Sunday, May 11, 2014

Addie - Month 3



Weight:  ?
Length:  ?
Head:  ?

We didn't have an appointment this month, our next one is your 4 month check-up in June.

Clothes:
Right now you are wearing 3 month and 3-6 month clothes.  I am excited that the weather is finally getting warm enough because you have so many cute dresses and rompers, and they all show off those chubby thighs that I just can't get enough of.  I did have to buy you some new white onesies and pajamas because you were ready to move up to 6 months, mainly because of your length.

Diapers:
Size 1 diapers are still the perfect fit for your little bum!

Health:
No stats or health report this month - hopefully you're bigger and taller though!  We go next month for another checkup and more shots...yikes!

"Mom, these hands are pretty yummy!"

"Okay I'll move them for a few pictures."

Diet:
Breastfeeding continues to go great, you and I are the perfect team!  I nurse you for about 20-25 minutes 5-6 times per day.  You still eat about every 3 hours during the day and then give us a nice long stretch of sleep at night!  We still make sure that you get a few bottles a week, you typically take 3-5 ounces when you do.  I have a really good freezer stash built up for when you need it, so I have been pumping a lot less lately.  Overall, you are still a really good eater and you love to get "milk wasted!"

Sleep:
Addie, you are an amazing sleeper!  This month, you have started putting your hands up near your face when you get tired and your dad and I think it is the most adorable thing ever.  When those hands go up after dinner, we know that it's our cue to get moving on your bedtime routine.  Another new thing this month is that your dad's new favorite thing is to rock you to sleep.  Your dad misses you so much while he is at work all day and he loves getting some cuddle time in before you go to bed.  A couple times a week Dad gives you a bottle and rocks you to sleep.  Unfortunately, I have to go back to work soon so we will probably start to fight over who gets to do it, but for now we let dad have his turn.  You usually have your last feeding around 8:00-8:30ish and fall asleep shortly after that.  You usually wake up in the morning between 7:30-8:30 to eat and typically fall back asleep for another hour or two.  Like I said earlier, Addie you are an amazing sleeper...PLEASE keep it up :)

Originally, my goal was to have you sleeping in your crib by 3 months and I can't say we are quite there yet.  You usually take a nap in your crib every day and you do great, but I just love having you in our room so much I wasn't quite ready to give that up yet.   So I guess our new goal will be to have you in your crib by 4 months.

"Those faces are pretty funny Dad!"

Back to the hands....again!

"What do you mean I'm 3 months old already?!"

Likes:
Another big thing this month has been the discovery of your hands!  You are so amazed by them, you could just sit and stare at them for hours...and even better than looking at them is eating them!  These days, your hands even trump your paci, which says A LOT!  You love to play games, read books, and sing songs with mommy and daddy.  Some of your favorites are "sooo big," your wrist rattles, the wheels on the bus, and all of your colorful board books.  We like to think that you tell us "stories" too as you talk and make the cutest coo-ing sounds, your stories are by far our favorites!  You still continue to love kicking your legs and exercising on your activity mat.  These days you prefer to be held over my shoulder or facing out, there's too many cool things to look at to be held like a baby.  You love walks and you can't get enough of Cooper!  Cooper gets a smile out of you every time he is close by!

Dislikes:
You still HATE having your nose suctioned out and can't stand when someone tried to interrupt you when you are eating!  You also aren't a very big fan of being held like a baby anymore (cradle) unless you are tired.

Can you tell someone likes her hands these days?!

"Mom, I tried to tell you last time that this isn't Cooper!"


"You're trying to tell me this dog is full of stuffing, that's silly!"

