Trip to the Zoo

Grandma McBride recently proposed a trip to Hogle zoo. Scarlett seems to love animals so we jumped at the chance. She especially enjoyed the monkeys who came up to the glass to say hi.....

Feeding Fiascos......Please Help!

Flashing me a look of defiance/indifference to sweet pea puree


I am petitioning you - the blogosphere - for input on this very important issue. I introduced Scarlett to solids at 6 months. We began with rice cereal, then moved to sweet potatoes. She caught on very quickly to the mechanics of eating (i.e. opening her mouth, swallowing, leaning toward the spoon). However, she is such a busy baby that she won't take more than a bite or two before she lunges for other objects on the table, gets completely distracted by other people in the room, wipes the food all over her face, refuses to open her mouth, etc. The last few days she is especially uninterested in eating. I have found some success when I let her grab the spoon and feed herself. Maybe it's because the flavor of the week is peas? Here are my additional concerns....

• When I do manage to give her even small amounts of food, she becomes extremely constipated and goes ten days before painfully going to the bathroom.

• When I try to "unconstipate" her with a few ounces of fruit juice, she refuses to drink it. Apparently she is one of 10 children in the United States that doesn't like fruit juice.

I need input on the following questions...

1. Scarlett receives breastmilk exclusively. Is it absolutely essential for her to have solids? Can i just give her an iron supplement and forget about solids for the next month or two?
2. How did you get your baby to enjoy solids? Any tricks?

Thanks!

Trip to Wal-Mart.........In Style

My latest craft....a glamorous hot pink and leopard shopping cart cover!

Scarlett taking in the spectacular sights of the dairy section.


As you can probably guess from the title of my post, we don't get out much here in South Carolina. However, Wal-Mart in the deep south almost rivals Las Vegas as a people-watching destination. Although I've been to Wal-Mart thousands of times, Scarlett delights in the experience because she can see so many new faces and activity.

Adventures in Sweet Potatoes

Recently I began making my own baby food purees. I purchase organic vegetables, steam them, puree them and freeze the final product in ice cube trays. It is a snap to thaw a food cube each morning and evening and serve it up! I like this system because it is less expensive than commercial baby food, does not contain pesticides, and preserves more of the vitamins and nutrients found naturally in food.
The flavor of the week is sweet potatoes. She seems to enjoy them so far. I think next up on the menu is pea puree, then zucchini. Poor girl isn't getting any fruit until she cycles through all the vegetables:) For instructions and recipes I use this great website - wholesomebabyfood.com.

First Hair-Do and Sitting Up!

The last few weeks we have made two notable discoveries.....Scarlett can sit up and her hair is finally long enough for the Unicorn-Horn Hair-do!

Bath Time!

A word about the heat......

Beautiful Santa Barbara, California


I just want to take a moment to vent about the heat in South Carolina. As my five-year stint as a summer sales wife draws to a close I have reflected on the various locations around the country we have called home. These places include; Los Angeles, Nashville, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and now Columbia, South Carolina. I have experienced many different climates as I sojourned around the country each year and have made some final conclusions.
The heat in South Carolina is absolutely SUFFOCATING. The heat index is around 110 degrees each day and a brief walk to the mailbox necessitates a change of clothes. During the day, playgrounds and common areas are deserted because people are afraid they'll melt if they step outside for more than five minutes. Columbia represents one extreme. Last year while we lived in Minneapolis, I wondered if I would ever be able to shed my winter coat before August. I recall running into a Panera Bread for cover as the snow blew at the beginning of June. I think there were only a handful of days warm enough to actually enjoy laying out at the pool. I can't even fathom what Minnesota winters are like - I hope I never find out.
I always thought I was a "Four-Seasons" person, but I decided that I don't like weather that makes me feel trapped. The extreme heat in South Carolina makes me feel trapped because I can't take a walk, stand outside for extended periods of time, etc. Snowy weather makes me feel trapped after about day two for the same reasons.
So, after five years of exploring the country and trying to be open-minded, I decided the perfect place for me is a climate where the temperature hovers at about 70 degrees year-round. I haven't told him yet, but when Micah graduates from law school we are moving to Santa Barbara, California. Hopefully he won't object! While growing up I visited there often because my grandmother has a lovely condo on the beach. You're never freezing in the winter and the ocean breeze prevents you from being scorched in the summer. I would never be on house arrest in Santa Barbara because there are no extremes in weather. If anyone knows of other comparable places please let me know. I'd like to at least present my husband with options that are still in the "temperate climate genre" of course.

Morning at the Pool

This week our sales office won a pool day incentive so we headed out for a swim and catered lunch. Scarlett sported her new zebra print tankini, although it doesn't quite cover the generous girth around her midsection. It was wonderful to have some fun family time, as Micah usually has to leave for work early in the day.

Gilbert Peach Festival

My orchard peach purchase. They are not ripe yet. I hate waiting for fruit to ripen....I want instant gratification when it comes to fruit.
Apparently she didn't like the country music.....I told her it's bad
Scarlett happy to have found some shade and get a clean diaper

Today the wives in our office attended the Gilbert, South Carolina Peach Festival. It offered a variety of vendors, bands, carnival rides and and of course an abundance of peachy items such as peach ice cream, drinks, bbq sauce, cider, and of course fresh orchard peaches. I will say that I enjoy good carnival fare and I do not hesitate to eat corn dogs, fries and the like when I attend one. It eased my conscience a little that the food at this event was at least made with fruit.
Scarlett was well-behaved for the most part. She probably preferred to be napping in her crib at home instead of being torched under the blazing hot, South Carolina sun and listening to a three-man country band singing "She keeps the home-fires a burnin.'"

A Father's Day Post...

Micah is a wonderful father to Scarlett and I love watching him interact with her and take care of her. As a parent he is patient, fun, exciting and level-headed. Sometimes I am quite the basket-case when it comes to motherhood and one of Micah's jobs is to frequently say, "Now let's keep our wits about us." I find his calming presence invaluable .
I love how he always narrates Scarlett's life for her, as if he was commissioned to be her personal tour guide and help her navigate this vast new world. I'll hear him go in into her bedroom and greet her -
"Good morning Scarlett, oh thank you for the smile! I hope you had a good night's sleep. Let's get you up and change that diaper. Guess what mom picked out for you to wear today?......Jeans with embroidered flowers! You know Scarlett, every girl needs a good pair of jeans - they're pretty much a staple in every wardrobe.....etc."
I hope she will grow to appreciate what a wonderful dad she has. Happy Father's Day Micah!

Scarlett's Two-Month Pictures

Although these pictures are of Scarlett when she was two months old, I thought I should post them anyway. My friend Danielle Kissee is beginning a photography business and is very talented. I'm grateful to her for these wonderful photos. Check out her work at dkforeverimages.com

It's Official

Many of you are probably already aware, but recently Micah officially decided to attend BYU Law School in the fall. We both feel very good about this decision. Although we have to return to poor-starving-college-student status, we are excited and grateful for this upcoming opportunity.

Little Ladybug

A few days after Scarlett was born, my friend Heather brought over this adorable ladybug outfit complete with ladybug shoes, spotted tights, a skirt and onesie. I had been counting down the days until she was big enough to wear the whole ensemble!