14 Months & Summer Fun

Happy July everyone! We are loving our warm weather and sunny days here in Petaluma. We had the Larabees in town for a week and Scarlett LOVED her cousins, of course! A photographer came and captured this cousin photo (and many others). By the time you read this update, this photo may be need to be updated as Kim is in labor and Baby King cousin #5 is arriving today!

Scarlett, Shane, Hollace, & Hanley

Newest Tricks:
Scarlett now RUNS. She and Hazel have fun chasing each other around the house. She also has been in the pool A LOT with this warm weather and has mastered "kicking" on command. She seems to understand everything we say (or is just really good at pretending) and nods her head yes or shakes her head no for any given question. After a only few days with my family in OC, she was able to point to Uncle Ev when we asked her where he was. She is SMART! S also loves to dance and runs in a circle until she gets so dizzy that she falls over.

New words: "ow" for her Owl lovey, "Mimi" for Peg, although she hasn't said to to her, "bubu" for bubbles (our favorite summer activity), "baba" for baby, and we've evolved to "Haz" now for Hazel.

Favorite Toy This Month:
Bubbles, her water table, or her baby pool are all tied for this. Anything outdoors and active makes Scarlett happy.

Biggest Thrill:
Scarlett loves praise. Her biggest thrill is now when anyone claps or cheers when she does something to be proud of. Then, she will continue to cheer and clap for herself to get everyone going again.

Biggest Highlight/Biggest Challenge:
Still communication. She wants what she wants when she wants it, although we are slowing starting to understand each other better and better. Jeremy and I are very consistent with our dos/don'ts and she totally understands the things she is not supposed to do/get in to. The head nodding and shakes from her helps us immensely.

Secondly, Scarlett came down with Hand Mouth Food virus right before we left for Southern CA. I had NO idea how awful it would be for her/me. She was in a lot of pain, was up all night for multiple nights, and lost about 3 pounds from her eating strike due to the sores in her mouth. If we can survive that, we can survive anything!

Sweetest Moment:
After being gone for 8 days without Jeremy, Scarlett was beside herself when she saw Jeremy at the airport. When he picked her up, she yelled, "Dada" and started crying. Too cute. She LOVES her daddy!

Happy Summer!
Love, The Kings!

13 Month Old Lady

 Well, a lot has changed since Scarlett turned ONE...seriously! She's such a BIG girl at 13 months!



Newest Tricks:
FULLY walking. About a week after S's bday, she really took off. I caught 17 steps on video, and now she walks (and falls) all day long.

She's also chatting up a storm- "ba--" for ball, "up" to be picked up, "da" for "that" or something she doesn't know, "bab" for baby, and of course her staples- Bop (for Cliff), Dada, Mama, Ha (Hazel), Nana (bananas), and the infamous GRUNT when she points to something.

Scarlett now shakes her head "no" when she doesn't want something, which is so funny. She definitely has an opinion! When she does want something, she squeals and claps her hands.


We also love that S can now follow simple instructions: give kisses, sit on your bottom, bring me a book, etc. How cool is that?!

Favorite Toy This Month:
Books! Scarlett loves to be read to or to look at books on her own. She is constantly pointing to things, wanting to know the names of people/things/animals. We love that she is so curious.

Biggest Thrill:
Her cousins! We spent 5 nights with the whole King fam in Redlands/Santa Monica to celebrate Luke's graduation from medical school (yaaay Luke!). Scarlett was so lucky to get 6 whole days with her darling cousins, who are SOO sweet to her and share all of their toys with her! Scarlett was in HEAVEN. She adores all three! She played and idolized Shane and Hanley, and would give baby Hollace kisses whenever she could. SO darling.

Biggest Highlight/Biggest Challenge:

Scarlett is desperately trying communicate with us. Not only is she saying "words" but she also points at things she wants all the time. This is awesome, because we can usually figure out how to make her happy! This is also very, VERY challenging because when she wants something she can't have....YIKES. Yes, the tantrums have arrived :) Wish us luck!

Sweetest Moment:
In the past month we've spent time with my family in OC and all of Jeremy's family this past week. Right now Scarlett is starting to recognize her out-of-town family- hurray! She gives them hugs and smiles and flirts with them.  I hope we've avoided "Stranger Danger" reactions?!



