Elliet {3 months}

Elliet turned 3 months 2 weeks ago!  She's well on her way to month # 4 already!  Here is what she's up to these days.

Height/Weight: We will find out next month at you check-up.  You are definitely growing though!  Adam brought the girls in to visit me at work last weekend and all of the patients said something along the lines of "She sure eats good!"

Clothing: 3-6 months

Diapers: size 2

Eating: You eat 4 oz of formula every 2-3 hours during the day.  I swear you spit up half of it though.  The doctor isn't worried.  You're just a 'happy spitter.'

Sleeping: You have your good and 'bad' nights.  (Bad meaning that yo wake up twice)  Normally you had been going to be between 10 and 11 and waking up around 6 for a bottle, then back to bed for a few more hours.  But lately you've been waking up around 2 or 3 for a bottle, and then again at 5 or 6.  It must be a growth spurt.  You still nap quite a bit throughout the day, but the naps are getting shorter, and wake periods are getting longer.  You like to sleep in your swing or with daddy.  We've also been laying you down in your crib for naps, which you don't mind.

Personality: You are usually an easy-going baby.  You only get worked up if you're hungry or tired.  You love to smile at us and have even given a few giggles.  You have also started to 'talk' to us.  You adore your big sister.

Development/Milestones/Health:
     + I think you may have allergies or a clogged tear duct in your left eye.  It randomly gets red, watery and mattery.  But only the left eye.  It'll be irritated one day, and then not again for a few more days.  O'well - mommy isn't too worked up about it.  We'll just ask the doctor about it next month at your check-up.
     + You continue to spit up.... a lot.  It doesn't seem to bother you though.  I know spitting up is normal, but I just don't remember your big sister spitting up this month.  I'm beginning to wonder if you have a milk sensitivity.  But then again, you are gaining weight and show no others signs of an allergy.
     + You now 'talk' to us - cooing and screeching!
     + You LOVE to watch your big sister!  You could watch her play all day.
     + You are not a fan of tummy time
     + You have found your hands and eat them ALL.THE.TIME.
     + still no pacifier!

Related Blog: Harper 3 months

Harper - Age 4

Sorry for the delay....life is busy with 2 kids, a husband that works the night shift, and myself working 12 hours shifts.

Here is Harper's 4-year-old developmental update:

Weight: 50 lbs!!!  (99th percentile)

Height: 43" (96th percentile)

Clothing Size: 6x (small)

Shoes Size: 10-11

Eating: Harper still sticks to her favorites: apples, cottage cheese, yogurt, toast, chicken nuggets,  ice cream, chocolate milk and juice!  More recent favorites include: grilled hamburgers, carrots with ranch, lunchables, and Kit-Kats.  She is very good at trying new things.  She weighs 50 pounds - obviously we don't have any issues in the eating department!  We do talk a lot about healthy and unhealthy food choices.  She usually asks "Does this have a lot of sugar?".  She honestly tries to make healthy choices and almost always requests water now instead of juice!   

Sleep: Now that Harper has school almost every morning, bedtime is much earlier.  We aim for 8:00.  We always read 3 books before bed, and now Ellie gets to join in on the fun.  Bedtime is usually a piece of cake, but sometimes Harper does lay in our bed until we go to bed.  Harper doesn't have a strict nap schedule.  She sometimes will nap, especially if she had to be at daycare at 6:30 AM.

Favorite Toy: Babies/stuffed animals

Favorite Activity: Playing with babies/stuffed animals, playing cards/board games, playing ball outside, or writing in her dry erase activity books

Personality: Harper has changed so much in the past year.  She is now much more outgoing and less shy around others.  Once you know Harper, you find out that she is a very smart, funny, polite, and sweet little girl.  Others don't see her stubborn side as much as we do, but she does get sassy every once in a while.  Nothing a little 'soap in the mouth' can't handle.  Yes, we're 'mean' parents and still spank too.

Big Sister: Harper is an AWESOME big sister.  I honestly have no complaints.  Harper has adjusted very well.  I'm sure things will change once Elliet is mobile and is getting into her stuff :)  Harper loves to help us take care of Ellie.  She helps feed her, change diapers, clean up spit-up, washes bottles, reads Elliet books, and gives her tons and tons of hugs and kisses!

Developmental:
     + can spell/write entire name (first, middle, last)
     + beginning to sound words out - working on spelling and reading
     + rides big girl bike with training wheels (and helmet!)
     + operates TV system completely by herself (including DVR)
     + goes to preschool 4 mornings/week
     + enrolled in dance (tap and ballet)
     + knows left from right
     + takes showers by herself and washes her own hair
     + loves playing with the neighbor kids

* I have to brag Harper up a bit  - She had to get 4 immunizations at her appointment last week and didn't cry, didn't even flinch!  

** Dr. Nagel thinks Harper is ready for KINDERGARTEN next year!  Yikes! (Although we think she is ready too.)  I guess we'll wait and see what the preschool teachers think!

Birthday Quiz {Harper Age 4}

Harper turned FOUR on Wednesday!  Here is a little quiz that I asked her on her 4th birthday:

What do you like to do with mommy? "I like to be your best friend."
What do you like to do with daddy? "I like daddy to tickle me."

What is your favorite color: purple and pink

Who is your Best Friend: Adelynn

Favorite Animal: zebra

What do you want to be when you grow up: a princess

Favorite Movie: Cinderella

Favorite Book: Bambi

What makes you happy: going to the park

What Makes you sad: not going to the park

Favorite Food: cucumbers with ranch (news to me!)

Favorite Song: Happy and You Know It (also a favorite last year)
Favorite Game: Yahtzee
Birthday Wish: "I wish I was 6!"

* We are have Harper's birthday party tomorrow - so check back soon to see pictures

**I will post another stat/development blog after she has her well-child check at the end of the month. (Should be interesting - immunizations are in her future!)

Dancing Queen

We have a little diva on our hands now....Harper has started dance classes!

She has practice once a week for 30 minutes.  It doesn't sound like much time, but that's about all a preschooler can handle!  (and the teacher!)  She is learning ballet and tap this year.

I was never a dancer, but I love that Harper is giving it a try.  She really enjoyed her first night and can't wait to go back!  If one day she decides that she doesn't like it, then I'll support her decision.  I never want to make her participate in something that she doesn't want to do.  (Adam is secretly hoping that she doesn't want to dance or cheer because he wants a 'real' athlete) ;)

Although dance gets a bad wrap for not being a real sport, it truly does teach the kids discipline and respect.

Preschoolers

warming up

Parents are not allowed to stay and watch their children....I suppose it's distracting to the dancers.  I will get to see Harper in action in November for Parents Night.  I'm looking forward to that and already requested that day off from work.  You can count on a blog post with lots of pictures and an update :)

Have a great 1st year of dance, Harper Marie!  

4-Year-Old Preschool

Harper is already 1 week into her 2nd year of preschool and she LOVES it.  In fact, she said she loves it "100 times!"

She goes to school for 3 hours every morning except for Wednesdays.  I know it sounds crazy, but she has already learned so much and matured.  It's weird.  Like last Friday she said, "Did you know it's Labor Day Weekend?"  And today she said "Did you know it's 2013?"  Her teachers are absolutely wonderful!

1st Day of 4-year-old preschool

2012 vs 2013

Now that Harper is more comfortable with going to school, she barely even lets us walk her to school.  (We live directly across the street.)  We walk her across the road and that's about as far as she'll let us go.  She tells us to stop and she just marches in, all by herself!  Miss Independent!

Here's to a great year, Harper!!!!