Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Summer Catch-up

So, as you can tell… my life has little time for blogging these days. A three year old, 8 month old, full-time job, husband and home keep me pretty busy. So this is a catch-up post of sorts.

My big 3 year old… Blair is my little shadow. She loves to help and follow me around the house. She loves to help with laundry (pouring the “blue and green stuff”), cook dinner, (pretend) vacuum, and when given a straightening up task – does so diligently. I don’t want to go overboard with the chores though, there are plenty of years for that.

Blair continues to be the very best big sister to Harlow. She does really well playing with her, distracting her (when needed), and having an overall sense of what it is to be the oldest. I have heard of the terrible two’s, and the troublesome three’s – but honestly, she’s been really great. She is still adjusting to not being the baby - but rarely acts out. We are still working on the typical behavior-type issues, but nothing serious.

She is learning more about time and whether things happen today, tomorrow, or in two weeks. If I say, “Mimi is going to pick you up after school this afternoon,” she immediately asks, “Today? Is she going to pick me up TODAY?” It is really cute how she is trying to understand and gets excited about future plans.

Harlow, Harlow. How can this sweet baby already be 8 months old? The time is passing so much quicker now. Or maybe I just have that much less time to marvel at each day and milestone with her. She is days away from crawling. Could even be less than that! It seems like Lo knows what the hands need to be doing, but not quite the feet. She is pretty determined and I don’t think it will be much longer until she is completely mobile and causing trouble with Blair.

Harlow is sleeping through the night – bliss! She has not been nearly as sick as Blair was (with the ear infections), so we were able to sleep train her much easier. And what has me most shocked, is that after rocking in the recliner for a few minutes, I lay her down in her crib on her side, and she falls asleep on her own. What a novelty! She still goes to sleep between 6 and 7pm, not giving me a ton of time with her in the afternoons – but for a little person that gets up at 6am every day, I certainly understand. This, of course, means that she wakes up on the weekends at 6:30am. So there’s my “sleeping in.”

Lo is eating pretty well and seems to like more foods than Blair did. She gets a bottle upon waking up, yogurt and a fruit in the mid morning, a bottle for lunch, 1 veggie & 1 protein (or another fruit) for an early afternoon snack, a bottle a couple of hours later, then a small dinner (1 container). She’s started on table foods and is doing really well. So far she has tried grilled cheese (loves them!), green beans, bananas, spaghetti, bread, mashed potatoes, toast, scrambled eggs and carrots. I keep asking myself, how can she already be ready to eat table foods?!? I just had her. Like yesterday.
  
We have had to start giving Harlow an allergy medication in the evenings to help with the drainage in her throat – which has worked wonders. We couldn’t get it to clear up with anything else and she would gag and throw-up due to the drainage. It. Was. A. Mess. But now, things are much better as long as she gets her medicine.

Harlow loves to clap and wave, play with toys, bounce to music, stand up (working on the cruising part), be tickled, read, eat, swim and splash, and give kisses and hugs. She loves any attention she gets from Blair… even when Blair makes squawking sounds at her in the back seat. She just laughs and laughs like it was the best joke in the world. Maybe it is some secret sister ‘inside’ joke. The only thing she truly dislikes is not being included. The other day while Travis was holding her, B and I walked out the room and she was so upset. Once I picked her up and brought her with us, she was a smiley, happy camper.

Harlow is such a dream baby. She’s really good-natured and happy and just fills out our family of four perfectly… like we’d been saving a ‘space’ for her since before she arrived. Sometimes Travis and I look at each other and can't believe how lucky we are with these two lovies. We know that we are incredibly blessed with their health, love and light.

In July, Travis and I made an ‘escape’ to New Orleans. We hadn't been on a trip together in over a year and were itching for some adult time. We love New Orleans, so it only made sense that we sneak off and spend a few days in the French Quarter. Although somewhat hot, we still had so much fun together. The quiet time away was nice (although we missed those little girls dearly!) and I relished not having to carry a huge diaper bag, multiple cups, strollers, toys, etc. to be hauling around. We ate some amazing food, including our first experience at Willie Mae’s – known for being the BEST fried chicken in the US. It did not disappoint. J After a few days in NO, we came back to Houston for one more night of vacation to attend a show. It was the perfect way to cap off the trip! Thank you to Blair and Harlow’s grandparents for watching the girls for a few days so T and I could get away. And sleep. J


As the summer wraps up, I am getting excited for my favorite season… FALL! We have so many fun events coming up, like my brother’s wedding, a beach trip to Florida, the holidays, and Harlow’s FIRST birthday!