What made our trip down south even more special was that Scarlett Isabel got to spend time with her Great Grandma Isabel again. I love that! So darn wonderful.

And, the sweetest moment for MOM this month is that I'm done with work in one week! Yahooo! I can't wait to stay home with my little lady from now on! :)


We are loving 13 months, can't wait to see what is in store for us this summer!!


Lots of Love,
The Kings!

ONE...UNO....UN...EINS!

Scarlett Isabel is ONE today! So exciting! I can't believe that we were in the hospital meeting our little GIRL last year at this time :)

We had a FANTASTIC 1st birthday celebration at Peg and Cliff's yesterday. The weather was an amazing 80 degrees, the pool and jacuzzi ready for splashing, lots of yummy food, and  fantastic family and friends everywhere!

Nonna flew up for the celebration

Morgan and Harper with their besties, Jer & S

Michele (6 mo pregnant) and Lucy came to play!

Bop and Mimi!

The BIG birthday girl turns ONE

Scarlett's special organic birthday cake (homemade by Michele)

Here's a little update.....

Newest Tricks: Walking! Scarlett practices walking all day long. Her longest stride was 5 steps in the circle of her music class last week. All of our music friends cheered and clapped for the big, walking girl and Scarlett squealed with pride!

Showing off her stand!

Favorite Toy This Month: Too many to say! Scarlett was spoiled by all of our family and friends yesterday. She's in hog-heaven at home, jumping from toy to toy! Kristin, Nathan, and Gordon sent us a really cool ball popping machine that she is especially fond of :) Check it out in the video clip below...(I hope it works!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO4CmmksHPI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Biggest Thrill: BOP a.k.a. Cliffy. When Scarlett sees her Bop, her face lights up, she squeals, and reaches for him! I already predict that she will bring Bop as her first show-and-tell in kindergarten :) As for material thrills, plastic pink car really makes Scarlett happy too!

Loves going on pink car rides!

Wagon rides with Cliffy are such a treat!

Biggest Highlight/Biggest Challenge: Surviving and enjoying the first year of parenthood! We've done it once, so the next time will be easier, right?! Scarlett is VERY spirited-- her BIG personality is like an elephant in the room!  But, we enjoy her independence, her strong will, and her sweetness.  She is so smart and we are so blessed to have such a determined and wild little girl.


Sweetest Moment: S loves to lean in for "kissies", which melts my heart. She always offers her forehead and also continues to practice kissing (slobbering) on Dolly too :)

Cuddling with Mimi and Dolly #2

Happy Birthday, Scarlett!!
Lots of Love, E, J, & S

TEETH!

I didn't understand how there was so MUCH drool, and more drool, and even more and more drool! No wonder....

Look at all these teeth that showed up this week!

Just in time for her first bite of sweets next weekend for the big 1st bday!

Eleven Months: Can you believe it?!

Our little Miss Scarlett is ELEVEN months! Less than a month until she is officially a TODDLER!

Here's a recap of March...

Newest Tricks:
Talking.... Saying Mama, Dada, HayHay (Hazel), Bop (Cliff), and Nana (bananas/breakfast)

Following Directions.....Where's your dolly? Give Hazel a kiss. Where's your Pappy (pacifier)? Do you want your sippy? Ready for a bath? Where's my nose? All done? (She puts her hands in the air when she's done!)

Feeding herself. ...FINALLY, she figured it out! This week she's been loving turkey deli meat.

Standing and...walking (well, kind of)! Today Scarlett took TWO steps on her own! She's been standing without holding on for the past few days, still a little unstable. Of course, she loves trotting all over the house with anything on wheels. That's easy!

Favorite Toy This Month: 
BOOKS! She loves to sit down and look at any book she can get her hands on. This has become quite convenient for car rides!

Biggest Thrill:
Either baths or going to the park. We do both almost every day, and both get her to squeal, literally!

Biggest Highlight:
For Us...We snuck away to Scottsdale for the weekend and left Scarlett with Peg and Cliff. The weather was amazing (75 and breezy), we enjoyed a Giants Spring Training game, pool time, delicious food, and the chance to SLEEP IN!

For Scarlett....having her mommy as a stay-at-home mom as of June 10th! AND, the three new upper teeth that arrived this week, for a total of FIVE!

