I got my baby back

In the commotion with my guest in town the last week, I forgot to announce that I got my REDSTAR back.
(my car)

The day my friend came into down, I got my car back a few hours before I needed to pick her up. Now, a little over a week, and one gas tank later she is gone, and we are back to our regularly scheduled programming. It was almost strange waking up and having nobody laying on my living room couch. Scarlett, believe it or not, is still sleeping.

I have already renewed my vehicle registration (which was only good through the end of this month), and need to go deposit our rent once scooby wakes up. Then I need to go pay some bills. I may go check out the beauty school that is just up the street from us here. We have family pictures tomorrow, and my hope is that they run smoothly, and that I don't look horrific. Thank you for the words of encouragement on my last blog, while I slept.

Good night my friends. May the morning bring with its light: further wisdom, optimism, and happiness.

Lost and Found

We found my phone. Actually my friend Leci found it. I had told Joe to look in Scarlett's car seat in the car, and he said he looked, but apparently he didnt see it even though it was there, so when we got in the car to go somewhere, Leci spotted it before we put Scarlett into her car seat. So yes, it is found, and I didnt even have to buy a new one. Now I am just trying to keep it on the charger long enough for it to get a full charge... that can be so difficult when on the go. So I am reachable again!


Hooray!

Moments Matter

On an unrelated note, I have misplaced my cell phone again, so it looks like we will be purchasing a new one in the near future. :) Until then, I am sorry that I am entirely unreachable, unless you want to call and leave a message and phone number on Joe's cell phone for me. Email is the easiest way to get a hold of me right now. molly_rawlins at hotmail dot com, or just leave comments here, those definitely NEVER go unnoticed :)

Breakthrough!

Warning: Lots of images in this post

So, this might not seem like a big deal to most of you, but this week, Scarlett had a huge break through. She actually played on the toys in the play place at the Chandler Mall.

Until today, she would only play with the puzzle toys on the walls, which she was sure to still visit on this day.

She climbed over this thing like it was no big deal. She loves to climb.

She loved the block first. She has always been afraid of the texture of these mall toys, so never wanted to touch or come in contact with them, until this fine day this week.

Scarlett Drumming on the block

Saying, "whats up?"

She wasnt so sure about sharing the car, this is the dirty look she gave this other kid her age, when it was his "turn". (you can see my friend Alecia too the right) She is staying with us for a week, and came to the mall with us.

She liked the steps, but was too scared to actually climb them

The crawl spaces were her fave

I think this one looks like she is leaving Fairy Land, with the butterfly behind the crawl space

she did insist that I hold her hand and walk with her to each toy.

I think she is going to love driving some day.

here she is climbing the stairs to the bus slide.. She still thinks that it is crazy that people want to slide down slides, and wanted nothing to do with it. I love my cautious little girl.
She is so wise, some of the time.

Want a TUTU?

Go to the link below to check out the cute tutu giveaway... I wanna win too!
Thanks for sharing Nikki!

Tutu Giveaway

pictures

My online friend, Joshy and I have been creating superheroes for fun in our spare time. It is a lot of fun, and eventually I am thinking I might create a Adventures/Storylines for our Characters :) let me know what you think :)

(click on it to get a bigger view)

My little Scarlett just keeps growing and growing. She looked so cute today, I couldnt help but take her picture

This afternoon i got bored, so I was playing with my hair. I sent the picture to a friend and she said it looked like a mohawk. That made me laugh.

Scarlett loves the little white lights I have put up in her room. They keep her from being afraid of the dark night. I love my little girl so much, and don't even know what life would be like without her.

Molly's Mood

Some of you may consider me a slacker, because I tend to not post the first few days of the week, but you should note that I do usually post every day on the weekends, when most others do not, so I would like to announce that my blogging "sabbaticals" take place at the beginning of the week, instead of the end. (whew) I feel as though a weight has been lifted with that announcement :)

Tonight after tubby time, I decided it was time to trim off a few stragglers at the bottom of Scarletts ever-so-long and curly locks. Some of them tend to get a little matted and crazy just from her sleeping and playing and such. Needless to say, trimming just a few little tiny knots off at the bottom has made a big difference. Her hair looks much healthier now, not to mention less hobo.

