Harper Mae is 6 months old! (one week late)

This past month has been the most fun. Harper is really starting to develop a little personality. Our days are filled with smiles and giggles. If I had to pick, I'd say this has been Harper's best month...temperment wise. She's just getting so content, although we still have our clingy days.

We started off the month sleeping 7-10 hours straight at night, waking up to nurse, and then going back down until we had 12 hours of sleep under our belt. That lasted for about a week, must have been a growth spurt, and then she was back to waking every 2-3 hours again. I know she doesn't need to nurse, so we've been trying to rock her back to sleep lately when she wakes up soon after falling asleep. It's hit or miss. Luckily going to sleep has been a whole lot easier this month. I think there have only been a couple of days that she hasn't gone to sleep right away.

We finally are becoming a comfort nurser. And it is amazing. While most mom's don't want to nurse their babies to sleep, it's been a dream of mine since day 1. Rarely did she nurse to sleep. Now it's one of the only ways I can get her to sleep. And I am NOT complaining. It's so much better than bouncing on that stupid exercise ball (biggest regret of motherhood thus far).

We had our first real scare last week. Harper has been eating some foods like banana and avocado, along with gnawing on pears and apples (baby led weaning). Anyways, it seems like since we've started she's gotten a rash on her face, neck and stomach. At first I just figured it was a heat rash, then one day she woke up and her stomach was bright red and splotchy. I figured it was from the lotion I put on her before bed, even though we use it often. I took her to the doctor and they said it was probably just from that, and sent us on our way. Well, Thursday night I gave her some avocado while I was fixing dinner, it was a small piece and ended up more smashed around the tray then in her mouth. Then, I decided since she didn't really eat much of it I'd give her half a banana (big mistake). She probably at half of the half. We took a bath, and went to sleep. When she woke up at 11 p.m. she didn't want to nurse, rock, or anything. It was not like her at all. Then, I hear her stomach make a horrible noise. Sat her up, and she started throwing up! Not spitting up, throwing up. Nothing is more pitiful then a baby puking. After she was done, I turned on the light to change her clothes and her face was broken out in hives, as was her stomach, she was fire engine red. She was having a reaction to the banana and avocado. Then I start thinking back, the last time she had that rash, when I took her to the doctor, she had banana the night before. It could be a latex allergy, so we're staying away from banana, avocado and kiwis for now. We'll re-introduce at a year and see what happens. I'm hoping she grows out of it. But who knows. I just pray she doesn't turn out to be allergic to everything.

We had our first vaccine, Hib (aka bacterial meningitis). Daddy held her and she curled into him when they stuck her. So pitiful. She cried, but as soon as she got the boob she was fine. We'll probably do DTaP next month. And just stick with those two for now.

I think that basically wraps up our month. It's been an awesome one. Probably my favorite, developmental wise so far. She's just getting so fun!!! Love you Harp :)

More pictures of Harper Mae

Harper now:
- smiles all. the. time.
- laughs a ton
- is ticklish on her belly and under her chin
- loves being on her stomach, she actually freaks out when we lay her on her back.
- lifts herself up on her arms while on her stomach
- can rotate herself in a circle by lifting herself up on her arms
- is super close to rolling from back to belly. I just think she doesn't want to.
- scoots backward
- takes a bath in the kitchen sink instead of her baby tub :(
- makes the cutest crinkle nose face. It's probably the cutest thing she's done so far.
- weighs 19.5 pounds and is about 26.75 inches long. It's something like 96th percentile for weight and 86th for height.
- Makes the same noise over and over again when we say "Hi" to her, sounds like she's saying hi back.
- Definitely knows her name, but I think she knew it last month, I just forgot to write it down!

She loves:
- tummy time
- the boob
- babywearing
- the jumperoo
- her dad, mom, and the bear
- flirtin'
- being out and about
- bath time
- chewing on fabric, more than things meant for teething.
- Her light in her bedroom, it looks like a giant boob
- Being sung to.

Harper Mae is 5 months!