Biggest Challenge:
Ear infections. Ugh. Scarlett came down with her third double ear infection while we were away in Scottsdale. Luckily, her Mimi and Bop were on it and got her to the hospital and on antibiotics ASAP. She was already doing better by the time we arrived home.

Sweetest Moment:
Today, I was sitting with Scarlett and Hazel outside on a blanket. Scarlett leaned down and kissed Hazel on the head and giggled. When I asked her to do it again, she did! They are the sweetest buddies!

We have been blessed with good weather, healthy and happy family and friends, and the sweetest little girl. Happy spring!

Love,
E, J, & S (Hazel too!)

10 month lady!



Kissing "Dolly"



We've arrived at the big 10 month mark.  February flew by and we enjoyed every moment! I had a week off of work which was spent mostly with our wonderful family and friends that came up a few days early to celebrate Scarlett's baptism. It was the most perfect day- sunny & warm and surrounded by the dearest people in our lives. Scarlett is sure blessed to be so LOVED!

My mom, family friend Betty Anne, aunt and uncle, best friends (and godparents) Allie & Danny, the Larabees, Luke & Kim, Sassy and Jacob, Morgan & Elouise, and all of our local family and friends made it to the baptism at Elim Lutheran Church this past Sunday. Scarlett was a ham, of course, and chatted, waved her arms, smiled at all the members, and refrained from screaming when her forehead was dipped in water, making it a perfect and unforgettable ceremony.

We are loving our music classes on Wednesday. Scarlett still loves to "lap hop" meaning that she leaves me and goes and sits in all of the other mommies' laps. Everyone finds it quite amusing :)

Jeremy and I are headed off for a weekend away in Arizona at the end of March and for a Giants spring training game and to enjoy some warm Scottsdale weather.  We are also in the midst of planning a our annual King/Fleischmann summer vacation....this year's destination is Oregon, more specifically Portland, Willamette Valley, Sun River, maybe the coast?!

Bathtime for Hanley and Scarlett

Aunt Julie and "Nonna" visit for S's baptism

Cute cousins

 Scarlett is adorable and we love her independence and silly personality. She is talking up a storm, eating everything we give her, walking across the couch or pushing anything on wheels, exploring anywhere she can escape to, splashing like crazy in the bath, and smiling at anyone who makes eye contact with her! 

Two more months until the big birthday...CRAZY how much time flies.

Happy Spring!

Our big almost walker!

9 months!

Check out S's two teeth!

Happy February!

We are celebrating a VERY fun little 9 month old lady this week along with some amazing mid-70s spring weather! Life is busy for both of us at work, and Scarlett is getting more and more mobile. We are taking bets now on whether or not her first steps will happen before or after 10 months...she's standing and "walking" with toys on wheels, so any day she may get brave enough to let go! Life as we know it will REALLY change then! :)

We ventured to the SF Zoo this past month with the Fleischmanns- so much fun! The girls are totally becoming aware and excited about animals. We are loving this fun age.

Harper, Kennon, E, & S heading into the zoo!

This month we have some great things to look forward to:
1.) I get a week off of work for mid winter break
2.) Visitors include the Larabees, my mom, my aunt/uncle, and great friends Brennan Fam, Kubas Fam, and Betty Ann to celebrate Scarlett's baptism at the end of the month
3.) We finally see Scarlett's pediatrician for a current "weigh-in".....I'm guessing 22 pounds?! 

Bathtime is a current highlight of S's day. She LOVES LOVES LOVES the splashing in the water. We now have to keep the bathroom door shut at all times as Scarlett tries to get in the tub on her own. Yikes!

The chatterbox is on a roll. The the constant "dadadadada" babbling now has some meaning-- she knows now WHO "dada" is! When she sees Jeremy or his picture, "dada"! And FINALLY after 2 long months of nothing else, she said "mama" to me last week :) Hurray! Her third and favorite word is "Ha" for Hazel, her #1 target at all times.

I've been sewing up a storm and even started my own little Etsy shop: Sonoma Mama! After one week online, I've made 13 sales! Yahoo! This skirt above is one of my latest creations for my little lady.


Off to enjoy this beautiful 75 degree day!

Lots of love!
the kings