Scarlet makes a new best friend

One of the best things about the "Newborn Baby Classes" is that you meet other couples that are going through the same thing. Oh, and you learn a thing or two about childbirth, breast feeding, and taking care of your baby once you get them home from the hospital. Very important stuff of course. Stacy and I hit it off and have stayed in touch since our babies were born (Corley is 11 days older than Scarlet). Here are some pics of an outing we had with our girls several weeks ago. Little Corley was a complete angel and Scarlet had a meltdown and then slept the rest of the time! Did I mention she hates her car seat? Couldnt be that she didnt like being strapped down for hours, could it?

Stacy, Corley and Scarlet stopping for a break from all that hard work...shopping!

Several people asked if they were twins. (????)

Say Cheese!

Our "hyperactive" friend, Michael, in from New Mexico with his wife Maria, and stepdaughter, Ariana (pictured below). We couldnt believe he sat still long enough to get a picture!

Maria, Ariana and Scarlet. Too bad they don't live closer as Ariana would be a great babysitter!

Old boss and good friend Kristie, who now lives in Connecticut

Over the last several weeks, Scarlet has had lots of visitors and met lots of new friends. Ive really been trying to remember to take the camera with me when we are out or when people drop by, but I still have a long way to go. Here are some pictures with our little cutie. "Photoshopped" by Daddy of course. If I am coming to visit you or you are here at the house, please remind me to break out the camera. Its true what they say about childbirth and the loss of braincells....

Scarlet & Chloe's extended "foot" conversation.

When the Millers were over for the fourth we took a bunch of pictures of 5 month old little Chloe and 6 week old little Scarlet sitting together in a chair. Here is the "conversation" that the girls had with one another during the photo shoot.

Chloe: "Momma does Scarlet know how much fun feet are?"

Scarlet: (Who is this huge girl and why is she wearing the same shirt as me?)

Chloe: "Hey Scarlet, have you seen my super-cool foot?"

Scarlet: "What the heck are you talking about?"

Chloe: "My foot. Here, let me show it to you."

Scarlet: "Dang! And I thought MY feet were big!"

Chloe: "You can do fun things with your foot like bend it towards your mouth."

Scarlet: "What???"

Chloe: "And then you can stretch your leg out & bend your toes backwards..."

Scarlet: "I don't know..., that looks pretty weird to me."

Chloe: "...and you can even pull your toes apart and look in between them!"

Scarlet: "Mommy, this girl is freaking me out with all this foot stuff?"

Chloe: "But Scarlet, feet are SO COOL!"

Scarlet: Alright, alright....I'll take your word for it.

Chloe: "Come on Scarlet, let me show you."

Scarlet: "Uh-oh, here we go."

Chloe: "Come on and take a CLOSE look Scarlet!"

Scarlet: "Ooooof, that's my rib cage girl!"

Chloe: "Just look at this FOOT Scarlet."

Scarlet: "I can't believe you're going on and on about this!"

Chloe: "Try putting your fingers in between your toes, it feels real funky."

Scarlet: "Mommy, is she for REAL?"

Chloe: "Momma, should I tell her how fun my knee is also?"

Scarlet: "Please....no."

Chloe: "Come on Scarlet, let me show you my big toe."

Scarlet: "Maybe if I just don't look at her, she'll stop."

Chloe: "Scarlet, you're not paying attention. Let me pull you closer."

Scarlet: "Oh man, I'm scared now."

Chloe: "Fine Scarlet. If you don't want to see my cool feet that's fine."

Scarlet: "Is she finally going to let this go Mommy?"

Chloe: "It's OK Scarlet. When you get just a little older, you will find your feet and learn their greatness."

Scarlet: "Does that mean I only have so long before I go crazy too?"

Chloe: "Now have I mentioned anything about my oh-so-cool ELBOW??"

Scarlet: "Oh sweet Lord, here we go AGAIN!"

Scarlet's first 4th of July

Last week for the Fourth we had some of our friends over for enchiladas and relaxing out on our patio. The Miller's brought their two lovely girls - 3yr old Desiree (Dee) and 5 month old Chloe. And the Ruelas' brought their very cute 1 yr old little man - Emery.

It turned out to be a real nice day since the torrential rains we had been enduring for weeks finally slacked off just the day before and didn't return until the next day on the 5th. But because of the fear of possible rain, poor Desiree and Emery didn't get to go swimming since their mean ol' parents didn't bring their swim suits along! ;)

Here's some pics of the guacamole manufacturing (kudos to Brian for another delicious batch), the general consumption of eats, and just one of the fun festivities - bubble blowing. Not pictured were kiddie fireworks, and letting Dee & Emery put their feet in the pool ever so briefly.

Scarlet supervising Brian cutting up the avocados.