I still don't have my car up and running, and that is really taking a toll on my mood. I miss being able to drive myself, in my wonderful car to a movie or to the store in the evening, just to get "out". Joe's car is older and less comfy, which makes me less likely to want to venture off into the evening with it. I will be so glad to have REDSTAR back. (yes, thats my custom plate and name of my car)

The past few nights Joe has been nodding off to sleep much earlier than our 3 or 4 am norm, at an hour more like 830 or 930, and I have to say that I miss spending that time with him. I also have a horrible time trying to fall asleep when he is already in bed. I dont think it is necessarily the snoring, but just my stir-crazy self. I have no problem going to bed first, just not going to bed last... silly, I know.

Joe has also been getting up and going in to work early, and working late. I think he must have some big projects coming due at work. Between that, and trying to help his brother work on my car I have not seen a whole lot of him, and it is also taking a toll on my mood.

Fun and exciting new things....? Well Scarlett has done a few extremely cute things this week. When she asks for a bottle, usually I will say, "go find it, where did it go?" and she looked back at me with big inquisitive eyes, and said, "where'd it go?" while turning her head to look.

Tonight she leapt off the couch and ran across the room to point to the decorative star I have hanging on the wall and continued to say, "twee star? twee star?" First I thought maybe she was saying that it was a star like we had on the christmas tree, but then I realized she wanted to sing Twinkle Twinkle little star. So I started singing the song with her and she would sing twee star twee star", until eventually she figured out that it was "twinkle star....twinkle star." Then when I got her out of the tub, she has a play microphone she plays with in the tub, and she was singing "twinkle star... twinkle star" I tried to get her daddy to come out of his sleepy daze to appreciate it, but he was a bit too tired... HIS LOSS, because it was freaking adorable.

More pictures to come tomorrow perhaps.

Comic Characters

So I was just reading a blog of an old High School friend of mine (named Matt who just turned 24) and he said something about feeling a desire to grow up a bit, not to go crazy or anything but a desire to feel a little less like Tommy Pickles

(from Rugrats for those of you who didnt know) and a little more like Doug Funny (from D0ug) only minus the green sweater.
I told him I could support this aspiration and long as he didnt go overboard and shoot for Dagwood.

I have to admit all this consideration made me wonder which comic/cartoon character I most relate to.

In my younger years, i always related best to Daria. I dont think her show is still on the air, but in Jr High and High School, I was so sure she was my animated equal. It would have been a three way tie between her, and Enid from Ghost World(which was later made into a movie), and Emily the Strange.

Today, though... Being a mom, I think I need a more Momly animated Character twin...

(from here)
I would like to be able to say that this is me: but I am not going to flatter myself.

perhaps this is more me:
or definitely this one:
But I have always aspired to be like the Family Circus Mom, who I just discovered in my google searching for an image, that the woman who was the inspiration for the Family Circus Mom died last year in May, (check out the mini article here). I really liked her new updated hairstyle about 12 years back.
Looking good, and always having the right answers. The model mom. :)

the past week

That last one is pics from Christmastime, couldn't miss out on sharing them. :)

Last night I decided to "play with my blog". I was successfully able to make my pictures bigger, and have my blog column fill more of the screen. Well, I then had to re-choose all my fonts and colors, and find a background that made the writing still legible. Needless to say I was up until 5am doing so. Scarlett went to bed late last night too though, so we slept till 1pm, and getting my 8 hours of sleep, I actually felt pretty rested today.

Here are some pics of us this morning I took with my cell phone as we lounged on the couch.

Today So far has had a few little surprises. Turns out my car is having some kind of problem. I heard a Snap, and when I tried to back up, I felt bouncing under the hood, so I just pulled forward and parked. Turned off the car, and we just sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather for a while before heading back inside the house. Scarlett and I just ordered in for lunch.

Taking the tree down

Even if the Holiday Season seemed a bit long and grueling at times, I think all in all Scarlett had a pretty good Christmas.

Scarlett has had such a divine love and admiration for all Christmas trees this Season. She loves the beautiful ornaments, and the colors. She gently touches each one, and with some coaching has learned not to pull them off of the tree.

Because she has loved it so, I was sad to take all the ornaments and decor down at our house. The walls seem practically bare without Christmas brick-a-brac everywhere I look.

Our Friends David and Patricia invited us over for Dinner last week, and Patricia took these wonderful pictures of Scarlett in front of the tree for me to print and put in my very cool birthday present they bought me.

