Gymnastics class week 2...

Sep 30, 2011

Getting in the car two Thursdays ago after the exhausting experience of Scarlett's first gymnastics class, I wanted to discipline Scarlett for being a total pill.  But, after removing my hat of blame, I realized it really came down to me not preparing her for a new experience. The word "classroom" was not even in her two year old dictionary. Until this first disastrous experience the only interaction she has had with direction has been me telling her "now lets go put your diaper on so you don't pee on the floor".  Of course it was a disaster, throw in 7 tiny new faces and an unknown lady telling her to preform her first public flip, no amount of encouragement was moving Scarlett from the death grip on my arm.

So for week number two, I made an effort.  I spent a full seven days explaining what to expect and how to react the next time we set foot in The Little Gym.  Every day we would discuss what a teacher was and how we need to listen to what she says, or that we needed to try at least once to participate in the flips and flops that the other kids were learning.  When we finally came to class number two Scarlett was ready, she walked in the door and immediately recited all of her classroom rules.  "I listen teacher" , "I do flip", "I go class".  She was chomping at the bit to enter those gym room doors and show everyone a weeks worth of brainwashing.  She did great.  She did donkey kicks, hung like a monkey on the rings, walked on the balance beam kicking one foot into the air, played music, ran in circles, listened to the teacher and participated with the other kids.  We had a blast.  I even came home and asked Chris if we could add gym class to our monthly budget.  I think this "classroom" is officially part of our Becher family dictionary. 

Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Colored rice...

We have been trying to teach Scarlett her colors for months and months and everything is still blue or yellow...
So I thought I would try an art project to get her more familiar with the world of color.
Colored rice is quick and easy and she loved being able to pour the rice into the water and squeeze the dye into the bowl, watching it quickly turn from white to blue, yellow, red and green. 

What you need...
Rice
Water
Food Coloring
Paper towels for drying

Pour plain white rice into a bowl, add water (just enough to mix with the food coloring so the color will cover all of your rice), add two/three drops of food coloring, mix and let sit for a couple of hours.  Rice will suck up the water and food coloring.  Pour out rice onto a paper towel and let dry.

I let mine dry overnight just to make sure that none of the food coloring would come off of the rice and onto Scarlett's hands.

Photobucket

Add some elmers glue and paper and you have yourself a craft project.

Photobucket

Or a blanket, a couple bowls and some measuring cups and you've got yourself some "mommy time"

Photobucket
Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Imagination...

Sep 29, 2011

Dear Scarlett,

You and I have been able to communicate since you were six months old.  I have taken advantage of the fact that you understand EVERYTHING, you connect people and thoughts, everyday surprising me with a new fact you picked up by listening to adults converse around you. You speak clearly and in full sentences. I have never had to struggle to get you to respond with sign language or spoken tongue.  Because of this I often forget that you are only 21 months old.  Thank you for using your imagination to remind me that you are still a child.  You create a world around you and it is my job to guide and strengthen your imagination every day.

Photobucket

Two weeks ago I let you pick out a toy from Michaels, you chose a tiny doll and you named her Olga.  Since then she has never left your side.  That day Olga came with us to daddys "office"  and immediately she had to find the bathroom.  You put her on the potty, looked her in the eye and said "poo, poo, Olga, push", you made the push sound and then said "all done, ew, dirty" and tried to wipe her bottom.  Later that day Olga had a time out.  You sat her on her bottom, said "sit down", turned your head away and let her sit in silence for 10 seconds before picking her up, giving her a hug and saying "it's okay, I love you".  We asked you what she was in time out for and you said "Olga pull hair". 

PhotobucketMonths ago I gave you your first invisible cup of tea and it started a pathway in your mind that previously had no direction...follow this pathway and enjoy every story it creates for you along the way.  Please bear with me as I continue to cultivate my own imagination.   Help me see through your eyes.  Teach me how to be a better pirate, fort builder, dragon slayer and super hero.  Let's imagine this world together, everyday challenging new enemies from far away lands and celebrating with an exotic tea party for two (or five depending on how many stuffed animals would like to attend).  I love you.   I love the child you are and the child you bring out in me.

Photobucket

Imagine sweet girl, imagine.

Love,

Your momma



Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Pop star baby...

Sep 28, 2011

We put this outfit on Scarlett last week for church and decided that she looked like a teenage pop star. 

PhotobucketPhotobucket


Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Family birthday party...

Sep 27, 2011

The Becher family is big...I mean really big.  So there is always a party.  This weekend was Lizzie's birthday.  Chris and I had some personal stuff to attend to so we sent Scarlett off with her Nani and thankfully she captured the day in pictures.

PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Thank you to my wonderful family for loving on my daughter when I was unable to do it myself, you truly are a blessing.

Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Movie Monday...

Sep 26, 2011

Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Gym class...

Sep 23, 2011

At the end of June Chris purchased a groupon for The Little Gym with every intention of taking Scarlett to a four week gymnastic class during the summer, but of course life got in the way.  So here we are in the month of September and I am stuck with a four week pass to The Little Gym and a fear of actually using it.  I called the gym, signed Scarlett up, and dreaded the first Thursday that I would have to step foot in unfamiliar territory.

