never had croup ... but our Little Miss does. 

She woke up to eat after midnight Sunday/Monday and her breathing was very labored, and she had a funky cough.  Didn't seem to bother her, she kept eating.  But I made her stop because I didn't know what was going on.

I took her out to the living room and she sounded bad.  I called a place fairly nearby called "Goodnight Pediatrics" to see if they could help me determine if she needed to be seen by a doctor right away, or if it could wait til morning.   They told me they were unable to help me, and I needed to call Scarlett's pediatrician and see what he said first.   Wow, that really irritated me.  Why be an overnight medical facility if you make your potential patients call their pediatrician in the middle of the night.

But as we observed Scarlett, she seemed perfectly fine, despite how she sounded.  She was walking around, babbling, playing with her toys.  We were so confused.

By the time I got her to the doc this morning, she was just fine.  I was so confused.  I described the situation to the doc, who said it sounded like textbook croup.  He said it clears up in the morning and returns at night, and that steroids - either oral or injected - is what helps.  We opted for the shot.

And you know what?  No croup last night!  I had read that croup can last for several nights.  So I guess that steriod shot was a fantastic miracle.

WHEW!!!

Papa and His Precious Girl

Big Brother and Little Sistie

Awww ... these two were just so cute at the grocery store today!   I loved that Christian was helping his little sister walk.  He loves her so!

Papa the Hairstyler

Jonathan's mission is to get - and keep - hair bows and barretts in Scarlett's hair.

Why is it not Mommy's mission?  Well, Mommy bought LOTS of beautiful bows for Scarlett, even before she was born.  But she won't keep them in her hair, so I've given up.

Not Jonathan, though.  I love to see him sit with her and try ever so hard to get her hair pulled perfectly together and fastened with a bow.  And then he tries to distract her afterwards so she forgets she has a bow in her hair.

He's such a good Papa!!

Scarlett Actually Eats Veggies!

Scarlett still doesn't eat a whole lot ... so you can imagine how very surprised we are to see she'll eat VEGGIES!

VEGGIES, I say!

We are excited because Christian wouldn't eat a veggie if his life depended on it (although, he's starting to like carrots).


 

Scarlett Actually Eats Veggies!

Scarlett still doesn't eat a whole lot ... so you can imagine how very surprised we are to see she'll eat VEGGIES!

Another Pair of Baby Pumas

Miss Scarlett really loves shoes, just like her Mommy (and most girls out there).   I found another adorable pair at a rock bottom price, so I had to get them!

Are these cute, or what??

Miss Scarlett is 14 Months Old!

Our sweet Miss Scarlett is 14 months old today!

 

Her little (BIG!) personality continues to develop.  And wow, she is just one feisty lil' girl.  Her current form of communication is to scream and screech - and she is LOUD.   Also, when she's frustrated, she grabs at my face and digs her nails in - over and over again.  And she's got quite a dance when she's mad - we call it "The Scarlett Dance." 

 

I have taken to simply putting her down and moving away when she gets out of control with her screaming, flailing and face pinching.  Sometimes it works, somtimes it gets her coming back for more.

 

She's also become a bit possessive of Mommy.  If Christian comes to sit in our laps, Scarlett makes a beeline for us and tries to push Christian away.  It is so funny ... but certainly something we need to be proactive about.

 

We're  not making much progress on Scarlett's eating habits.  In fact, it seems we are taking steps backwards.  So we keep trying new things, hoping something will intrigue her.  I got some Enfamil Toddler milk, hoping I could get more nutrition in her.  Nope ... she rejected it right away.  To be fair, it does have a funky vanilla taste to it - I can't blame her for not liking it.

 

She's been taking lots of steps on her own ... and has become a little monkey.  She likes to crawl all over things - and on top of things.   She'd been getting up on the couch when my back was turned and I was amazed (and frightened) by her ability.  Turns out, it was Christian putting her up on the counch when my back was turned.  HA!!  But she can do it herself, too, if she has just a small platform - like a pillow or my leg.  

 

Scarlett has been doing really great with her sign language.  "More" is her favorite (wouldn't it be  your favorite, too?) - both signing and verbally.  She's getting really good at signing "milk," rather than pulling my shirt halfway down my body.   And "all done" ... both with her hands and verbally.  

 

One of her cutest movements is to nod hear head in affirmation - not to sure where she learned that one, but she picks up on things so fast!  So I'll say, "Scarlett, do you want to change your diaper?"  And she'll nod her head in an exaggerated way that moves her entire top torso.   I hope I can catch a video of it to share with you!

 

Sleeping is still an issue.  I am in the early steps of a process that is supposed to help her sleep through the night.  So we'll see how it goes.  I'm certain she'd be in a better mood throughout the day if she'd simply get more sleep.

 



 

The Little Monkey

 

Scarlett has been quite a busy girl today. A few minutes ago, I walked into our front room to find her sitting on top of the picnic table. And just now, she managed to fit herself into this box after moving all the books.