Showing posts with label Harper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harper. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Get baby/toddler on a schedule- or not?

a schedule. "get your baby/toddler on a schedule." we've all heard it.
as mothers we strive for what is best for our children. but as a first time mom, there are so many things I have learned and to be honest, often there is too much advice out there. what about those God given mother instincts that we all have? let's listen to those a little more!

Harper never really got on a true schedule until about 8 months old.
I tried sooner (5-6 months or so), but it became more of a fight in trying to schedule her and I found that our days ran more smoothly when I just followed her cues. and that's how we did it for the first 8-9 months. having only one child to care for, it was great. for both of us. 
our schedule/routine started to form naturally when she was about 8-9 months old. I promise- it wasn't anything I did intentionally. it just happened. by paying attention to her needs, at that point she just naturally fell into a routine. and we have been on a routine ever since.

being on our routine has been so great for the both of us. when we can really stick to our 'regular', the days go better and her and I are both happier from morning to night. we just need it.
BUT this week I have realized that for how wonderful our routine/schedule really is (I mean really, I love it!), there are still those days/times where I need to remember to listen to what she is trying to tell me- like I did those first 8 months!
not every day is 'normal'. not every day is without 'other' challenges.
some days are just different.
that's when following the 'rules' is over, and following my mothering instincts trumps all else.
Monday.
we didn't have anything planned for the day (and it was rainy out) so it was a day of being home and working/playing around the house. Harper has been going though a growth spurt and teething (off and on). those darn two year molars have been slowlllly working their way in here and there over the last couple of months. come on already!

we started our morning like any other and Harper woke like normal on Monday at 7:30am. the morning had its ups and downs. moments of happy, giggling, running the house. and then moments of dragging her blanket around, whinning/crying, asking for her paci (which she only gets for sleeping times- nap and bed). 
throughout the morning I continued telling her, "no paci. not until nap time" (which is at 1pm). we were hours from nap time! 
around 10am I thought, maybe she really is tired and is asking me to put her down...
but in my head... 'that will throw off the day's schedule!' and 'she just had a good night's sleep, no way she can really be tired.'
the crying and paci asking escalated.
it finally clicked for me! so at 10:15am I put her down for a nap. when I looked at the monitor 5 minutes later, she was completely passed out! and from there took a 2.5 hour nap. I'd say she was tired and what she needed was a nap ;)
there isn't anything in the world like a sleeping child! so precious!
sounds so simple, but in the moment it was such a challenge because I couldn't let go of our 'normal' schedule.
I am thankful for this experience and to be reminded of the importance to listen to my child and follow her needs. and today she needed me to NOT follow our typical daily routine and instead just stop and listen to her.
we both ended up having a happier rest of our day.
routines are so, so great! but having that balance, remembering to listen to my little Harper, and giving myself permission to follow her needs, can lead to even better moments :)
and she woke up as her happy self!


Xoxo
-Brittney

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

all aboard... the crazy train!

where oh where has life taken me lately.
since the day we got back from vacation - a week ago already! (a belated post to come on our trip) it's like I've been on the crazy train and can't decide if time has drug on or flown by. You know that feeling?!
and for everything that has been packed into it, it has felt like such a blur. 
somewhere in this last week I've traveled back home from the vacay, unpacked and gotten the house back in (some) order, had a sick/teething toddler (which is still ongoing - and quite honestly the most exhausting part), a midwife check up, an ultrasound on baby boy, a celebratory birthday brunch, and hosting supper club. just crazy! (so clearly no 19 week bump update!) and saying it all, makes me feel like the last week has been more like a month long.
so back to that sick/teething toddler...
during the last couple days of our sunny getaway to Palm Desert, CA, Harper was going through some teething discomfort.
drooling + fingers in her mouth.
her back mollars have been slowly working their way on and off over the past month.
well... things started seeming just 'different' with her a few days ago and we decided to take her in to the pediatrician. and well and behold, she has a throat infection. explains why my big eater suddenly hasn't wanted to eat anything!
so we're still on the mend from that and it has been so hard for me to be couped up in the house with this gorgeous sunny weather we've been having this week! but mama duties call first :) and there's no other place I would be than with her.

well, we're midweek now and here's to hoping by the weekend/before this nice weather ends (!) we are back to normal around here!
but hey- on the positive note- with a new baby on the way, this only preps us for a life that is going to continue to get crazier and crazier.