I almost had this post up on the 11th! I had it written, just didn't have picture organized. That's way better than the last few months ;)

When Harper turned 4 months so much changed. Almost overnight she started doing a bunch of new things. Every month she is changing, of course, but I feel like this past month she's changed the most drastically of all the others. It's so bittersweet.

We were all in bed this morning, Harper just sitting up like it's no big deal, and it brought tears to my eyes. Wasn't it just yesterday that she was laying there all swaddled up. Now she's sitting up unassisted, rocking back and forth and babbling the day away.

Bedtime has been a challenge this month. Getting her down has been taking 2-3 hours. And she wasn't staying asleep for more than two. Luckily the last couple nights she's started sleeping longer stretches again, about 4-5 hours, but getting her down is still a challenge.

I left her twice this month, I haven't done that since she was 5 weeks old! Brandon took a Friday off so I could go get a massage and pedicure. It was so nice, but I came home before my pedicure because she wasn't very happy. Then my mother in law watched her for a couple hours while I went and had my hair cut/chopped. It was falling out, and getting in my face, not to mention being pulled on by Harper. I feel so much better now that it's styled cute and not just a hot mess anymore! She took a couple ounces from a bottle each time, which is good, now I know I can leave and not worry about her getting hungry. But I don't plan to make a bottle a part of our daily routine, pumping is a huge pain.

Harper is definitely a momma's girl. It's not very often I can set her down without her whining. And if someone else is holding her and she sees me she throws a fit. It can sometimes be frustrating that I can't get anything done, but I have to remember it will only be like this for a short period of time!

More pictures of Harper Mae

This month Harper:
- Sits up on her own
- Can pull up to sitting when reclined, or bent over on her own
- Grabs things with one hand, and both hands
- Reaches for EVERYTHING
- Grabs our faces (make my heart melt)
- Rocks back and forth (she really wants to move)
- Grabs her feet and legs
- Loves the sayings: "That's sick" and "No talking, just sleepin" She just started laughing one day when we said those things
- Loves when mommy whistles
- Is teething, for real this time.
- Trying to roll from back to belly
- Starting wearing 6-9 and 6-12 month clothes. We've officially run out of our stock of clothes I had gotten from garage sales last spring & summer.

Favorite activities include:
- Sitting on her blanket playing with toys
- Laying in her crib and watching the lion on her mobile
- Boobytime
- Sitting in her high chair playing with toys
- Playing with Bear
- Smiling at Daddy

Can't believe how fast she's growing, next thing we know she'll be walking. Ahh! Love you Harper Mae :)

Harper Mae is 4 months old (two weeks late!)

Well, this was by far the most difficult month we've had with our little girl. It started out with her getting her first cold on the 18th of December; that lasted about 10 days. Then I noticed she was tugging on her ear, and one morning she woke up with green eye boogies on the same side she had been tugging on her ear; one trip to the doctor later and we found out she had her cold left her with her first ear infection. Then the antibiotic messed up her stomach. All of this resulted in not wanting to be set down during the day, even for naps. Night time was a whole other story. She's always fought her sleep, since the day we brought her home from the hospital, but this was even worse than when she was a newborn. It took us hours to finally get her to sleep, and once she was asleep we had to wait until she was in a deep, deep sleep to set her down. And she'd only stay asleep for a short period of time. So in to bed with us she came. It was the only way I could get sleep. Luckily it seems like the worst is over. Now we're just struggling with bedtime, I'm blaming it on the "Four Month Wakeful".

Harper can now:
- Grab/reach for toys
- Bring her hands together
- Suck her thumb/fingers
- Pet Lua
- Grab our faces (love that).
- Whines for mom when someone else has her (it's cute, comical and makes my heart melt :)
- Scream at the top of her lungs for fun
- Growl like a dinosaur
- Jump in her jumperoo

She finally likes the car, after I figured out the secret combination (blanket over top part of seat, this toy in hand, and the music on).

Her hair has gotten even longer, like probably an inch longer! It's out. of. control.

We went to the doctor right around 4 months and she weighed 17.2 pounds and was 25. 5 inches long. By now I'm sure she's doubled her birth weight. Slow down, girly!

