Scarlett's Pumpkin Party!

I often feel like the only people that read this blog are people that also see my Facebook page and therefore have already seen these photos.  While that is true, I do have big hopes and dreams to print this blog as a book and have documentation of events.  So for those that have already seen these, sorry - but I wanted to remember the details of Scarlett's first birthday party!

The theme for the party was Pumpkins.  We didn't know if Scarlett was a boy or girl until her birth and so we always called her "Baby Pumpkin" in the womb.  I even told Jason I was pregnant by writing my due date on a little pumpkin.  So the idea for the party was a no brainer!

I found inspiration on Pinterest and Etsy for the invitations and the rest just came together.  I worked with Meredith from MJ Paperie and I cannot say enough wonderful things about her!  She sent multiple files and helped me plan the invitations - at MJ Paperie they will do everything from send a computer file for you to print to printing and assembling the complete package.  I didn't want to print myself (I have never had luck doing that) but I do enjoy the assembly part.  Although after cutting and gluing all of these pieces I was starting to wish I had changed my mind!  In the end, though, they turned out beautifully and were a favorite piece of the party.

I took the picture in the backyard (with help from my mom, of course!) printed it at home and glued it into the envelopes.  Looks difficult but really wasn't.



My mom also made her bloomers and her birthday onesie and tutu

I bought most of my supplies at Shop Sweet Lulu and they were super fast and super cute!


I covered a particle board "S" in burlap - burnt my fingers with the glue gun but it was worth it!  Mom made the frame and the pumpkin is fake!



I had big ideas - I attempted to make cake pops that looked like pumpkins. Although they were delicious, I didn't have the candy melts warm enough and they turned out looking like orange blobs.  I just didn't have enough time to mess with it so we ate them ourselves and used plan B - pumpkin cookies from Parcells.  They were delish and adorable.



The tags say "A big thanks from ONE happy pumpkin!"


I knew I wanted to make her cupcakes after getting this idea in my head (which is rare, most of the time I see something online and want to re-create it!) I used chocolate cupcakes, green icing as grass and marshmallow pumpkins on top.  My mom made the pumpkin smash cake for Scarlett using 2 small bundt cakes.  The stem is a tootsie roll!



The picket fence cupcake wrappers are from Michaels



I don't know how we keep lucking out, but the weather was nice for the party.  In October you never know what you might get but we hoped to do some things outside and that worked out!  The kids painted pumpkins and played on the patio while the adults socialized.



Notice the bibs!  I used tempera paint so it wouldn't stain but guess what - it doesn't work well for painting pumpkins! They wouldn't dry fast enough and then when it did, the paint just peeled off.  Oh well!



Scarlett just liked watching! 



She isn't walking yet on her own but was determined to walk with help at her party!





I just love this picture of Cameron after eating something messy!





We bought these HUGE white mums the day of the party - they got the most compliments of any decoration!  They are still beautiful on the back patio.



Scarlett loves attention.  She is such a little ham.  She makes funny faces and repeats just about any face you make at her.  She was so much fun at the party!

Wearing my Uncle Bill's glasses



It started getting cool so we moved inside for cake!

There is something so special about singing "Happy Birthday" to a one year old.  They just sit there, wondering what the fuss is about, while Mom and Dad sit back thinking "we did it, we survived!" - I teared up during the song (did that with Lilli's, too!) - I got it on video but not on my camera since I was holding the cake.  But then it was time to dig in!

Yummy toes!

She had to share with Sissy

 So many presents, she is such a loved little girl!

She was getting tired at this point!



Monthly photos



She loves them!

Our blessed family

 And just like that, it was time to say goodbye to our family and put another birthday party in the books!

Scarlett is ONE!

I honestly can't believe I am posting this.  Shouldn't I be sharing the news of her birth!?

We are so incredibly blessed and in love with our girls.  Scarlett has added something to our family that we never knew was missing but now couldn't live without.  She is spunky yet snuggly, giggly yet determined. 

 At one year, Scarlett:
*weighs 21 lbs, 2 oz (50%ile)
*is 30.25 inches long (75%ile)
*goes to bed around 7 and wakes around 12 hours later.  She sometimes sleeps straight through, sometimes wakes 1-2 times.  She typically wants a bottle and is not soothed by anything else!


My mom made these outfits - I LOVE them! 
There is something extra special about the girls clothes when they are made by Nana just for them. 