Happy hump day!!

Xoxo
-Brittney

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Life as of Late

Life as of late has been good. actually, really good. 
We have ourselves a toddler who is so kind and sweet (don't get me wrong, we have hard moments), but she really is such a joy. on top of her, we now have a baby boy who will be entering our lives this summer. and I am oh so thankful for a pregnancy that has been a majority of the time, enjoyable thus far. and honestly how I love the pregnancy months and carrying my babies! these precious gifts from God are so sweet and fulfill us in a way we didn't even know was needed. until Harper joined our family of course :)
I have been working on gathering ideas for what we want baby boy's nursery to be. we are also working to find the perfect name for him. Brandon and I have found that during pregnancies we don't put a single thought into what the baby's name will be until we know the gender. now that we've known he is a he for a few weeks, it really is time we get thinking so that we are confident in the perfect name for our sweet boy.

It really seems like there has been so.much.rain as of late. until the last couple of days! and we have been taking advantage of this sunshine that's for sure! walks around the neighborhood, playing at our street's playground, getting the car washed, donuts, a trip to the big play ground not far from our house, and overall feeling the energy from the sun :) but I hear the rain making its way again. tomorrow they say.
BUT Brandon, Harper, and I really can't complain because we are getting away to some California sunshine this weekend! it is much needed that's for sure. I'm looking forward to not having house chores, swimming at the pool, working on my tan (desperately needed!), going to coffee in the mornings while sitting outside soaking up the sun, eating at some favorite restaurants, and everything else that a sunny vacation brings. 
The countdown is on and we are officially less than two days away from vacation time!!
and I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than being on vacay :) only a few more days of 26!

P H O T O  D U M P!

Xoxo
-Brittney

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Harper Monaé || 18 Months

It's here. 18 months. 1 + half years old.
She's smarter than ever. funnier than ever. and bigger than ever. and she's about to grow up even a whole lot quicker with the arrival of a new baby in our near future!
Oh this girl. She makes her mama and daddy happier than they ever thought possible.
Her sweet, sweet spirit - yet sassy, sassy self :)
And all this post is going to be is a big 'ol photo dump, because that explains better than words what this last month has been like with our little sweetie!
I love you so Harper Monaé. You are the light of my life. The joy to my days. The hopefulness in my mornings. I love how every month that passes, you and I can grow closer and closer. I know you are going to be such a great big sister and I am excited to see you transition into that role. I know your kindness, giving heart, and sweet loves will make you the best big sister. Your little brother/sister is already so blessed to have a sister like you. Thank you for making it so easy to love you and making my days brighter.
I love you baby girl.

xoxo
-Brittney

Friday, December 18, 2015

Harper Monaé || 17 months


17 months. 
Nope. I don't believe it.
This must have been the quickest month of all time. I'll blame it on the holidays :)
And I'm late on this post - like 5 days late (little miss turned on the 13th of the month) but again I'll blame it on the holidays. because once again, busy season!
This month has been so full of changes for Harper girl (like her sleep - but in a good way!) and her personality is shining through more and more every darn day. and I absolutely love it! She's like my little best friend and her and I seem to really get each other. Sometimes that's great and sometimes that's not so great.. we're both a tad stubborn and know what we want ;)
E A T
Still going strong in this department! As you can tell by her messy face, chubby cheeks, and if you saw her legs - her inner thigh rolls :) Her chubbiness is still my absolute favorite. And it is still mindblowing that she even became chubby in the first place, since she was born as a string bean! My milk must've been straight sweet cream ;)

