Elliet {9 months}

Little Elliet turned 9 months old last week.  9 months!  I can't believe how much faster time goes with the 2nd child!

Weight: Elliet weighed about 21 pounds with her diapers and clothes on when Adam weighed her on our home scale

Diaper Size: 3

Clothing Size: 12 months

Teeth: 6

Speech: tries to say "uh-oh" - but just says the "uh!"  Every time she drops her cup from her hi-chair she say "Uh!"  We started teaching her baby sign language, as we did for Harper.  Just the basics - more, all done, and bath.

Eating: Elliet still only drinks 4 oz formula at each sitting, but she is down to about 4 or 5 bottles a day.  She eats a mixture of baby food and table food for meals.  So far she has eaten: toast, scrambled eggs, saltine crackers, bananas, pizza, green beans, and pineapple.

Sleep: Elliet take a 2 hour nap in the morning and a 2 hour nap in the afternoon.  Bed time is around 8/8:30 and she wakes up in the morning around 7:30.  Unfortunately she is not sleeping through the night yet - she usually wakes up once for a diaper change and bottle. (I hope this stops...SOON!)

Movement: As I promised in her 8-month post, Elliet is officially crawling!  And she pulls herself up on everything....the couches, chairs, coffee table, bed, toys, etc.  I LOVE when she crawls over to me and pulls up on my leg and wants me to hold her.  I don't know why - just makes me feel wanted :)  I predict that she will be 'cruising' by next month.

Favorite Toy: books or anything of Harper's

Development/Health/Milestones

• went for 1st ride in stroller and loved it! She was SO relaxed
• started using special shampoo (T-Sal) for dry scalp just like Harper needed when she was a baby
• crawling and pulling self to standing position!
• claps hands spontaneously or when you say "Patty Cake"
• throws her hands in the air when you say "So big"
• shakes her head no
• loves to imitate faces - especially scrunching up her nose

Only 3 more months until Elliet turns 1 - I better start working on her BUMBLE BEE Birthday Party!!!  It'll be here before we know it!

Happy Birthday, Gary

Today is my father-in-law's Birthday.  Happy 62nd Birthday, Gary!!!  (as he says, "one year closer to retirement!") 

Grandpa with all of his grandkids

Grandpa Gary & Elliet - she wore her special shirt just for him that said "Grandpa Loves Me"

We hope you had a GREAT day!!!!!!!!!!

Harper 4 1/2

Harper turned 4 1/2 this week!  A half of a year is a big deal when you're a kid, or at least I thought so!

Harper continues to be an amazing big sister.  She has exceeded our expectations beyond belief.  She entertains Elliet, shares with her, reads to her, feeds her, holds/carries her, soothes her, and now takes baths with Elliet.  There are times when she doesn't want to share with her, or gets frustrated when Elliet gets into her stuff, but that is to be expected.  We look forward to watching Harper teach Elliet new things, such as counting, using a spoon/fork, coloring, etc.

Harper also continues to love preschool.  We have conferences in a few weeks and are looking forward to what the teachers have to say about her progress and if she's ready for the BIG K!!!!!!  

In her spare time, Harper enjoys playing on the kindle, watching TV, reading books, playing board games/cards, and playing with Elliet.  Harper's favorite shows are Full House, The Brady Bunch, Peppa Pig, Caillou, Quints by Surprise, and The Little Couple.  Quite the variety!  I can't wait until it warms up and we can spend time outside again!

Harper is finishing up her first year of dance.  She only has two months left before her recital.  Sometimes I'm able to watch her class if the door gets left open.  Harper is very good - she actually concentrates and follows directions.  

Harper is looking forward to a few things coming up in the next few months:  Her dance recital in May and being a flower girl in June.  She also plans on playing Blast Ball again this summer.

How is even possible that we're only 6 months away from having a 5-year-old?!  And possibly a kindergartner?!

WE LOVE YOU HARPER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Valentines 2014

Hello Everyone!  (Hopefully I still have followers out there despite the lack of blogs....)  I WILL get caught up on blogs this week.

Let's start with Valentine's Day ~

Adam and I both had to work on Valentine's Day, so we celebrated the evening before.  We didn't do anything special, but did eat a heart-shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's!  It was soooo good - and only $7!

Our 2 little Valentines

Harper had a Valentine's party at school.  She chose Fun Dip Valentines.  Elliet also got in on the celebration at daycare.  She received a lot of suckers and fruit snacks.....

Elliet and Harper gave their teachers a cute reusable cup filled with chocolate.  Elliet gave her friends a Go-Go Squeeze applesauce pouch with a cute little note that read "You're my main SQUEEZE, Valentine!"

The girls spent the weekend in Northwood, as Adam and I had to work all weekend.  Before Adam took them to meet my parents, he stopped at my work with the girls for a surprise visit...and flowers!  After work, I met him for Chinese, and that concluded Valentines Day 2014!