It's All About Scout

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Scout's Least Favorite Animal

A couple of weeks before Easter, we took Scout to Knoxville Botanical Gardens for a baby duck photo shoot with KJPhotography. I was so excited about this shoot because Scout is such an animal lover. She had done her bunny shoot just a couple of weeks prior and fell in love with the bunny, although we didn't get to spend much time with him. When Scout first saw the baby ducks she seemed very intrigued, but that all changed very quickly when she got her hands on one. She seemed a bit scared, just to be quite honest. I guess I would be too, if I was only 22 months old and didn't know what to expect. She didn't like how the duck constantly moved around and she really disliked his feet. Needless to say, the shoot was nearly a fail. Kristie was able to get a few good shots, which was amazing because Scout ended up being in a pretty foul mood. I've come to realize that for the time being, photo shoots are going to be a challenge. I know once Scout gets older, it will be easy again (hoping and praying). Honestly, she was being pretty bratty during most of the session, but it's a catch 22. Either I spank her (for acting out), which will make her cry or let her continue acting out and like a brat. Either way, there's no good ending. Oh well. I know this is all part of raising a child. Regardless, I still love her unconditionally and adore her like no other. I want her to know I love her, but I also want her to know what "tough love" is. My parents taught me tough love and I didn't turn out so bad. :) No comments from the peanut gallery, please. ;) Anyhow, with all of this above said, enjoy the pictures below. Oh, and Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mommy's and Mama's, etc! Anyone can be a mother, but it takes a real special woman to be a mommy, mama, etc.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Eye Muscle Surgery Post Op

On Friday, April 29th, we took Scout for her eye muscle surgery post op (9 days) visit. Dr. Schmitt was impressed with the healing of Scout's eyes and told us we only had to continue her antibiotic/steroid eye drops through this past weekend. That was 3 days earlier than planned. I was happy to hear that because putting eye drops in a toddlers eyes three times a day was a nightmare!! I was a bit concerned that Scout would freak out at this appointment after us messing with her eyes from eye drops, but she did so well and was such a big girl. She always makes me so proud! Dr. Schmitt did her normal eye exam and said that the position of her eyes look great, although the right eye is still slightly off. It truly isn't that noticeable to me. So, with that said, for now, she will continue wearing her glasses. Like I've said in previous posts, it can take up to two months for her eyes to completely heal. Once they are completely healed, we'll know more. I'm just hoping the surgery doesn't cause her eyes to over correct. Regardless, if they are under or over corrected, the glasses will fix the issue, as long as she wears them. The good thing is, Scout has become attached to her glasses and seems to like them. We go for our next follow up in a few weeks. I will post another update at that time.

As for everything else, life is good. We are busy with our every day lives, working and playing with a little girl in between. Scout's favorite thing to do these days, and has been for a while, is doing her flash cards. We do them at least 6+ times a day. She can get about 85% of them right between to two packs. She really impresses me! She's also been learning to count. So far, we are to three. It's not just a memorization thing either, she knows how many three is. I've been buried in my lap top lately planning her 2nd birthday party. Invitations were mailed out today, so be on the lookout! :) I can't believe my baby will be 2 in less than a month. I know I will say this every year, but it seems like she was just born yesterday. I wish I could put a stop on time, but it's so rewarding watching your child grow and learn. It's such an amazing thing.

I hope everyone is having a good week! Happy Mother's Day to all of you mommy's out there!

This isn't the best picture, but I don't have many new ones to choose from. Notice how much better Scout's eyes look. I'm so thankful for God's healing power!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Our Exciting Easter

We had a wonderful Easter this year! It was exciting because Scout is old enough to understand all of the Easter activities and how to participate. This year I decided to coordinate our outfits for Easter Sunday. Boy, was that a challenge! It all worked out and I thought we looked nice. :) I had lots of fun events planned for Scout over the last couple of weeks. We first started with a live bunny shoot. Scout really enjoyed that, only because she got to love on a bunny. She is such an animal lover! The weekend before Easter, we were supposed to go to the Fountain City Easter Egg Hunt (It's close to our house), but it rained all night the night before into the morning, so it was too wet and the weather had turned pretty cold. I was bummed, but we made up for it. The next day, we went for a baby duck photo shoot at Knoxville Botanical Gardens. I just knew Scout would enjoy that, but I was wrong. The photographer got a couple of shots with the baby duck, but most are of just Scout. The baby ducks moved too much and too fast, so I think they scared her a bit. I haven't received my disk of those pictures yet, but will post some once I do. The Tuesday before Scout's eye surgery, we went to Bass Pro to visit the Easter Bunny like we did last year. Scout did rather well and was excited to get jelly beans as a treat afterwards. The day before Easter, we enjoyed an Easter Bunny train ride. I was a little disappointed because I paid a lot of money for it and it turned out to not be what I expected, but Scout enjoyed it, so that made it all worth it. Then we headed to the camp ground to visit Nana and Nappy. They got Scout a bunny Pillow Pet, it's so cute, and a bag of SweetTart jellybeans, one of her faves! Easter Sunday, we headed to Lenoir City and attended my dad and step mom's church, the church I grew up in. After church, we headed over to Grumpy and Gran's for a yummy Easter dinner with my brother and his family and my sister-in-law's parents. We had a good time and lots of good eats! After that, the girls enjoyed hunting eggs that Gran put together with goodies in them. We sure had an exciting Easter, I hope you did, too!

We did a bunny shoot last year, so I wanted to continue the tradition. I wasn't pleased with this photographers work, but Scout thoroughly enjoyed "Nibbles" and she looks so stinkin' cute in these pictures.

See what I mean? Adorable, I tell ya!

She's such an animal lover! The bunny looks like a black blob. :(

We went to Bass Pro Shop the day before Scout's surgery to visit the Easter Bunny. I wasn't sure how Scout would react, but she did well. She didn't want to sit on his lap, but was okay to sit on mine. :) After we visited him, she gave him a high five!

Leaving Bass Pro, hand in hand with her Papa. So sweet! She's also holding on tightly to the jelly beans the Easter Bunny gave her. Hehe!

On Saturday, we went on an Easter Bunny train ride at Southern Appalachia Railway Museum in Oak Ridge (the same one that does the Secret City tour). You could either do just a train ride, or you could do a train ride with the Easter Bunny in the dining car. Well, although it cost much more for the dining car, I couldn't resist. She's only little once, right?

We enjoyed some arts and crafts when we first arrive. There was supposed to be a party with other kids in the dining car, but other parents backed out. So, Scout ended up being the only kid. She got lots of undivided attention and loved every minute of it!

Papa's girl!

The Easter Bunny brought Scout a special gift!

Awesome! She got a Junior Engineer Kit! A hat, train whistle and red bandana!

Papa was trying to get Scout to blow the train whistle.

Silly Papa! He's wearing Scout's engineer hat!

One of the workers traded Scout's blue hat for a pink one! We love it!

Scout decided to start wondering and almost lost her balance, but she never fell. Not too shabby considering the train was in motion.

Scout and the Easter Bunny got to play a lot!

Out of everything in this basket, Scout goes for the Starburst! She ended up getting all of the eggs and the prizes in them because she was the only kid in the dining car. She loves opening the eggs to see what was in them.