Here are pictures from the last month. 

We can't believe how big you're getting, Harper. And how much you're changing. We're so happy you're finally feeling back to your happy self!...it was a long month. Love you forever.

Harper Mae is 3 months old!

Harper Mae, we wish you would slow down. It seems like just yesterday Daddy was putting you on my chest for the first time (does it ever stop feeling like it was just yesterday?). You are changing so much and becoming so much fun. You make our hearts so full, we are so lucky you are our little girl.

Here are some comparison shots from then, and now :) These just blow. my. mind.

Here's what you've been up to this month:

- Started noticing her hands at 10 weeks
- Really started enjoying her play mat at about 9 weeks
- Rolled from belly to back at 10 weeks.
- Weighed 15.2 pounds and was 24 inches long at her 2 and half month check up. That's 96% for weight and 88% for height. Her hair has grown super long this month too, it's already down to the tops of your shoulders in the back.
- Started bringing her hands together at 12 weeks
- Purposefully bats at toys on her playmat, starting at around 12 weeks
- Started sucking on fingers at 3 months exactly
- Mesmerized by the Christmas tree
- Really has become fond of Lua around 12 weeks. Watches everywhere she goes.
- Loves to smile, especially for mom & dad.
- Turns to watch mom & dad when they are talking from another area
- May be starting to teethe.
- Poops way less than she did 3 months ago, now it's only a couple times a day! Woohoo!
- Favorite activities include boob time, playing on playmat, laying on changing table talking, smiling, interacting with mom & dad, outings while being worn in our Ergo carrier, and bath time!
- Least favorite activities: Riding in the car.
- She has a consistent sleep schedule that goes something like this. Bath time at 7ish, boob time at 7:30ish, fall asleep around 8, back up 30-45 minutes after that for more boob time, back down until 2ish then it's up again for more boob time, back to sleep less than 10 minutes after that until around 5, more boob time, stay in bed with mom until around 8 a.m. when we wake up for the day. Cat naps all morning, and then takes a solid 3 hour nap around 1 or 2 p.m.

Can't wait to see what the next month has in store for us! We love you Harper Mae, forever and always. 

My heart is so full...

How do you even put into words a mother's love for their child? You can try to explain it, but until you actually experience you'll never, ever know. 

Before Harper was born I thought I knew what love was. I love my husband, my family, my friends...but this love for our daughter that has filled my heart is unlike any kind of love I have felt before. It's a kind of love that fills my eyes with joyful tears every single time I think about it. When I look at her I can't help but think about what a sweet little miracle she is. A true miracle, in every single sense of the word. Pregnancy, birth and becoming a mother has changed my world forever. And for that, I am truly thankful. 

I love you Harper Mae, forever and always. 

Harper Mae is 2 months old!

Harper Mae is 2 months old!, a set on Flickr.

It is unbelievable to me that Harper is two months old. Each week is passing so, so quickly. I try and soak up each and every stage and moment, but still find myself looking back and wishing each would have lasted a little longer. I can't believe how much she has changed, it is unbelievable. Here are the milestones we've hit this month:

- Slept 6 hours at 5 weeks, and continues to do it a few times a week. This last few days she's done it every night.
- Went to first wedding & slept through the entire thing
- Loves kisses on lips
- Loves looking in the mirror
- Finally started enjoying swing at 5 and half weeks
- Started a bedtime routine at 6 weeks
- Started really "talking" at 6 weeks
- Started responding to our smiles with a smile back at 6 and a half weeks
- LOVES bath time
- Imitates us when we make sound with our lips.
- Has giggled for Daddy and in her sleep...but has yet to giggle for mommy!
- Can hold her head up all by herself
- Can bear weight on her legs and likes to stand with our help
- Really does not like tummy time...but we're getting stronger and trying really hard to roll over.
- Loves bouncing on the exercise ball...totally calms her
- STILL fights her sleep. Girl, sleep is great...don't fight the feelin'!
- Is already wearing 3-6 month clothes :(

Harper has something to say...