It's a ferris wheel style picture frame and it holds 10 photos. I was eyeing this at Target, but couldn't rationalize the splurge.. Scarlett loves it as much as I do, and loves to make it spin. Thanks! I can't wait to order the prints and fill it up!

A year's overview on one post... can I do it?

I was just reading my friend Molly's recap of '08 and she did SUCH a good job. It was a great idea, so I am going to try to do the same thing, luckily I have my blog to look back on :)

January

I tried my best to keep up with Crawling EVERYWHERE Scarlett. The worst was her crawling away mid diaper change

Scarlett was still calling me May May instead of Mom or Mommy at that point.

Her Hair just began to get curly.

Joe's sister Tina got married to her husband Corey. They had a disney Themed wedding.


Scarlett got to meet her Great Grandma Julia Rawlins for the second time ever. Scarlett was fascinated with her walker.



I was in a car Accident in our CRV, and that was truamatic, but besides being inconvenienced for a month by being carless and out a thousand dollars we couldn't spare, we were ok.

February


Scarlett had her very first Stomach flu.

Scarlett fell in the shopping cart. (the same week we FINALLY got our car back)

My friend Fritz charitably mailed me a check for 4K. Yes its true, and man the money went fast.

March

Scarlett began standing up against things.


I got Scarlett's first Professional pictures taken! (nightmare, producing only 2 gems)


April & May



Scarlett really started developing her personality. laughing and jabbering, and interracting. she just wanted to sit and talk.

scarlett got lots of teeth and started walking. I didnt blog for the most part, because we didnt have any internet.


June

started being sure enough on her feet to carry her favorite toys around. still tripped A LOT, very light on her feet almost like a dancer.



Joe got his iPhone love.


Paul and Lizette got married (Joe's boss and our friends) and Aunt Tina watched scarlett so we could go to Sedona for the wedding.


my phone drowned in the swimming pool, and was replaced

July

Mr Grandpa Gerald Swinton Shumway died at age 92.

Another never ending ear infection for peanut.

Spent time with cousins.

Scarletts hair grew more.


Scarlett developed a LOVE--rather infatuation with cell phones.


She also was such a great shopping companion... and walked the mall on her own 2 feet for the first time



August

Scarlett began to love reading short books


We moved into the condo and got internet again!

Scarlett had her first pigtails


Daddy Joe's Bday

Scarletts second pigtails


September

Scarlett Discovered her Singing voice. Go ahead and visit the old post to see the video of her singing, if you didnt see it back then.

Had a Scentsy party

Scarlett discovered the Backyardigans, who she still loves.

Scarlett learned to say CHEESE :)


My nephew Rhett was born

October

Scarlett will no longer sit in high chairs. Only big girl chairs will do.


Scarlett began to say certain words on demand (for mom and dad), click here to watch the "nice" video, if you missed it the first time around.

I created:
http://theproblemattic.blogspot.com
(you can still feel free to drop your burdens in comment form or email any time)

My brother David and his son were in a motor cycle accident, luckily they are doing much much better now.

My nephew Seth Phillip was born.

Scarlett was Minnie Mouse for Halloween. I dont have any pictures of it, but my husband has video that is still on his video camera....

November

Found a new friend


Scarlett got her Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls


Scarlett began requesting television shows by name. First Patch, then Back (for backyardigans) now she calls it Pablo instead. Street, Dora, and Feeshy came in December...

I discovered Scrapblog :) Here is one of my pages


I cut my own hair


Scarlett had her second set of professional pictures taken, and again, it was a less than pleasant experience.




December

I discovered how well visited my blog truly is


Joe and I had our 3rd Wedding Anniversary


Colored my hair RED


just in time for Joe's Company Christmas Party :)


Scarlett's 2nd Bday


Scarlett got the gift she picked out (the month prior) for her Birthday and Christmas (it was $80)


My 24th Bday


Christmas, and New Years Eve we spent as a family, though not overly tumultuous or exciting. Sometimes that is a nice thing though.

Here is to the next year, hopefully it runs a little smoother and better, but in general, even if it doesn't at least I know we can live through it!