*takes 1 nap for about 2+ hours but can sometimes sneak in a catnap
*has 6 teeth - 4 on top and 2 on bottom

 *still has the bluest eyes and is getting longer curls.  Hair is dark blonde

*won't walk on her own but will cruise on furniture - she is a pretty fast crawler so I don't think she sees the appeal in walking!  She usually sits down when you stand her up and laughs at you!

*takes formula in a bottle 3 times a day.  I won't lie - I hate to wash bottles but hate even more the thought of my baby being too old for a bottle so I'm not rushing it! She drinks out of a straw cup and likes water and juice.  She loves to let the water fall out of her mouth and soak her shirts!
*has had some dairy and we have seen no issues - yay!  Plan to try whole milk soon!

*wears 12-18 month clothes, size 3 shoes and size 3 diapers

*loves to give kisses (see above!) and snuggle her head in my chest.  She hides her face when she gets excited.

*has made many friends at church in the pews behind us.  She loves to entertain during the sermon!  She cries in tick tock (Bible class) when other kids cry or when the routine is changed.  Apparently she doesn't like for people to come in the room!

*tries to draw with her right hand.  She loves to use the bath crayons and draw on the tub like Lilli does.  It is adorable and she is pretty good at it!
*says Mama, Dada, "mo" (more) and "baba" (bottle)

*loves to mimic whatever we do - making funny faces or sounds and watches intently when we speak. 

*makes a really hilarious face where she squints her eyes and cocks her head, it cracks us all up!




"The Face" at a basketball game

  *went to the Wurth Farms Pumpkin Patch this year for the first time, she loves being outside so she was happy the entire time!



Normally I update the blog and write a little something to her but this time I wanted her Daddy to chime in.   So here is the beautiful letter he wrote for her:

Our dearest Scarlett,


The curl in your hair, those gorgeous blue eyes, and that precious round face… those were the ways that we fell in love at first glance.

The funny face that you make, the endless giggles with your sister, and that adorable open mouth kiss on the cheek… these are the ways we know we’ll love you forever.

There is nothing that will amaze a mother or father more in their lifetime than this... Just when they think they have given all the love they could ever give, when they couldn’t imagine where the same love for another would come from, when their hearts are already on overtime, a daughter is born, and love’s true lesson is revealed. Love doesn’t divide, it multiplies. Their hearts swell, their love deepens, their faith strengthens. The blessings of God baffle understanding, they turn man’s wisdom on its head, and they wear pink socks.

Before you were born we prayed for you, in your mother’s tummy we sang to you, wrapped in swaddling clothes we rocked you, in your bare skin we bathed you, in your gowns and dresses we photographed you, in your bathing suit we swam with you, in your little tennis shoes we walked with you, and covered in your birthday cake we celebrated with you.

Today you turn one year old. We have a whole lifetime to look forward to spending together, but already we have enough love and memories together to make anyone’s lifetime feel whole.

We love you and God bless you,

Mommy and Daddy

We had a wonderful 1st birthday celebration and I will be recapping that next!

Scarlett is ELEVEN months old!

At eleven months, Scarlett:
*weighs 20 lb 3.5 oz  (60%ile)
*is 30 inches long  (80%ile)

Look at those dimples!

*goes to bed around 7 and wakes around 7:30, still waking around 1 or 2 times a night.  She drinks a 6 ounce bottle and goes right back to sleep so we've gotten used to it.  Someday she will appreciate sleep, we hope!
*takes 1 nap a day, usually 2 hours long.  Rarely she will take a second nap but we don't push it.
*4 teeth but 2 on top are VERY close to popping through

 

*crawls, cruises on furniture and walks with a walker or holding on to our hands

*refuses a sippy of formula but will drink from a straw if it is water or juice

She loves to feed Cooper!

*loves ALL food, hasn't refused anything yet!  She eats more than Lilli most days.  We have yet to give her any real dairy and plan to wait until she is over 1 year.
*Wears 12 month and 12-18 month clothes
*Wears size 3 diapers
 

Crawling on the soccer field, trying to get in on the action!

*Wears size 2 shoes but they are snug
*Has blue eyes and dark blonde curly hair

*Recently started interacting with Lilli more and more - they are actually playing together now that she can stand at the table with L.  Sometimes Lilli plays with her and sometimes Lilli pushes her down but Scarlett doesn't seem to mind to get back up and try again!  One of these days Scarlett will be bigger than Lilli and will just push her right back and then we will all be in trouble!

*Took her first bath  in the big tub - she loved it!  The best part was bathing them together and watching them play!
 

*Stayed with Nana for the first time (at our house) while Jason, Lilli and I went to church camp for one night.  She did great!