Ginger gets to hold Chloe to see how big Scarlet might be at 5 months.

Dee giving the camera her "shy glare" while Scarlet looks at the crazy chef.

Mr. Emery wondering where is his next round of snacks.

Emery's Dad showing Dee how the bubble blowing kit works.

Paul says, "now that's how it works Dee!"

Once Emery ate, Mommy Doris got to eat as well.

Chloe wonders why this tall man is taking her picture.

Tana & her little Chloe & Dee with Ginger & Scarlet (watching a ceiling fan).

Tana then got her camera & joined Ron in taking pictures of the pretty ladies!

Next post....Scarlet and Chloe have an extended "foot" conversation over a full photo-montage.

Can I hold her?

Grandpa and Scarlet

Give you any ideas Amy?

3 year old Logan kept asking us to "take a picture of my belly!"

Getting all three to sit still wasnt easy!

As Ron mentioned in a previous post, the weekend of the Craig Family Reunion we also made a trip to OKC. This was the first visit to Nana's house as well as the first time meeting Scarlets cousins, Preston and Logan (my sister, Shaunna's kids). On the way back to Dallas, we stopped by my oldest friends' parents house, Amy Roark, so they could see and hold that baby! From there, we visited Grandpa in Ardmore. Lots of pictures were taken and here are the best of the bunch. Enjoy!

Scarlet at the Craig Family Reunion.

A week ago Saturday (6/23/07) we took Miss Scarlet to her very first family reunion - the annual "Craig Family" Reunion which typically occurs on the last (or this year - 2nd to last) Saturday in June in Hickory, Oklahoma. My mother (Ann Craig) was one of 8 brothers and sisters and each of them (except for my mother due to complications at my birth) had at least two if not more children. With my mother being the second youngest and many of her six older brothers and sisters having kids not too many years older than her, those nieces and nephews of hers went on to have children who have since had children who have also had children. This means if you do just a few exponential math calculations over time, you can quickly begin to see a LOT of Craig descendents that came from that initial family of eight kids. Scarlet now represents yet another branch of that ever growing Craig family tree.

The turnout this year was very nice with so many people looking forward to meeting Scarlet for the first time. And meet her they did - save from a getting fed by Momma in a side room for a little while, little Scarlet got held by her extended family the entire time we were there! Her Grand Aunt June logged the most time with Scarlet and I think she really enjoyed soaking up those warm & loving grandma/great-grandma arms of hers!

Plus this year there was the added bonus of a baby shower thrown for Scarlet by her all-too-kind cousins. Scarlet raked in several new outfits, bibs, toys, books, & even some very stylish jewelery! Although Scarlet missed out on her yummy snacks & cake, Mommy & Daddy went to town on it and thought it was DELICIOUS! Thanks to all of you who went out of your way to welcome Scarlet with all you did and gave!!!

{Now on a different note, Daddy feels compelled to take a moment and get up on his soapbox to speak to any and all Craig family members who might be reading this.}

OK, while it was GREAT to have more Craig's attend this year, there were still so many of you that did not attend (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE). Now please understand that I'm not chastising you for missing this year because of Scarlet, that is not the case at all. I'm just wanting to stress to everyone that we need to keep the Craig Family Reunion going. And yes I certainly understand that other commitments can & DO come up. We all have them with our individual families, careers, and many other responsibilities in our busy lives. I too have missed a reunion here or there over the years. But we need to remember our family roots and keep this direct contact with those roots open. It is important that our children know their extended family - to know their cousins and understand how we're all connected to one another. It is now up to those of us (myself included) who are next in line for ensuring that the effort is made to keep a Craig Family Reunion alive and kicking. Surely we all can squeeze out at least one day a year to get together with one another! It has worked in the past, why can't we now? This is something that we ALL must plan it out in advance and treat as a PRIORITY!

I don't want to step on any one's toes here, but if location or facilites are a problem in getting more to attend (sure the facility in Hickory doesn't have much to offer in the entertainment of children), perhaps other options can be entertained. Should we look at discussing the possibility of moving things from Hickory to some type of park/meeting facility in Oklahoma City? It seems that this might be a logical move since the greatest majority of Craig family members reside in or not too far from OKC. Of course we must remember that in doing so we would most likely not have the wonderful and tireless effort that Loyce Gerth has so generously provided for so many years in coordinating everything there in the original Craig home turf of Hickory.

In closing I ask each of you to consider how we can better our attendance in the future. Please pass what I'm saying on to ALL your family and stress how important it is for all of us to get together with one another each year. Reconnecting with our family roots IS important - especially to the generations going forward. Let's work to improve that connection and make it a priority on our calendar each year!

{Ron now gets down from his soapbox} :)