Scarlett Grecia Mercurio-Corao: January 2016

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Changes: Potty Training, Preschool, and the Big Girl Bed

Hi Scarlett,
You are changing so quickly and I cannot tell you how amazed I am by your gentle, caring, and helpful spirit. You are truly an angel and you bring me joy every day. We went on a road trip and hung out at New York, New York and you were just dying to go on that roller coaster. I love how adventurous you are! After Vegas we headed to MimiDoodle's for some extended family time. It was so wonderful watching you, Bonnie and Clara get to know each other: you took naked jacuzzis, ran through the sprinklers, played in the playhouse, dressed up like queens, and they helped you through potty training.

Auntie said it was time. I was scared. You were 2 years 8 months old and we had been dabbling in getting you trained but hadn't done anything official. Under Auntie's orders, there were no more diapers since you are a big girl now. Each time you went pee pee (pee pee weepy) you earned a chocolate chip, and poo poo (puppy wuppy) earned two. If you were successful Bonnie and Clara were also rewarded. You initially ran upstairs grabbed the potty and went. We had a few accidents, but I am so proud of how quickly you picked it up. We bought you Frozen underwear and it was so much fun to have the whole family ringing bells and cheering every time you were successful. I actually had fun with it!

A couple weeks later it was time for you to start preschool at Mission Kids Co-op. We tried so hard to get in there and I felt thrilled that you were accepted. It's a play based preschool that is located in the same building as a homeless shelter. They opened the first LGBT shelter in the country there. The outside has gorgeous murals and inside is like kid heaven. There are animals a play area, a garden and more. I also loved it because they take you on tons of outings into the community and often on public transit. I truly dreaded this day though. I got permission to go in late to work so I could be there for the drop off. I think I dreaded it so much because I felt like some era was ending. You were going into some other realm and other influences. To that point we had been able to be with you all day every day and that was such a gift. I just didn't want to say goodbye so I started bawling and you were hysterical. We couldn't let each other go. We are so attached Scarlett and we really hate to be apart. They told me that you had a great day: you made an alter, painted, played and more. The thing about this new era that really blew me away is that you have been napping during quiet time!! This is unheard of. We gave up on this so long ago because you had always adamantly refused to sleep in a bed during the day. Well, I'm so glad we eventually figured it out. Thank you Mission Kids. Each day you claim to not like it there, and tell us you would rather be home with us. It makes me feel so loved, but I know you like it there. You have a blast and usually don't want to leave when we pick you up. Today you went on a field trip to a Buddhist temple and learned to bow and meditate. So cool.

After just a few days of preschool we took off for our Caribbean cruise on the Noreigan Getaway. We traveled in a group of 17 and were there to celebrate Aunt Alejandra's (huevito) recovery from breast cancer. You loved getting to know your family. The cousins were so good to you. They loved you and invited you into their world. You also loved getting to know your aunts. On the cruise and lately you have been introducing yourself to the world as "Skippito Friskito", a chihuahua. He is the character of your favorite book, Cirque De Ole, which is about a siamese cat who wants to be a chihuahua and join the circus. You constantly quote it and tell whoever you meet about the plot. You are so adorable I can barely stand it. On the cruise you loved the pool, the daily ice cream, dance parties with Dora the Explorer, and the perfect beaches. We had a lovely time and you were definitely the star of the family. Everyone competed for your affection and attention.

On the cruise, we took your pack and play so you would be able to sleep. We bought you a big girl bed a long time ago, but you have refused to sleep in it. So every day we would set it up and take it down. When we returned from the cruise I just sort of decided I was done with the pack and play. You had been dying for us to buy you a Frozen dress, so I made a chart and told you that if you could sleep in the big girl's bed six times with no nonsense and stay in bed till the sun comes up I would buy you the dress. It worked like a charm. You still won't sleep under the covers, but it's fine and easy. It's just crazy how quickly you change.

One of the things I am loving the most is watching your personality develop. You are truly lovely. On the playground you emanate peace. If someone takes your toy, you find another one to play with. You don't argue with other children or take anything personally. I have so much to learn from you. You are also so wonderful at conversation. You ask people questions about themselves and truly listen. You also have this ability to take care of me and others. If I'm struggling you say, "It's okay mom. I can help you." And then you do. One time I felt sick recently and you brought me food, read to me, and took care of me. You are truly just so much better than I ever imagined.

The Frozen dress is beautiful. I had struggled with the whole thing because I am not a big fan of princesses, but you are obsessed and wear the dress so much. You really don't want to leave the house or even eat because both require taking off the dress. You wear the dress with your Elsa heels and play in your castle (the living room).

Thanks for bringing me joy each day my little love.

First "Puppy Wuppy"

First Day of Preschool at Mission Kids Co-op

We both cried saying goodbye. I was so sad to leave you but knew you were in a good school.

We loved the beach on the cruise. Virgin de la Gouda.

Adventure in Golden Gate Park near the wiindmill.

You love your weekly art class at the Randall, Kritter Krafts.

