Play place...

Jul 30, 2011

We started our Thursday together with a question, "do you want to go to a play place?".  Of course the answer was yes or rather "yeah".  I told her how our day would unravel, grandmas house to pick up mommies phone charger, the store to buy cherries, blueberries, yogurt and milk, home to make cherry yogurt popsicles, nap time, and then to the play place.  She smiled and said, "nama", she complained and said "no nap time", she laughed and said "popsicle" and she danced and said "play place".  Three out of four positive reactions,  I knew it was going to be a great day.

We made popsicles, we napped and we got ready for the play place and off we went.  I am so proud of myself, and Scarlett, but mostly myself.  I am not a "play with other mom's mom" so I was terrified about stepping foot into "play with other moms" territory.  When I take Scarlett to the park, I go to the park with the least amount of mom's. Seriously, I scout them out and just keep on walking if it is "too full".  I have this fear of being around other moms.  I don't know what it is?   What if they judge me, or even worse, Scarlett, or what if  I say the wrong thing, or we don't agree on food to feed our kids, or the importance of art and music in a growing child's life, or the amount of television a child should be allowed to watch (if any at all).  Yes, I imagine somehow getting into philosophical conversations with other moms and I start to squirm.   So this play place thing was a huge step in my mommy hood and I totally rocked it.  I walked in with confidence, signed wavers, payed the fees and step by step crossed the line into the shoeless playground, toddler in tow.  I smiled and small talked the next three hours away.  Scarlett was a big hit as the other moms commented on her skill with words and ability to listen and obey.  But, to be honest I think Scarlett was showing off.  She was really really good. Like, overly good.  She played well, she listened when I told her not to climb up the slide, or put the dirty toys in her mouth, she shared, she smiled, she laughed and even left  playground heaven without a single tear.

At the end of the day I didn't make any life long friends, but I also didn't feel scared answering the dreaded TV question with "my child doesn't watch T.V." and getting a response of "then what do you do all day?".   In fact it felt good to answer truthfully with "we draw, paint, listen to music, make crafts, dance, read, sing and build forts".  Scarlett is communicating, pretending and creating on a daily basis and I shouldn't feel bad sharing this with other mothers.  I should be proud of how I have chosen to parent because (most days) Scarlett is a great kid.  Yes I may let her have a piece of candy every now and then or watch an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba before bed time, but I am a good mother and Scarlett is a really fun kid...so from now on watch out mama world, I entered slowly but I am getting ready to run. 

And here are the two cell phone pictures I snapped of Scarlett playing...excuse the stinky quality, I don't have an iphone.  :(







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Popsicles...

Jul 29, 2011

Cherry Yogurt Pops

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For cherry puree:
250g cherries (I used a little over 1 cup) (pits removed and cut into pieces)
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp lemon juice
For yogurt mixture:
180g (3/4 cup) Greek-style yogurt
1/8 cup fresh milk
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp lemon juice
Make:  Roughly six 3-ounce popsicles (you may come out with 7-8 sticks with Ikea popsicle moulds)
Methods (for swirled pops):
  1. Place cherries in a blender and puree. Pass through a fine sieve into a measuring cup. (You should have ¾ cup puree). Stir in honey and lemon juice. Adjust to taste. Set aside.
  2. Scoop the yogurt into a cup. Stir in the milk a little at a time until the yogurt is thinned enough that it can be poured. Stir in the honey and lemon juice. Adjust to taste. Set aside.
  3. Pour an inch of yogurt into the popsicle moulds, then an inch of cherry puree, and repeat until the moulds are filled. Use a chopstick or skewer to gently swirl the liquids together. If your moulds don’t come with their own sticks, insert wooden popsicle sticks after 1 hour of freezing. Freeze at least 8 hours or overnight, until the popsicles solidify.
Scarlett LOVED the leftover yogurt and cherry mixture.  So make sure you save any extras for a quick morning snack.  Enjoy!
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These days...

After a Thursday like yesterday with my sweet little girl, I wonder why I am still working?

Scarlett and I had the best day together.  Every once in a while I am reminded how much fun it is to be Scarlett's mom.  I love being a mom, and some days I come to the end and just wish Scarlett and I could have four more hours together.  On those nights I usually sneak into her room and sit on the couch listening to her rhythmic breathing, letting my overwhelmed heart flow in the form of tears, thanking God for the blessing of this wonderful life.