Milestones:
You have grown so much this month, your dad and I feel like you went from a newborn baby to a little human being over night!  The biggest change has been your neck control.  You are really good at holding your head up when I hold you over my shoulder and can hold it up to 90 degrees when we have tummy time.  We have even started using your bumbo seat for a little bit each day so that you can sit and look around.  At 10 weeks you held your ball for the first time, you don't grab for your toys on your own yet but I can put them in your hand and you will hold them for a few seconds.  You can bring your hands together and you are learned that you have control over them.  You love to bring them to your mouth, twist and turn them around, and stare at them.  You are so interested in your hands these days that you could do without your toys I think, but we still continue to use them to work on grasping and grabbing things.  You are very alert and aware of your dad and I and you will turn towards our voices, especially daddy's when he gets home from work.  You great him with a huge grin every single day!  You are extremely verbal and will squeal, coo, and talk to us constantly.  The facial expressions you make when you are telling us stories are absolutely adorable.  You are extremely strong and can bear weight on your legs for a few seconds and "stand" on our lap while you are talking to us.  I am working really hard to try to get you to laugh, you will squeal and get so close to a giggle, but you are not quite there yet!  Your dad and I are dying to hear you giggle though so I hope it comes soon.  Another thing you are really close to doing is rolling over.  Hopefully, I will be able to share stories of your first real laugh and the first time you roll over next month!

Personality:
You are such a sweet little lady these days and you love your mommy and daddy.  You are very aware of who we are and give us the most adorable smiles!  In the last couple of weeks you have become extremely observant, you are constantly turning your head back and forth taking everything in.  We love to watch you as you learn about your surroundings, you are very amazed by the leaves on the trees and the birds when we take walks around the neighborhood.  When you get sleepy you are very cuddly, there's nothing better than snuggling you close as we rock you to sleep at night. 

Visitors:
Pap, Grandma, and Aunt Kristen came for Easter, Mom-mom came for a long weekend, and we took your first trip to Raleigh!




Addie, you are already 3 months old and I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around this fact!  When people tell you that time flies by, they're not kidding!  You've gone from an adorable little newborn to a little human that is full of personality and the cutest little smiles!  We love you so much Addie!

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Baby Beach Bum


Addie, we brought you on your first "official" beach outing when you were 11 weeks old.  Yes, you've seen the ocean before and been to the beach already, but this is the first time we went and hung out on the beach.  Your Dad and I learned quickly that this year our days on the beach will be very different than every other year in the past.

Here's what it's like for the Harvell's to hang out at the beach pre-baby and post-baby:
  • Pre-baby: Eric and I would toss our towels and chairs in the car, pack the cooler, and we were on our way
  • Post-baby: We packed our towels, chairs, diaper bag, jogging stroller, extra clothes, blanket, and the list goes on...and on...and on.  Babies are little, but they sure do need a lot of stuff!
  • Pre-baby: Eric and I spent hours laying on the beach and relaxing, heck there was even time to read a book or take a nap.
  • Post-baby:  There's no such thing as sitting down and relaxing on the beach with a newborn, enough said.
  • Pre-baby: Eric and I have created many memories at the beach, from our days of dating, to getting engaged at the beach, to saying "I do" in the beautiful sun and sand of the Outer Banks.
  • Post-Baby:  We get to continue creating special memories on the beach, except now as a family of 3 and this is only the beginning.
So here are some of our first memories on the beach as a family of 3!

A beautiful day of sun and sand on the bay!


Catching some rays with mommy! (Just kidding - I promise she was only in the sun for a few pictures, other than that it was all shade for this little girl!)

Our first family picture on the beach!



I love this little girl so much :)

There's nothing better than napping in daddy's arms.

Who doesn't love a good beach nap?!




Just taking it all in...
How cute is she?!?

Passed out from a fun day at the beach with mom and dad!


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Addie and Cooper


Addie, you and Cooper were best buds from the day you met. Cooper has always been really gentle with you and of course very protective.  He loves to lay on the floor next to you when you are in your swing and gives you kisses every single day.  It took him a while to get used to you crying, but lucky for him you don't cry all that often - just when you are hungry!  I know that you and Cooper are going to have so much fun together in the years to come!


Our first official family photo!  Cooper went to the kennel for a few days when we brought you home from the hospital so that we could adjust a little on our own first.  You came home on a Wednesday and Cooper returned from the kennel on Saturday.  He was very excited to meet his little sister!
Here are some of the things that you and Cooper like to do together...