Pictures coming in the next post!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Father's Day 2014

Since we enjoyed our little breakfast from Buffalo Grille on Mother's day, we decided to go there for Father's Day breakfast. We get up pretty early, so we were able to get a table and enjoy a TON of yummy food. Tradition, consider yourself started! 
After breakfast we went to the grocery store (aren't we exciting?!?) and then hung out together as a family. It was such a great weekend and we love every second we get to spend time with our girls.








Blair's 1st Ballet Recital

In May, Blair had her first ballet recital. She did SO amazing and it was the cutest thing. She has really enjoyed her ballet class and this was the perfect way to cap off 7 months of learning and work.




















And then one is my favorite - because this looks like a little Ashley!!





Mother's Day 2014

This year, we kept Mother's Day low key. We tried to sleep in (hello, 6:30am) and spend time together as a family. Blair and Travis picked up a breakfast at Buffalo Grille and we ate together at home. Mimosas included (YAY!). Lo was definitely not feeling well (later to find out she was getting an ear infection), but we still loved getting to be together. Blair wished me "Happy Mother's Day" about 200 times, but I loved it. Travis was wonderful as always and made me feel so special and so loved. I'm a lucky Mommy. :)





Harlow Noelle - 6 Months

Our sweet Harlow Noelle is already 6 months. Although I took 5 month pics, I did not do a post, so consider this the 5 & 6 month round-up. :)

Harlow got her first ear infection a week into being 5 months. Bummer. She wasn’t feeling well all day (Mother’s Day) and a trip to Dr. Kavin the next day proved my suspicions to be true. 10 days of amox and we are in the clear… I am praying that she doesn’t develop chronic ear infections like her sister. It will be a rough 6 months if so.

Lo (or “Loey” as I call her) is wearing 12 month clothes and size 3 diapers. She is long and skinny! Blair was a chunker at this age.

She loves to sit up and play and is now sitting on her own. She is even trying to crawl a little (despite not being a huge fan of tummy time). She’s trying to become independent and I am doing my best to let her be so. J


At 6 months, Harlow now:

Eats yogurt, fruits and veggies. After a few “reversal” episodes with rice cereal, we determined she was allergic to it. So no cereal. I haven’t tried barely or oatmeal yet, but she’s doing well with her yogurt (just like B) and the food. She still gets a 7-8 oz bottle in between feedings and at nighttime.

Is drinking from a sippy cup.

Lo is not sleeping through the night, and although I would like it if she were, Blair didn’t sleep through the night until she was 12-18 months. Loey wakes up 1 – 2 times a night. She is breaking herself of using her swaddler and usually ends up sleeping on her tummy or side. She is still taking a pacifier when she is sleepy and I love that about her (probably because Blair never used them). In the last couple of days, she is making it through the night without a bottle. Last night, she slept from 7pm - 5am - YAY!

Loves: Blair and laughs at anything she does, playing in her jumper, sitting on the floor & having tea parties with B, going on walks or being pushed in her stroller (Mommy confession – when she is being cranky and we cant make her happy & cannot carry her any longer – she gets pushed in the stroller), being a part of the action, baths, *Daddy’s Girl*, being in the pool, Raleigh, and anything that makes her feel "big"

Dislikes: being in the car when it is not moving (this includes traffic / long lights), going to bed when she is over-tired

Now that we are over that ear infection, Lo is back to her happy little self. Her little personality is really starting to shine through. She does this sweet, shy / bashful smile (quickly followed by you burying your head into someone’s shoulder) that we all love so very much. Harlow continues to sparkle for your Daddy and will laugh on cue if Blair does. It is very cute and we call it “Blair’s special trick.”  J

We are so blessed to have this preciously sweet little person in our lives. She is the sweetest, happiest baby. She was the missing puzzle piece in our family and we are so in love with this beautiful little girl!

A (somewhat) serious photo shoot... 5 MoNtHs!











At 6 MoNtHs...










Thursday, May 22, 2014

Pictures I am Loving...


A little chalk activity on the driveway


"Who you talking to, Panda?"


Fun at the park


Rolling around at her 5 month check-up


7th annual draft party 


Cupcake treat for a big 3 year old!


Lo LOVES Blair


Fun at Gramma Ancy's


Being big... riding Hank


Kisses


Lo and her Handsome Daddy


Love these two


Getting big in the jumper


Her outfit to go shopping. Love it.


Loving on her baby


Another ottoman picture - May 2014


Silly girl


Ballet - making a silly face


Love those legs


Waiting to see Dr. Kavin at B's 3 year check-up


Blair and Daddy


Lunch with Daddy


Me and my sweet girls!