Scarlett!
We are planning for your first birthday party and reminiscing about this time last year when you were still kicking in my belly.  Your adorable personality makes you even cuter, which we didn't even think was possible!  We love you so much!!

Scarlett is TEN months old!

At ten months, Scarlett:
*weighs 19 pounds 8 ounces (50%ile)
*is 29 inches long (75%ile)

*has FINALLY started sleeping through the night, but only on occasion.  The nights she does wake up it is for a bottle and then she goes right back to sleep.  First night to do it was July 22!
*naps great - usually 3 hours a day, sometimes one nap and sometimes 2

With Nana and PawPaw at the Arkema Company Picnic

*has 4 teeth - she got her top right on July 15 and top left on July 22
*is on the move!  She started army crawling on July 28 and is trying to figure out crawling on all fours.  Due to pushing off on ONE big toe she got a pretty bad sore which then got infected. Took her to the Dr and after a round of antibiotics she is better!

*can hold a bottle by herself but sometimes is too lazy to do it!
*uses a sippy but only the ones with straws!
*says "hi" and "ball" along with Mama and Dada
*gives open mouth wet kisses!
*drinks 3-4 bottles of Alimentum formula.  We tried to switch to soy but she woke up screaming 2 nights after that.  Now we are trying to add "sensitive" and she is doing ok so far.

*no longer eats baby food but eats lots of things we eat - tortillas, avocados, rice, beans, chicken, ham, toast, puffs, cheerios, waffles, pancakes, bananas, etc.  There are not many things that she refuses...in fact, I can't name anything!  Girl likes to eat!

*is working hard to pull up on furniture
*wears 9-12 month clothes and size 2 shoes
*size 2 diapers
*eyes still light blue and hair is dark blonde/light brown with soft curls forming

*doesn't like Bible class, especially if you take the hand held mirror away from her!

Trying to get a picture of her Bible class was difficult to say the least!

*is still a snuggly girl, which I love!
*throws a hilarious fit when you take a toy or don't feed her fast enough.  She is a spitfire - quick to cry but even quicker to dry it up, thankfully!

I can't even remember what this fit was about, but isn't she pitiful!?

*I went back to work this month and you stay home with your Nana.  You love her and she loves you - but I MISS YOU!

Scarlett Jean,
You make everyone around you laugh and smile - especially your Sissy.  We love watching you grow and trying to keep up with you!  It is so hard to believe we only have 2 more months of babyhood!!

Scarlett is NINE months old!

Sweet Scarlett Jean, you just won't stop growing!

At nine months, Scarlett:
*weighs 18 pounds, 8.5 ounces (50 %ile)
*is 28 inches long (65 %ile)

*sleeps 12 hours at night, getting up 2-4 times each night.  She wakes for a pacifier plug or bottle and goes right back to sleep.  Some nights are better than others!  Every night I go to bed thinking "this could be the night she doesn't wake up for a bottle!" - so far it hasn't happened!
*takes 2 naps, each 3 hours after she wakes.  They are usually 1-2 hours each.
*has starting really cuddling with her blanket and takes a paci while in her crib.  She moves all around her bed and I'm going to take her bumpers out soon!

 
*takes 4 bottles of Alimentum formula a day, each one is around 6-8 ounces.
*doesn't eat much baby food, but loves anything from our plates!  She especially loves plain waffles and pancakes and pieces of green beans.  We gave her carrots this week and she loved them but had some nasty diapers, so who knows!?
*drinks and LOVES water from a straw (thanks to her PawPaw)
*has 3 teeth - the top right popped through on July 15 and the left will be in any day now.
*said "Hi" for the first time on the 15th, as well. She now says Mama, Dada, Hi and "baba" which I think means bottle?

*is on the move!  She can't crawl on all fours yet but she is trying and getting close! She rolls fast each way and moves backwards.  She can get to the ground from sitting up and can almost sit up from being on her back.  She is getting frustrated because she can't crawl yet so I think it will be very soon.
*pulled up to her knees on her own to play with her piano
*dances when I stand her up at the piano and she plays the keys, it is adorable!

*wears 9-12 month clothing, size 2 shoes and size 3 diapers
*is a great snuggler.  Lately she has started burying her head in my chest and it is my absolute favorite thing.  I love to hold her and know that soon she won't want me to!


This is such a fun age! She is changing every day and doing new things all the time.  I want to go back to when she was a newborn but I love seeing her grow and interact with her sister.  She is happiest when Lilli is playing with her on the floor!