Yesterday was the first Thursday and Scarlett did a pretty good job of providing a reason for three more weeks of fear.  I was "that" mom with "that" kid.  Scarlett was a total terror.  I have to keep reminding myself that is was her first time in the "classroom" environment, but I just keep seeing her clinging to me in terror and screaming when she was asked to do something she didn't want to do.  She was that kid, the emotional, uncontrollable, I'm going to do what I want, when I want, kid.  Every time we would start a new activity she would just get comfortable with the idea of participating and the class would switch to something else and she would freak out again.  At one point we had to stand on the side lines (by ourselves) because Scarlett refused to leave my arms and sit on a white line.  Yes, all we were asked to do was SIT on a white line, this was too much for Scarlett and the screaming continued until the teacher looked at us and said, "you can stand off to the side".  OH MY GOSH!!! This is her first time, this is her first time, this is her first time...I kept this statement on repeat in my mind for the next 45 minutes watching the clock tick slower and slower...

I am pretty sure that the class room is not exactly ready for Scarlett...or Scarlett isn't exactly ready for the class room.  Either way we have three more paid weeks of mommy torture time.  I am already preparing my "Scarlett, you can do this" pep talks.  Any suggestions?


Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Dallas...

Sep 21, 2011

Chris and I took Scarlett to Texas over labor day weekend so we could meet our beautiful Goddaughter Abigail for the first time.  Our friends Brian and Kari moved away the day after they got married so we have made it a priority to keep them in our lives by visiting once a year and they made it a priority by giving Chris and I the privilege of being the Godparents of their little girl.

Stepping out of the airport on Thursday night we were hit with 90 degree weather...at night, the sun was down and it was still 90+ degrees...okay, welcome to Texas.  Other than the hot, which we combated by eating lots of ice cream and staying inside, we had a REALLY good time.  We ate, drank, laughed, and visited the best aquarium (if you are ever in Dallas go to Dallas World Aquarium).

Thank you Brian and Kari for opening up your home and your new Texas lives to our little family.  We love you guys and can not wait to shower baby Abigail with our love and kisses in December.


Meeting Abigail...
I think Scarlett is ready for a sibling...just throwing that out there. 
Photobucket

Beating the heat with peanut butter ice cream...

PhotobucketPhotobucket

Relaxing at home...
Photobucket

Dallas World Aqurium

Photobucket

A couple more snuggles before saying goodbye...

Photobucket



Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Tuesday update...

Sep 20, 2011

Park time with my mom...

 
Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

She's a little blue...

While Chris and I were creating this piece of art and after the distraction of popcorn and a movie lost its excitement, Scarlett decided she wanted to join the adult fun and create a painting of her own...using her entire body.  Either that or she is trying to tell us that she wants to be a smurf for Halloween.

Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket

Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Movie Monday...

Sep 19, 2011

Scarlett is already preparing for her first coffee date...



















Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Random...

Sep 18, 2011

Random video I stole from my moms Iphone...





Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Baked ham sandwich dinner

Sep 17, 2011

Photobucket What you need...

2 tbs butter (softened)
2 tbs mustard (you can also use dijon for more intense flavor)
1/4 cup dried minced onion (or sauteed fresh onion) 
1 tbs poppy seeds
4 sandwich rolls
12 slices of ham
4-6 slices of swiss cheese
4 pieces of foil

What to do...

Pre-hear oven to 350
Mix together butter, mustard, onion and poppy seeds in a small bowl.
Put approx. 1 tbs of mixture on each bun
Layer ham and swiss cheese on top of bun
Wrap each sandwich in one piece of foil
Bake in oven for 10 minutes
Open and enjoy




Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Fort days...

Sep 16, 2011

We woke up Saturday to a rainy, thunder ringing morning and we knew it was perfect for a day at home.  After a quick trip to our Saturday morning breakfast stomp, we came home with nothing in our plans but a trip to Michaels for art supplies.  Chris and I started a painting to fill the only bare wall in our living room and set Scarlett up with the most awesome Saturday morning surprise.  A fort, popcorn and movie.  We filled the fort with pillows for ultimate comfort, filled her bowl with crunchy popcorn and turned on a movie for a distraction that would give us a good hour of toddler free paint time.

Some days are just fort days.

Photobucket


Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Feeling a little artsy...

Sep 15, 2011

Chris and I are undertaking out first art project together...so far so good.

Photobucket

I saw the idea for this painting here...and thought it would be fun project to fill the empty spot in our living room and bring a little color to our wall...so off we went.

Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucket

At first we really liked the unfinished look of this painting...but the more we look at in on the wall the more incomplete it looks. 

I think we are going to finish it...but we are both so back and forth with our opinions on the piece that only time will tell if we actually get around to making any changes.  For now we are enjoying our first taste of Chris and Andrea crafty creations.





Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com

Life's a beach...

Sep 14, 2011

Last Thursday my girlfriend Katie and I took our girls on a lunch date in L.A. and on the way home we decided to take a little detour to the beach.

Photobucket

Scarlett was very apprehensive at first, picking sand off her toes one fleck at a time, but after she toddled down to the water for the second time, she was happily kicking and screaming with the rise of every wave.
Both the girls where soaked and sandy and had to be stripped down to their diapers for the ride home.  The sign of a successful afternoon at the beach.

Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket


I see many California beach days in our near future. 

Vote for us... Vote For Us @ TopBabyBlogs.Com - A Top Baby Blog List By topbabyblogs.com