Scarlett and Samantha

Samantha took so many cute pictures of Scarlett playing at her house last night. I am so glad that she did, as I was just feeling guilty for having not taken any new pics of her lately, here are a few...
Scarlett Rocking out on the recorder her cousin Karsyn gave her for Christmas





Scarlett loved the toy cars





Scarlett as you know loves Yo Gabba Gabba, and they happened to have a Broby doll, which Scarlett loved. Samantha's nephew was Azael was there to play with her, which was cute.









Samantha says they played really well together











Scarlett and Samantha

An evening of New Favorites

New Favorite Movie:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
It was such an excellent film.
Heartwarming, entertaining, epic and a GREAT MOVIE. I would reccomend it to pretty much anyone. Unless of course you can't sit still for two and a half hours, in which case, wait till it comes on DVD and come watch it at my house :)
Image from here

New Favorite Restaurant:

Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ.
We went to the location over in the Tempe Marketplace District. It has a wonderful atmosphere. The walls are red. The music is bluesy, and looking at their website, they have live Blues music every Saturday night from 6-10 pm, we got there just after they finished I guess, but I plan to go back another time when they are playing, cause I love blues music. :) I had the tri tip sandwich, and it was phenomenal. Joe and I shared a cup of corn chowder which was spicy but good, and Joe enjoyed his Sirloin Steak sandwich as well. I also ordered the Snickers Pie dessert to go, and let me tell you, it is SOOOO tasty. They also sell their BBQ sauce so that you can put it on your own chicken until you can afford to go back in. :) It is definitely my new favorite Restaurant. When you go there, you will be able to tell why, I know I am not doing it justice with my description.

New Favorite Babysitter:
Samantha Ware
She was great, and Scarlett had a good time. She didnt cry the entire time, until we came to the door, and then she knew that she could make us guilty for having left her there. Samantha was great with her, and being that she has worked in daycare centers for the last 8 years, needless to say she is more than qualified :) I am so grateful to her for offering to watch Scarlett, and it helps me feel better about maybe going back to work, if she would watch Scarlett.

New Favorite Fruit (for Scarlett):
Well, tonight was definitely a night full of new favorites for our entire family.
The watermelon. Lucilles gave us each a nice sided slice of watermelon with our meal. I am not a watermelon fan, and Joe was so full with eating his sandwich, so we put it in our box to go. On the way home, once Scarlett had polished off two more halves of a graham cracker Samantha gave her for "the road", we decided to try giving her some watermelon, and she was just happy as a little clam, once she realized just how tasty that watermelon was. We sure love our sweet little girl.

Thanks again, Samantha for helping us have such a great evening out. The evening was well worth the money, paying to have it all! :)

Where did the week go?

I swear, it feels like just yesterday I was posting my last blog... perhaps once Joe goes back to work, I can get back into some kind of normal routine... but as for now, it hasn't, and again I apologize to my blog readers... and hope you will still continue to read my sporadic posts.

(every time I say the word sporadic, I can't help but think of the movie clueless, and "try and use it in a sentence today" haha, I'm such a dork)

This morning we were out of milk, which made for a morning of CHAOS! Apparently Scarlett cannot live or function without her milk in the morning. She is such a prima dona. We did somehow manage to get her dressed, and took her to get some milk from the gas station. I also bought "Baby Mama" from the movie vending machine they had at the gas station for 5 bucks.

Scarlett has now taken her nap, and we watched the movie and ordered pizza. Now Joe and I are sitting at our respective laptops on our respective couches. The technological age has sure affect the amount of interaction two people sitting right next to each other require... it is a strange phenomena.

Scarlett's new favorite is the "fee-shee" movie also known as Finding Nemo. Joe has been spoiling her by letting her to go to bed with the movie on, which I am entirely against. The joys of disagreeing. This may have something to do with Scarlett being in such a horrific mood this morning. Joe says, that scarlett gets all concerned when the mom dies at the beginning, saying, "aaaw, momma..", and last night I came in to see what she was upset about, and it was at the end when nemo is laying on the ocean floor unconsious... she was worried for her little fish friend.


I am dying to go to the movies, maybe we can fen angle a babysitter today... fingers crossed. Otherwise, maybe I can go on my own, as I let Joe go see Valkyrie this week on his own. He enjoyed it, though he said it was "haunting", forcably returning to his thoughts days afterward.

Hope you are all having a fantastic week, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! (blows a kazoo)