Dear Scarlet -- 2 years

Dear Scarlet,

Yesterday, August 11, 2012, you turned two years old.  I watched you as you smiled and beamed from ear to ear all day long.  You radiated such beauty as you partied with your friends and then enjoyed the evening with Mom, Dad, and Elliot.  I only wish that I could have been there with you to celebrate our special day.  I know it is because of you that mom smiles.  

The day we were born was such a day, a day nobody will forget.  It was around 9:02 a.m., the moment I was born, that you and I said our final earthly goodbye.  I wanted nothing more than to stay here with you, but I knew you would represent both of us well with your sparkling personality.  I sat by your side for four weeks while you fought for your life in the hospital.  Mom knows I was there because you would smile so much at what seemed to be nothing, and then I would let her know, ever so subtly, that I was there, giving her angel kisses.  

Scarlet, you are who you are because mom and dad love and adore you so much.  It is because of you that they are who they are.  Never forget that I am always there, watching over you.  You're my other half as I am yours.  Please don't ever feel that I left you here alone.  Just because you won't always see me, I am always there.  

Scarlet, keep radiating your beauty to all those who are around you.  You have the ability to touch many lives and I know you will.  I love you so much!  

Kiss, kiss,

Kingston

p.s.  You need to be nice to Elliot.  One day he will be bigger than you.

Dear Scarlet -- 23 Months

Dear Scarlet,

Can you believe that in just one short month you are going to be two years old?  What happened to this last year?  I think we were so occupied with moving to California and then the arrival of Elliot, that life just happened very quickly this year. 

You have proven yourself to be an amazing big sister.  You have only kicked Elliot in the head once and only thrown a few things at him.  For the most part, you adore your little brother.  It was like you knew he was coming to be a part of our family and you just kept on with life like nothing ever happened. 

You have become extremely talkative lately.  Everybody loves to have conversations with you because you just ramble on forever.  You get at least one phone call a day from somebody who just wants to listen to you talk.  Some of our favorite words you say right now are:

• Cuke as in "My new shoes are so cuke!"
• Yellow.  Everything you see is yellow... and today you decided that it can also be pink.
• Soos and socks.  You even call your pants socks. 
• Pease and tane to.  When we have something delicious and you see it, it is usually followed with "Pease?"  Then we give it to you and you will say "tane to."  Also, when we spell out t-h-a-n-k-y-o-u, you will say "tane to."
• Where ee go, where ee go?  You will usually do really cute hand gestures with this one.
• Boops.  This can be referring to boobs or boots. 
• Carlie.  As in, "Scarlet, what's your name?"  "Carlie"  It comes from us calling you Scarlie all the time.  You'll even shout it out when you see a picture of yourself. 
• Me:  A is for?  You:  Apple!  Me:  B is for?  You:  Apple!  Me:  No.  You:  Ball! 
• Dammies.  Translation:  Jammies.

I'm sure there are some words that I'm forgetting right now.  We absolutely love your little voice and all the new words you are learning. 

Scarlet, you still make us smile every single day.  You also make me a very busy mom, something I always dreamed of.  You are quite a tornado right now.  You like to throw your toys everywhere and tip everything over.  I'm hoping this phase doesn't last too much longer.  I think I fold 27 blankets a day... or maybe it's just the same blanket 27 times.  I'm not sure why I keep trying. 

Keep making me smile!  I love you!

Loves,

Mom

Dear Scarlet -- 21 months

Dear Scarlet,

Well, sweet princess, this will be the last time I write to you as my only child living at home.  I want you to always know just how much I love you.  You make me smile every single day and I am beyond grateful to have you in my life. 

There are going to be a lot of new changes happening this next month.  You might feel left out for a little while, but I'm still going to love you just as much as I do now, if not more.  Love is an amazing thing, it just keeps growing.  I know you are going to be an amazing big sister!  I'm so excited to introduce you to your new little brother. 

You have become quite the little talker.  You talk non-stop.  You have started copying a lot of what we say or what your favorite TV shows say.  You also have been working on phonics, colors, and numbers.  We try to work on it everyday.  I love watching you learn.  Your dad and I think you are quite spectacular. 

You are still wearing 12-month clothes and occasionally you will wear 18 months.  You're very petite.  We weighed you last week and you came in at a whopping 20 pounds.  You love to eat just about anything you can get your hands on.  I found you the other day with a giant bag of potato chips from the pantry.  You were trying to get a little baggy out of the drawer to put some chips in.  You looked at me and said, "crackers?"  How could I resist?  You're too adorable. 

I wish that you could stay my "baby" forever, but I know you need to grow and gain your independence.  It's so fun watching you learn and develop.  You really are such an amazing blessing in our lives.  I love you to pieces and pieces. 

Love you forever,

Mom