Dear Scarlette,
Mommy’s family gave her a new camera lens for Christmas and she hasn’t figured out all the technicalities of it yet. Or any of them, really. So if you’re looking back on this album and wondering why your pictures all look a bit wonky, there’s your answer.
Did you know that you are 14 months old today? I woke up this morning to the sound of you calling “Mama! Mama!” It’s one of the most beautiful sounds I’ve ever heard, even if it WAS four o’clock in the morning. Just an FYI: we don’t need to wake up before it’s light outside. You started saying “mama” on New Year’s Eve and I am still reveling in it. I love when you pull on my pants and chant it for me to hold you or bury your face in my neck and whisper it as you are falling asleep.
Mostly we’re just so excited to hear what your little voice sounds like. Right now you only say “hi” and “mama” but you’re very close to saying “dada.” That will make your daddy really happy, he’s been campaigning for you to say “dada” pretty much since we brought you home from the hospital. You also can sign the words for “milk” and “doggie.”
You are having some GI issues (silly prematurity) and have to drink pear juice mixed with Miralax. The Miralax is supposed to be flavorless but somehow you know it is in there and apparently, you hate it. You love plain pear juice but if I try to sneak the Miralax in you push it away in resistance. Yesterday I gave you a bottle full and as soon as you realized it wasn’t just pear juice, you not only pushed it away but looked at me and frantically started signing “milk” over and over. I’m making a note of that because I’m pretty sure it was brilliant of you.
I think you are brilliant all around. You’re such a quick learner. You got a play set for Christmas and you love going down the slide. You can’t quite climb all the way up yet so we sit you on top and then you put your arms out and lean forward to make yourself go. It’s the cutest thing.
On Christmas Eve you waved “bye bye” for the first time. Now you follow Lucy Dog around signing “Doggie” and waving “bye bye” and Lucy eyes us warily like “where does this kid think I’m going?” You’ll also pull our hands away to “find” us when we play peek-a-boo with you and sometimes you’ll clap your hands, but only if you’re happy and you know it.
We love you to pieces Scarlettie,
Mommy
