Six Months Old! (July 21, 2010)

Scarlett is six months old today! I can hardly believe it. She had an appointment with Dr. Curry this morning, and our big girl is 18 pounds 9 ounces (90th percentile), 28 inches long (97th percentile), and her head is 19 1/4 inches (greater than 97th percentile). The head measurement should come as no surprise to anyone who has been around a gathering of Schwegmanns or Barnhouses, but her height and weight measurements continue to amaze me. We'll see if she keeps it up!

Scarlett is getting better at sitting up on her own every day. She still weaves and wobbles a bit and has to be spotted, but she'll be able to do it by herself any day now. Her fascination with Winnie continues, but it remains a one-sided love affair. Winnie mostly ignores Scarlett and focuses her energy on stealing her toys when nobody is looking. Scarlett's laugh is much like Scarlett -- hearty and full, and most definitely not dainty. She still loves being outside and has been enjoying lots of time in the pool. Nap time continues to be a bit of a challenge, but she is still sleeping great at night. She's a really sweet and easy going baby, which probably means she's breaking us in gently in preparation for her teenage years.

Here are some shots of our sweet girl on her six month birthday.

Food glorious food!

Scarlett had her first official taste of solid foods this weekend. I have to admit that pictures of babies with food all over their faces gross me out. Yes, I know babies are messy eaters, but I don't really want to look at photographic evidence of it. But I felt like we should nevertheless take pictures of the big event, and it turns out I'm not grossed out by photos of my OWN baby with food all over her face. Funny how that works ...

She started off with a breakfast of oatmeal and banana. Thanks to Aunt Patsy for the adorable dishes, sippy cup, and spoons!







For dinner, Chris cooked us a delicious avocado and shrimp dish, and so Scarlett had plain avocado. We're going to try to feed her the same thing (or a baby-friendly variation) of whatever we are eating when we can.



It dawned on us very quickly that we had given her one of the slipperiest (most slippery?) foods around. That tricky avocado really vexed poor Scarlett.

"Hello, avocado. I will eat you now. Not because you are delicious (although my parents tell me that you are), but because I put everything I find directly into my mouth."



"Avocado, you are a slippery sucker. Where did you go??" (Note avocado on her collar.)



"Waiter, may I please have a napkin? Actually, make that a towel." (We forgot to put a bib on her. Lesson learned. Our stash of bibs has since been relocated to a drawer in the kitchen.)



"Avocado,why are you on my arm and not in my mouth?"



"Avocado, somewhere ... somehow ... you will be mine."



"Ahhhh! Much easier with a little help from Mom."



"Avocados are delicious!"



Winnie quickly learned that babies are messy eaters and is thinking maybe it won't be so bad to have Scarlett around after all.



On the menu for later this week: broccoli and asparagus. Don't worry Scarlett ... they are far less slippery, but arguably less delicious (hey, it's a trade-off).

Ooooooklahoma!

We had an Oklahoma themed week -- a trip to Tulsa last weekend rounded out by opening night of the play Oklahoma! this weekend featuring the talented Rachel and Adam. (Let's hope this trend does not continue with an announcement by Scarlett that she intends to join the OU class of 2032.)

In Tulsa, Scarlett got to meet her Nana, Great Aunt Patsy, and cousins Brad and Iris. Scarlett loves her Nana!



Mimi and Papa Tig came for the weekend, too! (Note Scarlett smiling across the room at Nana in the second picture.)





We had a great visit and hope to be back soon!

Rockport Rocks

Generations of Schwegmanns have been going to Rockport on the Texas coast for well over 50 years, so Scarlett naturally wanted to take part in this year's annual gathering. We headed down there the first weekend in June along with Mimi and Papa Tig and met up with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Greg, and a whole slew of other Schwegmanns.

Here's Scarlett and her Grandma admiring the bay and the pier from the hotel balcony. Fishing is the major activity at the coast, and Scarlett figured it was only appropriate that she wear her fish dress (note the tiny fishies on the hem). Scarlett got her very first fishing pole and even scored a trophy in the Port Aransas kids fishing tournament (it was obviously an "everybody's a winner" type of event, but don't tell Scarlett).



Scarlett taking in the beach and contemplating a dip in the gulf.



Scarlett sinks in the sand and wonders whether she should have stayed on dry land.



Our little family strolling on the beach.



Scarlett and her Daddy agree -- Rockport is exhausting. They were both snoring in this photo. Seriously.



Hermit crabs beware! Scarlett will be back next summer and this time she'll be on the move!

Vegas Baby

Yes, we took a baby to Las Vegas. No, we are not insane (well, at least not for this). It actually worked out really well. We hung out as a family during the day, and then the big kids (including Ben and Jeanne who drove in from LA) had nice dinners and gambled a bit at night while Miss Scarlett snoozed in our room with a hotel-recommended babysitter.

As usual, Scarlett was awesome on the plane (after this coming weekend she will have logged 8 flights; time to sign her up for a frequent flyer card!).



The first of many amazing sights, Scarlett got to admire the Grand Canyon out her window.



Upon landing, she immediately wanted to check out the slots.



After we checked into our room, we took a stroll. Anyone who has seen the movie The Hangover will not be surprised to learn that Chris and Scarlett/Carlos elicited a lot of comments. A LOT. We're talking non-stop. I found them hilarious; Chris was not quite as amused (probably because he was the one with a baby strapped to him).


The next day we left the Bjorn back in the room, and Scarlett saw many incredible sights ...

The Eiffel Tower!



The Statue of Liberty!



A crazy guy handing a rawhide to a lion!



And Chris longingly took in some sights as well, including the Mandalay Bay poker room. My how things have changed! (Don't worry; Chris was able to squeeze in some poker time while Scarlett and I squeezed in some nap time.)



Viva Las Vegas!



We had a great trip and hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! (And yes, that is a tiny hair clip desperately clinging to about three hairs on Scarlett's head; so maybe I am crazy after all ...)

Pretty in Pink

A few cute photos. I love the one of Scarlett and Winnie together -- it looks like Scarlett is trying to sneak up on her.



"Hey there, Winnie. Don't mind me. I'm just grabbing my foot. I am DEFINITELY not getting ready to grab your ear."