5 Years

5 years ago Matt and I got married. We went fancy with a courthouse wedding since we had no money (still don't!) and aren't fans of being in front of a lot of people. We wanted to keep it small and just invite immediate family. His parents, my parents, my sis and nephew came. It was planned and we dressed up and ate afterwards. That was about that.

In October it will be 8 years total and it certainly hasn't been easy. I'm still surprised he puts up with me on a daily basis. He's a wonderful guy, however, insanely smart and such an amazing dad.

Also the flip flops? Ignore those :) My feet ached by the time we got down to the gazebo and I changed shoes too early. Took pics and I directed them NOT to get my feet. This still remains my favorite picture on that day... we both look so happy! And the flip flops match anyways.

Here's to many, many more years :)

Wordless Wednesday

(First visit to Grant's Farm late May)

Because I can't resist...

Here's more.

Dear Scarlett

Dear Scarlett,

I wish you could stay this small forever. You're still tiny, never having caught up from the rough first year, particularly the first 6 months, but you're absolutely perfect to me. Your hair is finally growing and you're allowing me to put clips in to keep your bangs out of your eyes. You're so incredibly smart and amaze me everyday. You've learned approximately 80 bajillion new words in the last 2 months which just blows my mind. You're gentle and patient with other kids and always show concern when someone hurts themselves. You're also incredibly curious and full of boundless energy and love to point at mama's phone saying "song!" and then dance your tiny bum off. I can't believe you're going to be 2 in less than 2 months.

Quitting my job and staying home with you has been the best decision I have ever made. Spending so much time with you, whether it's a happy or frustrating time, is making me a better mama and all around better person. I love you, my little chip-toothed, wispy-haired pixie.

Love,
Mama

Wordless Wednesday

(hahahaha! this pic cracks me up)

Lions and Tigers and bugs... oh my!

So Scarlett has discovered what bugs are and instead of being fascinated she's quite terrified of them. I once killed a small spider near her doorway and she constantly reminds me of that event. She likes to point at the spot excitedly yelling "Buggy! Buggy, mama! Buggy, bye bye!".

Of course the big scary ones tends to come out when Daddy's not around. I have good luck like that, you know? Also, I'm terrified of bugs. I do, however, make sure to not freak in front of Scarlett because I do not want to make her fear of bugs any worse.

Like the other day, I had just changed her diaper, set her down, and was throwing the old one away. She started saying, "Buggy! Buggy!". My back was to her but I assured her there wasn't a bug as she tends to see them everywhere even when there are none. I assumed she either transformed a speck of dirt into a bug with her mind or was reminding me of the one I killed in the doorway. She persisted, yelling "Buggy!" so I turned around. A freaking huge house centipede. EEEEEEEEK! It took all I had not to shriek because I'm a scaredy cat like that. I had to give myself a little internal pep talk upon the realization that I was going to have to step on this monster.

I held it together and stepped on him, with an audible crunch! and a nice little bloody spot on the floor. Gross. Cleaned it up with a wipe and that was that.

Now she has two spots in her room to remind me of.

Wordless Wednesday

Dance.

Flashback Friday

Scarlett was 3 months old in this picture. It's one of my favorites, despite her not smiling and despite the wet shirt. Hardly anything was dry those days, or dry for long I should say, due to the horrible reflux and puking. Oh the puke... don't even get me started on that. We had a projectile vomiter which was lovely. But she was cute! If you're cute the puking can be somewhat ignored right?

Instagram Love

I love instagram so, so much. It allows me to share photos throughout the day (published to twitter, most times as well) and get a peek into the daily lives of others.

I take a lot of pictures with my iPhone since it's always with me. Here are some of my favorite instagram photos from the last month. My username on both Instagram and Twitter is ohcrys.

First ice cream truck experience with Grandpa

Daddy

Me and my niece Allie. Baby Feeeeever!

Scarlett and Daddy reading time

Swing!

Sleepy Girl

Wheeee!

Curls! Her hair is finally getting longer

Swimming at Great Grandma's

First trip to the library

One cool chick

Waiting for daddy to get home

Wicked bedhead

Scarlett, mean kitty charmer

Changes

I've got a big (err, more like HUGE) list of topics I want to blog about but right now? I'd rather just do the stream of consciousness thing. My brain is still a jumbled mess but it is improving so there's hope.

It's been a month since I quit. A month since I've been home with my lovely, ok, most of the time she's lovely, little pixie and I still can't believe time has gone by this quickly. We still do not have a good schedule established and that's really starting to give everyone the crabbies around here. Scarlett's naps are random, and although she sleeps about the same amount of time each day the times she actually naps are all over the place. She has reverted back to two naps most days, which isn't normal for a 22 month old from what I know. She was on an excellent schedule at daycare but we could never get her to sleep at the same time on the weekends. And now that she's home full time with me, well, it's like that everyday. She also pretty much flat out refuses to sleep anywhere but in the car or her bed. Even pack 'n plays at both grandparents houses aren't working so great anymore. And in the stroller or on me? Negative. This makes going out anywhere hard if it's going to be more than an hour or so.

And all those things I researched and bookmarked excitedly while I was still working? I'm talking about the story times at the library, mom groups, free activities, play times at the rec center near us, etc., etc.... well those haven't happened yet either. I told myself after the first week I'd be all settled and all would be well. HAHA. That is so not the case. It's not like we've been sitting around the house all day, but still... Just not exactly what I envisioned.

I've also had to learn how to do most things alone with a feisty toddler around. You'd think that I would be used to this since she's nearly 2, right? I mean doing laundry while your toddler is around would be a basic thing every mom does? Well not this mama. Our laundry area is in the unfinished utility room in the basement and I could never find a good way to keep her out of stuff. I only ever did laundry when Matt was home and could play with her. And cooking? Only ever did anything beyond the very basic easy stuff when he was home as well. Now as I'm typing this it sounds so stupid but it's true. I never felt like doing anything elaborate after working 10 hours at my stressful job anyways.

So it's been an incredibly big adjustment. Getting used to spending less, doing things with Scarlett around while keeping her safe and entertained, teaching her...

As hard as it's been, though, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.

More to come, promise!