S L E E P
We've drawn the lucky card in this hot topic too! Of course we've had our tough times of no sleep with a baby, but all in all she is a dang good sleeper. Especially now!
Ever since we got back home from Thanksgiving in Idaho, Harper has been sleeping s o  m u c h  more! For the last few months, her usual (at night) was 8pm-7:30am. Straight through the night. No wake ups. Which was of course fabulous.
Well for about 5 days (after our Thanksgiving trip) she slept 8pm-11:30/12noon (yes! into the next day!) I attributed it to less sleep when traveling and expected her to go back to the norm after a day or two. But really... that lasted about 5 days! and now, ever since then, we're on a 8pm-8:30/9am schedule. I'm not complaining! Soaking in the days while they're here :) Oh, and she s t i l l takes her 1-4pm nap. I'm going to say growth spurt!
P L A Y
Play. Play. Play.
All the live long day.
That's the name of the game around here. Every waking minute Harper is constantly on the go playing. and it is oh so fun for me. I love this stage!
She sings. and dances. and plays pretend with her toys. and gets into my kitchen cupboards. and teases the dog. and colors. and plays in my clothes. and runs around the house owning the place.
It's too good and it's too fun :) But by nap time, I'm feeling ready for one too!
P H O T O  D U M P
Oh my precious girl. Life with you is more than I ever, ever could've imagined. You bring the light into my world and teach me to be a better me. You are such a gift from God. I've had you in my life for 17 months now and somehow it keeps getting better. I can only imagine where our life will be in the years to come. I pray we will always be close to each other. You have the sweetest spirit and are full of energy. You make this life happier every day. I feel beyond blessed that I get to spend each and every day with you. I love you, sweet Harper Monaé.

xoxo
-Brittney

Friday, November 13, 2015

Harper Monaé || 16 months

As I sit here and write this I feel like I just wrote the 15 month update! Sounds cliche... but truly, time f l i e s and what a thief it is! It down right amazes me as to how many, many changes there have been in another short 30 days. Who would've known that all of those parents who warned "cherish it all, because time flies" well.. that they knew what they were talking about. And although I make an effort to cherish it all, it still flies by!
Last month we were having fiesty, frustrated, mad-at-mom moments that were becoming too frequent for me to be ok with. Wellll... I should check myself before I complain so quickly, because that really only last about 10ish days. And wasn't ever a whole day. Little miss is now back to being my sweet, loving, funny toddler. toddler?! It is still so hard for me to get used to using that word! And as much as I miss her being my little baby, these toddler days are really so much fun!
I love seeing her personality grow and grow. 
Watching her as she understands nearly everything I tell her. (it's if she chooses to listen) ;)
Getting so good at feeding herself.
Having preferences and making choices.
Running around the kitchen/living room yelling + babbling.
Being soooo excited to watch her cartoons. or 'bubba' (bubble) as she calls it. Which became short for Bubble Guppies, and that is now the word she uses for any sort of cartoon :)
Jumping and dancing to music (particularly to the 'hot-dog' song) Thank you Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Cuddling + caring for her 'bae-bee' (baby).
The way she brings a book to me to read and sits herself in my lap.

And my absolute favorite... all of the many kisses she gives everyday. The puckering up is the sweetest thing, I keep giving/getting kisses until I've pushed her past her limit :) and she's clear in letting me know that we are d o n e.
E A T
No changes here from last month!
She's still liking nearly everything and is such a good eater. 
If there is ever a food that she happens to not have much of a liking for (like potatoes), I continue offering it to her in the future because it can take up to 10-15 times for a new food to be accepted. I swear one of these days she will like potatoes! 
I recently make her some fruit popsicles for some variety and she LOVED them!
S L E E P
Again, thankful she is so good in this department!
We are officially condensed down to one nap a day and it is going great! She first has her milk then goes down so easily and will nap about 12:30-3:30/4ish. Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself! But don't you worry, I surely find things to do :)
And bedtime sleep is also for the win. Down by 8 and up about 7:30. With not a single wake up in the night. 
Bless you, my sweet girl!
P L A Y
All day every day!
During every awake hour, it is nonstop playing. With some meals and snacks in there too :)
If we aren't at home playing in the house or outside, we are at swim lessons, toddler gym, or on a play date with friends. 
Coloring is Harper's latest activity. I bought some color crayons and a couple coloring books and she is in love! I make sure to have all of the 'reading' books around her put away because I have this feeling that having a coloring book now means that she can color in her books. I know... I'm sure it will eventually happen...
Baby girl, though you aren't really a 'baby' any longer, to me you still are. You bring your daddy and I so much joy. You light up our worlds and make waking up every day worth it. When I think about how much I love you, it brings me so many emotions filled with tears of joy. You are always learning so much and it amazes us at what you prove to know.
I love you my sweet girl!! Happy 16 months!

xoxo
-Brittney