As I sit at my desk this morning I find myself missing her more than ever.  The second that I walked into the building a fog fell over me and took my happy high and changed it into a solemn heart wrenching "I miss my daughter" low.   Every day she is becoming more self sufficient, learning more words, putting together more sentences, singing her alphabet, counting to ten, she is a sponge soaking up the world around her.  She repeats every word and remembers it, bringing it out when the timing is just right.  Every second that I sit at this desk is a second that I am missing in her ever changing life.  It makes me sad that I am not the one feeding her lunch, putting her down for a nap, teaching her to say "please" and "thank you".  Every time she learns something new a little part of me breaks knowing that I wasn't the one to teach it to her.

So, I start to reevaluate our budget, questioning what I can cut out to save money and the answer is always "nothing".   I have to work and I have been lucky enough to find a job that fits perfectly with our life style.  They have been caring and understanding allowing me to cut my job to a part time position.  Here I am sitting at my desk, having a pity party for myself, when  I know Chris and I are so blessed to have jobs and people in our lives that we love and trust to help us raise such a wonderful little girl.   I get Scarlett two full week days and she gets to experience so much more because of the people that watch her for the other three.  I should be thankful.  But still my heart is sad, missing my little girl, so I let the party continue knowing tomorrow is another Scarlett filled day.  Bring it on!


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Missing daddy...

Jul 27, 2011

Chris is gone this week on a work camp trip with the youth group  at church and Scarlett and I are missing him A LOT!

I was looking through some photobooth pictures and came across this fun little video...he is so good with her.  This is Scarlett's favorite game...pretend sleep.





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Movie Monday...

Jul 25, 2011

Kids museum in San Luis Obisbo...I need to find a place like this close to us...Scarlett LOVED it!!!




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Poop...

Jul 24, 2011

Because a family journal wouldn't be complete without a story about poop.

Chris and I believe that when Scarlett is ready to start potty training she will let us know.  Today was my first experience with her "letting me know".
This morning at breakfast Scarlett was pushing like she was trying to go #2 and when she was finished (or when I thought she was finished) I took her to the bathroom to change her diaper, heavy with #1, but with no #2 to be found.  So with a new diaper she waddled back to the table only to look me in the eye and have this conversation:

Scarlett: "potty poo poo",
Me: "no honey, we just went to the potty, you have a clean diaper?"
Scarlett: "poo poo potty"
Me: "really? You want to go in the potty? Are you sure you need to go?"
Scarlett: "yes"
Me: "okay, let's go"

So we went...and it was a total messy disaster.  I set her bottom on the toilet and right before she "went" she freaked out, stiffened her entire body and pooped on the toilet seat, clinging to my neck with a ridged, straight as a board body.  I knew she still wasn't done and while trying to compose myself and not stick any flailing body parts in exposed poop, she pooped again on the porcelain edge of the bowl.   Ew...seriously!  And because I wasn't expecting her to actually go, I had to wipe her little bottom with toilet paper...do you have any idea how sticky poopy bottoms can be and how much a tiny toddler can wiggle in a little bathroom stall?  Total disaster.  Next time, wet wipes.  Tomorrow, plastic potty. 

The rest of the day Scarlett walked up to me saying "poo poo potty", and so we begin the adventure of potty training. 

Any advice from parents of potty trained babies would be helpful! 

P.S.  Cleaning the mess with a toddler pulling the toilet paper off of the roll...a total blast.



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Lunch time...

Jul 22, 2011

Yes please!

French bread, brie, honey, pears, and a kindle. Some days I just love my 60 minute lunch break.


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Conversations with Scarlett...

Scarlett has been a little chatter box for months now, and recently I realized that I can have conversations with her.  Actual conversations.  WHAT and WHEN?
This conversation took place a couple of mornings ago...and has continued to take place every morning since.

Scarlett: "mommy, nummy?"
(translation: "nummy" = gummy vitamin...we are still working on pronouncing the letter "g"...hence "nama" and "dapa" for "grandma" and "grandpa")
Me: "No honey, we already had our morning gummy" 
Scarlett:  "why?"
Me: "because we have one in the morning and one at night before bedtime"
Scarlett" "why?"
Me: "because that is what the box says"
Scarlett: "ok"

I have a feeling "conversations with Scarlett" will become a frequent post on this blog.


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Popsicles...

I have been seriously lacking on the popsicle Friday recipes...but I have also been out of town and extremely busy...so I blame life for getting the way of creative food making.

But, this morning a girl friend sent me an email with a recipe for Horchata Pops...YUM!!!  Guess what I am going to be making this weekend...



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