This month was a little challenging (again) for a couple reasons. One: Harper is just a challenge and doesn’t want to be still (read: nose-dives off the chair in her room if I get too far away) and two: I got a new camera (UPGRADE! woo hoo!) and have had a slight learning curve! Anyway, here they are!
Clearly Harper really loves these basket pictures that we do.
Can’t believe next month will be the last month of these!!
We celebrated Hadley’s third birthday this year at The Little Gym with her friends. She had a blast running and jumping with all her friends. When I asked her if she wanted a Doc McStuffins party or princess/tutu/sparkle party she jumped at the chance to wear a tutu so I just went with pink and gold for décor (and was happy to avoid a character party
Three hundred and thirty four days old today sweet Harper. Wow, these past 11 months have absolutely flown by and I cannot believe that next month we will be celebrating your first birthday!
This month we traveled out of town for the first time. And probably the last time. Until you’re at least 10. To say it wasn’t an easy trip would be a huge understatement. You have never liked the car (as evidenced by the crying you did at 2 days old when we left the hospital), but you brought it to a whole new level when we drove down to Austin for Christmas. It’s a 4 hour drive and you screamed your little lungs out (to the point of throwing up) for 3 of those hours. Fun times for all. We tried everything; singing, sitting in the back with you, snacks, white noise, stopped to nurse/diaper change, loud music, quiet music, ignoring it… nothing worked. I think it just comes down to the fact that you HATE being strapped down or contained in any way shape or form. When we finally got there, it wasn’t much better. You were over-stimulated, hardly eating, barely sleeping and cranky, cranky, cranky. So much so that we left a day early (at bedtime in hopes of less screaming, more sleeping in the car). So, that was your first Christmas! Pretty sure you would have been much happier had we stayed home and given you a piece or two of tissue paper to play with. ;)
You did manage to show us a lot of your sweeter side this month, though, too. You have been giving kisses/hugs for a couple months now, but this month you really started doing it on your own, unprompted. And it is the sweetest thing ever. We were playing in the playroom the other day and you just crawled right up to me, pulled up on my shoulders, grabbed my face and gave me a big, slobbery kiss on my cheek, then put your head down on my shoulder (which is how you give hugs). I think it’s your way of balancing out your extreme crankiness!
You are into everything and want to be doing everything and more that your big sister is doing (and in an ironic twist, she wants to do everything YOU are doing and will crawl around on the floor pretending she can’t walk just so she can be like YOU!).
We had some friends over for dinner this month and you had such a fun time with the big kids. (In the picture below, Avery is actually 6 months older than you, but you’d never know it based on size since you weigh more than she does!)
We saw Santa this month. You were not a fan of both the line & wait to see him, nor the big guy himself. Maybe next year. But probably not.
And we also had a fun “second Christmas” with daddy’s side of the family when they came to visit. You and your sister were both spoiled beyond belief (with attention and toys!) by everyone this year – I think it’s safe to say you are two loved little girls!
You are still taking two naps a day (around 10 and 2:30) and they both usually last 1.5-2 hours. Bedtime is between 7:30/8 and you start your day around 7:30/8 (with usually one wake-up at night…occasionally more, occasionally none). You are a great napper and a not-so-great nighttime sleeper, but I know we’ll get there eventually!
You still love your blueberries. You eat 3 meals a day + snacks and nurse 5 times a day (typically). You definitely prefer fruit over vegetables (really, who doesn’t?), but will usually eat a little of whatever we put in front of you. And there’s NO questioning when you’re done because if I’m not quick enough to remove it, all the food in front of you is thrown to the floor. We need to work on our table manners a little. ;)
You’re babbling, crawling, pulling up, cruising on furniture, taking steps while holding onto our fingers and doing everything you can to keep up with your big sister. Momma is exhausted by bedtime, that’s for sure!
No doctor’s appointment, so I don’t have your official stats, but here are our guesses:
Still no teeth! I love your little gummy smile and I think I’ll be sad to see it go!
Harper, even on the most exhausting days, I wouldn’t change a minute of my time with you. (ok, well maybe if I could figure out how to stop the screaming I might…). I love you, love you, love you pumpkin!
love,
Momma
In the blink of an eye, three years have come and gone. My tiny, helpless little baby has turned into a sweet, thoughtful, beautiful little girl and is growing up so very quickly!
I’ve seen a lot of those birthday survey’s floating around and decided this would be a great year to start that tradition! I’ll (hopefully) use this same survey to ask her the same questions every year on her birthday. Without further adieu, here is the first edition of the annual Birthday Survey!
Hadley Ann, You are the sweetest, most thoughtful three year old (really you’re sweeter and more thoughtful than most adults) I know! What a blessing it is to be your momma! It is such a sweet privilege to stay home with you and watch you grow and discover the world around you. You have such a kind, tender heart; are an amazing big sister; and are a rule follower – to a T!
You’ve had so many milestones in the past year it’s hard to recount them all! You’re in your big girl bed – 8p-8a most nights and still nap once a day for 2-3 hours. For the most part, you’re a pretty good eater (for a three year old). You definitely prefer the usual kid-foods (your favs are grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, pizza, mac&cheese, spaghetti, fruit, waffles, green beans and occasionally carrots and peas), but will try anything we ask you to try (and every now and then surprise us by liking something new!).
We’re working on the potty training thing (4 days in today) and you are doing really well. I’m not holding my breath, but I think we’re on the right track!
We finally kicked the paci-habit back in September and never looked back. I thought it would never happen, but you surprised me by handling it like a big girl and after your prize (a Doc McStuffins doctor kit) you never looked back!
Daddy and I are so proud of who you are becoming and we couldn’t love you more! I just pray that you would come to know how much more the Lord loves you!
Happy third birthday sweet pea! I can’t wait to watch you grow and celebrate all your birthdays to come!!
Love,
Momma
