Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Lately...

What have we been up to lately? Scarlet got this super cute, super pink outfit from her grandma. We think it's hilarious to dress her up for public appearances. It's just too cute!We totally fit Scarlet into a giant Easter egg. We got a kick out of it. I couldn't believe my almost 9-month-old child fit into an Easter egg. Gotta love her!



The memorial place finally poured the cement for Kingston's headstone. We got to put our tiny dancer's feet in the cement. I always want a piece of her with him, and him with her. I'm so grateful that we were able to do this. I hope Scarlet teasures this forever.

"How very softly you tiptoed into our world. Almost silently; only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint your footprints have left on our hearts."

Monday, April 11, 2011

Dear Scarlet -- 8 months

Dear Scarlet,

Today, you are 2/3 of a year old! I know I say this all the time, but really, I cannot believe how fast time is going by.

Last time we weighed you, you weighed in at a whopping 13 pounds 8 ounces. You're growing all the time and you just keep getting funner. You're still in 0-3 month clothes and some 3-6 month clothes, but I'm sure soon, you will be in 6 month clothes.

You love to sit up on your own. We were with your cousin, Makoy, one night and you saw her sitting on her own. You wanted to be just like her. Ever since that night, you have had no problem sitting up on your own. However, you still have no desire to crawl. I'm totally okay with that. I don't mind you being immobile. You will be walking soon enough, so I'm going to enjoy these months with you before you can run away from me!

You now eat bananas, prunes, apples, pears, squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, and we are always trying new things. You're not quite into textures yet, but it's slowly coming.

This last month I have had a little time to reflect on the days you were in the NICU. Everyday I would come visit you, I would put my left hand on your head and get close to you and say, "hello beautiful." It was my way of always telling you I was there. I still find myself doing that to you. It makes me so happy to know you are my daughter, my child.

From the time we brought you home, your dad would always sing Benni and the Jets to you and then make you dance. You have always loved that. Well, on American Idol a couple of weeks ago, a girl sang your song. We still have it recorded and play it for you all the time. You will stop whatever it is you're doing and stare at the TV as soon as you hear the music start. Then you start bobbing back and forth. It's adorable.

A couple of weeks ago your dad got a phone call from a graduate school in California. They told him he was accepted and is to start in August 2011. This means we are going to move to California right after your first birthday. I'm still kind of in shock, but I'm excited for our new adventures.

Sweet Scarlet, you are amazing! There's not a day that goes by that I don't thank God for what I have been given. Even having lost a child, I'm happier now than I ever was because you are a part of my life. I think I can be so happy because I know what true sorrow really is. I feel like I have been at both ends of the spectrum. I sure wonder what it would be like with Kingston here with you. Would you guys have your own language? Would you laugh at each other? Would he be just as happy as you are? I wish I knew. Maybe you are as happy as you are because he is still with you?

You're so amazing to me. Thank you for being such a fighter. You are doing amazingly well for being so premature. It is awe inspiring. I love you to pieces and pieces!

Love you,

Mom

Monday, April 4, 2011

Las Vegas

Oh Las Vegas, I miss your warm, warm weather. It's a good thing I brought home a super nice sunburn to remember you by. This was just a girl's trip. It was me, my cousin, April, and my cousin's wife, Alesha. I knew we were off to a good start when on the trip down we couldn't stop laughing, and I mean wet-your-pants kind of laughing. I needed that relief so badly. I just love these girls and was so glad Ryan was willing and able to watch Scarlet so I could go play for a couple of days. We got to Vegas around 10:30 p.m. on Friday night. We enjoyed a free concert by Sara Evans on Fremont Street. I was completely lost since I had no idea who she was, but April and Alesha enjoyed her as well as the billions of drunkerds there to watch her. We witnessed some pretty nasty things there as well. Oh Las Vegas. We stayed in the Flamingo both nights we were there. We weren't able to check in until about 3:00 in the morning. We were totally spent. It also took about an hour to get checked in. While waiting, we got to see the blue-haired lady riding a Jazzy (awesome), an IT, who will still to this piont and after seeing IT a couple of times have no idea if IT was a boy or a girl, many picture-worthy mullets, muffin tops, hookers, and short skirts. Good laughs were had by all just sitting in the lobby for an hour and watching people. I would try so hard to contain my laughter until people had passed by me, but there were times when I would just flat out start laughing because they looked so ridiculous. What is up with Vegas and people thinking it's okay to look like a hooker 24/7? Maybe they really are just hookers? Not sure. Saturday was April's birthday. We laid out at the pool for a little while and enjoyed the 90 degree weather. It was divine! (Insert sunburn here) We decided to go to a Cirque de Soleil show that night. We walked down to New York, New York. We thought the walk would take us like 20 minutes but it ended up taking us probably an hour and a half. We had to take a few detours and of course had to stop at all the crazies dressed up on the street like characters. Then we went to Ceaser's Palace and shopped of course. It was at that moment when I found an $88 outfit for Scarlet that I wished I had more money. Oh well, who needs it? We stayed in H&M for over an hour picking out super cute clothes. They even had the little overall outfit for Scarlet that I had died over when we were in California. This time it was on sale! Winner! After shopping, we went to Treasure Island and ate at their buffet. It was wonderful! Custom made pasta was my favorite. They also had sushi, BBQ, and the most exciting? Cotton candy!!!! I was literally in heaven. We took the bus back to New York, New York just in time for the show that started at 10:00 p.m. I have no idea how I managed to stay awake so late. The show was interesting. The dancing and tricks were awesome. Overall it was a great day in Vegas. We woke up Sunday and drove home exhausted. I believe I ended up going to bed around 8:00 that night. Yep, I was tired. We had a great time and I love that these girls are my family! Thanks, April, for being born so we could celebrate your birthday!