Your Elsa dress. You earned it baby.

Camping trip in the redwoods with Mission Kids. We went for the day.

You wandered into the river.

You consider this "your dress." You wrap the blanket around you then ask us to tie it with a chip clip.

So beautiful.

Family photo in Miami.

Wynn Art District, Miami. Post Cruise.

Cucu loves you more than you know.

View from our room at the cruise.

They were so happy to have the family together.

Papu with all the grandkids.

Tio Jota, Daddy and Cucu.

Beautiful sunsets on the cruise.

You love to relax.

The maid made animals of the towels each night for you.

Jota.

Your cousins adore you. They took such great care of you.

View as we left Miami.

Grrrr. My camera stopped working.

Family in the caves.

Such a magical day.

Changes

Hi Scarlett,

I just finished spending an amazing week with you. It's been hard because I taught summer school for six weeks this summer and all I really wanted was to be with you. You are turning into an incredible young lady: you have so much imagination, intelligence, kindness, patience and fun in you. You are up for anything and it has just been a joy to be your mommy so far.

You have been speaking so well. You can communicate your needs perfectly and I really love talking to you. Recently you have started to go pee pee in the potty and we all get so excited each time and celebrate. I am not rushing you. I know you and I know that when you are ready to do it, you will, but in the meantime I want you to feel safe and comfortable to move at your own pace.

We bought you a big girl bed. It's beautiful and has a balloon comforter and all sorts of pillows. I love it. You, however, still prefer to sleep in the pack and play. You are just like your mommy in that you don't like change and cling to what is comfortable and familiar. Again, I just want to let you do this at your own pace. I know that when the pack and play starts to feel uncomfortable you will change. In the meanwhile, enjoy the last parts of being a baby. I am in no hurry for you to grow up.

Your imagination has taken off. You love playing with nature and turn sticks into baby seals, leaves into families, branches into balloons and more. You create slides from chairs, fountains from small pieces of paper, and so much more. You have an imaginary friend named Bickariri and he is always present, alongside Viva and Panda. Panda seems to be like your child and you really work out what you learn through panda. You parent him the way we parent you.

So at this point you are 2 years old and 8 months. You are already able to read and spell many words. It's pretty phenomenal. I have continued to teach you using apps and you are beyond smart. Lately you love to ask me how to spell all sorts of words. You also have an incredible memory and attention span. You can sit through so many books absolutely still.

You love Frozen. I think it is your first phase. I ordered some Frozen stickers and tattoos and each morning, as a reward, if you stay in bed until the sun comes up, you get a Frozen tattoo and sticker. You look so cool with all those tats! I true San Francisco baby.

We have done a lot this summer and this week alone: We've been to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk 3 times and you love it. You even went on a roller coaster and bravely placed your hands over your head. You love rides! We've hiked down Fort Funston and watched the hanggliders; we went to Traintown in Sonoma and you fed llamas and rode trains and other rides; we went on the cable car to Ghiradelli where we had our first ice cream sunday. You were obsessed. We went to Fairyland where you saw your very first play, a puppet show of Wizard of Oz. You were perfect. We went to the movies on Father's Day and you saw your first movie: Inside Out. You were perfect. We go to museums constantly, and parks, temples, tea gardens, beaches. You have had so many experiences already and I will never stop exposing you to new things.

You are so polite. You always ask other people questions about themselves. You also have pretty perfect manners. Daddy and I went to Palm Springs earlier this summer and we left you with Mimi. It was the first time in your life we left you overnight. Each and every day, without fail, often up to 5 times a day you ask me how Palm Springs was. It's adorable. Then you tell me that you all went to Bates and you saw ostrich, peacocks, turkeys, etc.

You love to do art. We discovered Terra Mia and we have been painting clay. You made daddy at bird for father's day; mimidoodle a giraffe, and Sarah a dragon. We also love to do art projects at the Discovery Museum.

Another trait you have acquired is your desire to have everything clean and in it's place. Before bedtime I sing you Twinkle Twinkle and Ba Ba Black Sheep. As I am singing if you spot anything out of place, you ask me to return it to where it goes. Down to something being just an inch off of where it is supposed to go. Sometimes I put you down and you call me back to the room to remove a hair clip or push a stuffed animal two inches this way or that. You have a very clear sense of where things go and who they belong to. We accidentally took a brush from Mimi's and you are very anxious to return it to her.

Another cute part of your personality is your sense of fashion. You have very clear opinions about what you want to wear and what you don't want to wear. You HATE pants and want to only wear sun dresses even in the cold. It's very adorable. You are a Margarita baby at heart, right?

Overall, I must say you have become my best friend, Scarlett. It's scary how much we love each other. We take a bath together each night and I just love being near you. I honestly can't bear the thought of not spending every day with you again when I return to work. You are my life and I am trying my best to provide you with what you need. I am so sorry for my many imperfections. I will continue to strive to be a good mommy, but I cannot thank you enough, ever, for being the most incredible, beautiful little person I have ever known. I couldn't have ever asked for more.

Love,
Mom