Scarlett's Summer Jam

Everybody needs a summer jam, where the second you hear it you want to turn up the volume, tap your feet, bob your head to the beat, and sing along at the top of your lungs.

Scarlett's summer jam features a member of the Black Eyed Peas (Will. I. Am.), but probably isn't the kind of song you're thinking, considering that it also features Big Bird, Grover, Elmo ("Melmo" according to Scarlett), and other furry friends. The song is called "What I Am" (I guess a play on Will. I. Am., now that I think about it), and teaches kids that they are smart, strong, helpful, and all kinds of other good things. Scarlett LOVES it, and we listen to/watch it on You Tube numerous times a day (initiated by Scarlett bringing me my iPhone and asking, "Melmo?"). Scarlett bobs her head, sings along when they say "high" (I'm sure she thinks they're saying "hi" when they are really saying "keep my head up high", but close enough). The funniest part is when she plays air drums at the same time Will. I. Am. does. Check it out if you're interested (it's received over 5 million views, and I think Scarlett is personally responsible for a few hundred thousand.)

How old are you, Scarlett?

I'll go into more detail in Scarlett's 18 month post (which is in the works), but Scarlett's verbal skills have exploded over the last two weeks. She can count to three (among other new tricks), but her favorite number hands down is two. Examples ...

Me: Scarlett, do you want a cookie?
Scarlett: Two!

BB (to me, while driving down the street): Maybe we should stop at Home Depot and buy one.
Scarlett (from the backseat, oblivious to the fact that BB was not talking to her): Two!

Last night while we were reading/cuddling before bed, I asked her how old she is. She insisted that she's two. She would only let me video tape her if I had it on the mirror image setting on my iPhone, so that's why she's so interested in looking at the camera -- she could see herself! You'll also note that her hair has gotten out of control. A barrette is a must at all times (other than bedtime), but I just can't bring myself to cut it.

And here is 18-month old Scarlett insisting that she's two!

(You'll need to pause the music down below so you can hear the video.)

Scarlett kicked off the Fourth of July weekend with a bang!

But not in a good way. On Friday night after dinner, we stopped by a neighborhood park for some swinging and sliding before heading home. Scarlett's shoe got stuck on the side of the slide as she was going down. Her foot stopped, but the rest of Scarlett didn't, and her leg twisted. The next morning she couldn't stand or walk, so we headed off to the emergency room. Poor Scarlett fractured her tibia (the lower leg bone), which is apparently a fairly common injury for toddlers. She got a splint at the ER and then a hot pink cast at the pediatric orthopedist a few days later. She'll be in the cast for roughly four weeks, so no bathing or swimming until August 4th. So far, Scarlett has been quite the trooper. Her crazy crab crawl from her pre-walking days has come in handy, and she manages to walk/stagger a bit as long as she's on carpet (the cast slips on the hardwood floors).

Heading home from the ER in her splint.



Keeping her spirits -- and her leg -- up at dinner at Bolsa. (Notice her leg propped up on Chris's knee, which she placed there on her own.)



Looking pathetic in her new cast.




Scarlett's Grandpa doing his best cheer her up with sticky flags. Scarlett does not look particularly amused.



How many more days until August 4th?? Here's to hoping we get to celebrate July 4th next year with fireworks of the sparkly variety rather than the trip-to-the-emergency-room-with-a-broken-leg variety.

Surfs up! (Hawaii Part 2)

Once Scarlett was feeling better, she decided to spend some time at the beach.








Not sure exactly what's going on in this picture. My best guess is that it's Papa Tig's Justin Bieber impersonation. (At the tender age of 4, Maya already has Bieber Fever. And apparently so does Papa Tig.)


The guys went surfing one day, and all three of them did amazingly well for first timers. Here's Scarlett's Daddy hanging ten.


And here's Papa Tig tearing up a gnarly wave. (Surfers say gnarly, right?)


Kisses for Papa Tig in front of the dolphin fountain.




After an exhausting day of swimming, Scarlett decided to catch up on her sleep in her tubie while Papa Tig proudly sported his French Foreign Legion hat.


Celebrating our last night on the island at a luau.


The girls in their coordinating luau outfits.


Mimi, Papa Tig, and their grandbabies.


One last family photo before saying goodbye.


Until next time, Hawaii!