Greg and Scarlet playing. Scarlet loves to chase and be chased and make "monster" growls. She's pretty funny.

This is Coco. She's Pat and Randy's dog. Scarlet LOOOOOVES her. I mean, she will talk about her when she's not even there. It's so funny, because I was always so afraid of dogs when I was a kid.

Going out to play in the leaves, though she really wasn't interested. But it was fun to roll around!

Got a new do. I meant to take a before picture, but forgot. I had a bunch of high lites and some SERIOUS grow out, like never before. Melody (a stylist in my ward) and I waited WAY TOO LONG to touch up our regrowth and then then I got sick the day we planned it and a few weeks later I got sick AGAIN the day we planned it and it'd been almost 6 months since I colored my hair. Bad news. So we both just ended up doing our own. My sister Danielle colored her hair dark and I was inspired. And the bangs, I just needed a new look. In this pic it looks all neat and tidy, but I feel like it's more hip in real life. For some reason, I didn't think anyone would like it, but I've actually gotten some compliments. So that makes me happy!

It was kinda funny, Greg was sort of freaking out when he saw me. He kept staring and saying how he wasn't used to it. My hair has practically been this dark almost our whole marriage. But I've had hi lights for 8 months so it was a little different.

I was changing Scarlet's clothes and off she went and I just thought she looked so cute with her chubby little legs. That's the bad thing about winter. It hides all the scrumptious rolls.

Greg and I went to Kid2Kid (a second hand store) to find Scarlet a coat and we found one. There was the CUTEST red one, but she would've outgrown it fast, so we resisted and got this. There's some good room in there and it's nice and thick. I don't think she'll get cold in this. But I put her in it to go play outside and she looked so puffy and massive! It really looked ridiculous in real life. The pic doesn't look as funny.

We've also got her wearing "normal" shoes! YEA!!!! She's only worn her little leather moccasin ones, but with it wet outside, they don't really work anymore 'cause they soak up all the water. But every time we tried to put a soled shoe on she would FREAK. I think the stiffness freaked her out and it's harder for her to walk in them. This morning we just sort of kept them on her feet, even though she was whining constantly, and VIOLA! By the end of the day she was walking great! No more complaining!

Scarlet's schedule is . . .

7am: wake up, 6 oz bottle on the couch, on my lap and breakfast in the high chair (usually a banana or rice with coconut oil, agave and craisins)

10am - noon: nap (this is where I shower, work out, try to make my meal swap dinner, do the dishes, clean up the house or if it's a really bad day- and I mean one of those days you wake up with a head ache- I just lay on the couch and watch tv, and end up regretting it later, because she wakes and nothing has been done and I'm still dirty, which is my all time worst feeling. I hate feeling dirty.)

12pm: lunch- usually dinner left overs, after that is when we run errands, play in the park, stroll around the neighborhood or visit my friend Laura

2pm: another snack, usually fruit, yogurt or crackers

3:15: 6 oz bottle on the couch

3:30-5:30: nap (time to make dinner and relax, unless she wakes up)

5:30: we eat dinner together

7:15: 6 oz bottle on the couch, change into jammies, read a few books, read a scripture story, lights out, pacifier in, sing a primary hymn (I usually sing I'm Trying to Be like Jesus and Greg usually sings Love is Spoken Here in portuguese) and I slowly twirl around in a circle. Then I hum the same song and put her in her pac n play and cover her with a blanket. Then she goes to sleep without a peep. It's awesome. We are so spoiled. The last week has been amazing because she's been requesting to go to sleep by signing. Or we'll simply ask, "Do you want to sleep?" And she'll smile REALLY big and that means yes, so we'll put her down. It's so nice KNOWING for sure it's time for her to nap and not assuming. It's so cute. A big smile is always her answer for YES and now she shakes her head back and forth for no.

Of course there are days that do not look like this, but I'd say the majority look exactly like this. The only thing that doesn't match up is when we run out of food or the left overs aren't easy for her to eat and suddenly I'm like, "Oh crap, you need to eat. Uh . . . have some bread." But it really ends up being a bunch of fish crackers, which I hate. I prefer to feed my child nutrition, but it doesn't always happen.

Scarlet is becoming a Mamma's Girl more and more. It makes me feel good, but it's all the more exhausting. Greg and I used to switch off pretty evenly for putting her down at night, and now it's like she won't stay down unless I put her down. And I just don't want to suffer her crying so I put her down 99% of the time now. I mean, I could have Greg do it and hear her cry, but is it really worth it? It only takes me 5 -10 minutes. Or if something is wrong, I'M the one that has to fix it and I'M the one she cries to and hangs on MY legs. I'll be right next to Greg, who I'm pretty sure she realizes is capable as well, but NOPE. It's Mamma. I mean, I like that she loves me and wants me to comfort her, but sometimes a woman needs a BREAK.

It's been harder to entertain her 'cause it's been SO DANG COLD. I don't want to go walking 'cause I can barely stand it (and I worry about her little body getting cold just sitting there) and if I take her to the park it's all WET. So we just stay in the house a lot. I need to start arranging play dates.

Church was good today. Church is basically pointless with Scarlet in my lap. 90% of it is a big wrestle, trying to keep her in our pew or not crying (all of this is when she's supposed to be napping) and by the end, Greg takes her out the last 15-20 minutes. I try to pay attention to the speakers, but it doesn't really work. Well, last night I prayed that we would get something from the messages and what do you know, it happened. Strangest thing, Scarlet was just as crazy as ever. In fact, she was the worst she's ever been. But somehow I was able to listen to all, but probably 5 words, of the talks and they were GREAT. They were exactly what I needed to hear. I was so grateful to hear them. One of them was honestly about something I've been thinking about a LOT lately. Reading. Kind of a random topic for church, but he was talking about all the technical distractions and how we never have time to PONDER anything while we're constantly being entertained and how when we read slowly we have time to THINK. It really stood out to me and he also talked about how important it is to read with your kids and family. He also

talked about being happy/having joy and he compared it to a measuring cup and he said, "Let's pretend this is filled with joy and it's yours." Then he asked if we could get more than what it could hold. And then he said you can, but you have to emptying out first and give your joy away. Then you fill it up again. And then he compared it to milk and said if you leave it sitting there for days the joy wears off or the milk goes bad and doesn't do anything good for you anymore. That you have to be always filling it up and giving it away. It made a lot of sense to me and I really liked the analogy and I was just really grateful I heard his talk. The other speaker talked about another kind of random topic: the reality of failure. He talked about how it doesn't matter how you fail, it matters how you RESPOND to it. No one's ever said it that way before. People always talk about failures and never giving up. But he was talking about how it's not your accomplishments that matter, but your effort in the journey. He mentioned this study about a group of children who were praised by their smarts and another group by their efforts. And the group that were told they were "smart" actually declined and that the efforts/praise

group quickly progressed by 30%. I don't know how they were measured, test scores, I don't know. But it was all about how important it is try and put forth effort, and not necessarily get perfect results. I wish I could remember it exactly, but something about kids who are told they're smart, don't really try to improve because they already think they're there. So if anything, they may actually decline. Where as people who are encouraged to try and put forth effort aren't motivated by being "perfect", they're motivated by exploration and learning. It made a lot of sense to me. I really liked it too. It's not an uncommon topic, but I don't know if I've ever heard it in church and it sunk in my mind a little more than it ever had before. He also said if you feel like you've failed as a parent, you have only failed if you have given up. I really liked that.

TOPIC CHANGE. Well, it sort of connects. I read BATTLE HYMN OF THE TIGER MOTHER. Holy smokes. That church talk is the complete opposite this book. If you want to be appalled and you like controversial topics, this book is for you. I've been known to exaggerate. This is NOT an exaggeration. I read this book quickly. It was hard to put down, BECAUSE THIS WOMAN IS PSYCHOTIC. Really you'll agree with me. LITERALLY (this is where I'm not exaggeration), EVERY SINGLE PAGE I gasped and said, "she is PSYCHO!" Really, every page. Atleast once a page, and trust me there were many pages where I said it many times and was forced into going into a rant, to Greg, about how this woman is horrible and should be locked up for child abuse. Except that's just it. It isn't against the law to call your children, "garbage" or tell them they've "disgraced you". If you're going to jail it's because you've physically harmed them. But there's nothing in the law about being crappy to your kids. Oh man, read this book. I'm telling you. This woman is psycho. I want to say I hate her, but I guess I shouldn't hate

people. She literally talked about her dogs the way WE talk about our children. And then the next page she would talk about her kids they way we talk about dogs, but worse. Way worse. It was crazy. Read it. I'm telling you. Psyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyycooooooooooooo.

This week I finally watched a few made-for-tv-movies that looked really stupid but I thought MAYBE I would like them. I'd see them on Netflix and just think, "Uh, I just don't want to watch that right now. I want to watch something good." But I finally watched them and they've been fun. I didn't realize they were all made for tv. It's a little embarrassing to say I love made for tv movies. I don't know if it's 'cause your standards drop when you know it never made it to the big screen or maybe it's just because they're always sweet and family appropriate and

I kinda like that. Well, if you're into those kind of movies I watched My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, Beauty and the Briefcase (that one was a little annoying, but fun in the end- do not watch it with your husband, it is a major girl movie) and today I watched Holiday in Handcuffs. Which brings me to . . . I am so excited to watch all the sweet little Christmas movies I've never heard of. It seems every time I get together with my family for christmas, someone whips out some christmas movie and I look at the cover and think, "Oh no. I do not want to watch this. This looks horribly cheesy, even for me." And then I love it. So now when Greg's working and Scarlet's asleep and I'm feeling lonely, I'm going to watch these precious shows. I think it's going to be great!

I am so excited for the holidays. Usually I don't care about Thanksgiving, but I'm just really excited this year! And 2 of my sisters are coming for Christmas and we'll all be together a week!!! I'm REALLY excited for that. It will be fun.

My phone has been dying constantly. I literally charge it everyday and it still dies everyday. I hate it. My plan is up in January and YIPEE!!! Time for a new phone.