Sometimes you like to lay on Cooper, he's much more comfortable than the Boppy!


You guys love to "play" together!  Whenever I lay you down on the floor, Cooper joins us right away.





You both love to be outside, whether it is just hanging out on the deck or going for a walk!  Walks are a huge deal in our house these days, we try to go at least a couple times a week.  If it's raining or cold outside, you both get kinda cranky that we get stuck inside.  
 



After a long day of playing, you guys like to snuggle on the couch together!  Cooper LOVES to be close to you!



Occasionally, you will both cooperate and pose for a picture.

But, sometimes the candids are ever cuter than the posed pictures... I wish I knew what the 2 of you were thinking when you sit and stare at each other.




Cooper LOVES to give you kisses.  He licks you all over, but your favorite is when he licks your toes.  You always smile really big! 


Thursday, April 24, 2014

Addie's First Easter



I have always loved holidays, I mean who doesn't?!  But holidays are especially fun this year because everything is a first for you.  We are now a family of 4 (yes, Cooper counts!) and it is very important to your dad and I to start our own traditions as a family.  So far we have gotten to celebrate 2 holidays with you, you were only 4 days old when we celebrated your first Valentine's Day and a little over a month old when we celebrated your first St. Patrick's Day.  Next up was Easter and there were a few things on the agenda....

  1. Take picture with the least creepy Easter bunny that we can find
  2. Use our best artistic skills to decorate some top notch Easter eggs
  3. Buy cute Easter dress (and make sure we have a matching headband of course!)
  4. Attend your first mass (yes, I know you are 2 months old but we haven't been brave enough yet to take you to church because our church does not have a cry room)
  5. Search for our Easter baskets after church and maybe even throw in an Easter egg hunt

We were lucky enough that your Pap, Grandma, and Aunt Kristen came to visit for the long weekend and therefore they got to partake in all of our fun Easter events, whether they liked it or not!  Looking back at our list, we can consider #1 complete.  Grandma, Aunt Kristen, and I took you on a shopping adventure on one of the many cold and rainy days that we had.  We went to MacArthur Center and found what appeared to be a bunny that would pass the creepy test.  We got made sure you had a full belly and a clean diaper before sitting you on the bunnies lap and then crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.  Turns out you did awesome, even smiled for the camera, and we could cross the first thing off our list.


Next up, channel our inner Picasso and decorate some Easter eggs.  Your dad was probably overly excited about this item on our list and he even picked out a princess Easter egg kit with Disney princess stickers.  We gathered the fam around the table and off we went...

Addie all dressed in her cute Easter pajamas from Grandma and ready to dye some eggs!  Coop even joined in on the fun!

Hanging out with Grandma so mommy could use 2 hands to work her magic

Smile for the camera!

Someone got a little sleepy, you always put your hands up by your face to tell us that you're tired and I think it is absolutely adorable!

How cute are those bunny toes?

Sitting around the kitchen table dying Easter eggs, just like the good old days (except about 10 years later!)
The finished product

Easter eggs fit for a princess!



Cooper even got his own egg!

Of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a cute photo op -

I even forced Cooper to get in a few shots, poor kids!

"Mom seriously this is torture, can I PLEASE eat it now?"

Now onto #3 buy cute Easter dress and matching headband.  I did some shopping a few weeks before Easter and found the most adorable coral dress.  The outfit was complete with a white cardigan and matching headband.  You look cute in pretty much anything, but getting you all dressed up is especially fun (and of course we have tons of pictures to prove it!)  We signed you up to get an Easter mini-session through Ravens Little Nest Photography so that we could get some really cute pictures of you in your dress and we couldn't be more happy about how they turned out.


Photo credit to Ravens Little Nest Photography

Photo credit to Ravens Little Nest Photography

Photo credit to Ravens Little Nest Photography
Next up was #4, survive Easter mass with a 10 week old and I will say it was a success.  I made sure that you went on a full belly, but I brought a bottle just in case because remember I said that there was no cry room.  You did awesome though!  You were a little fussy in the very beginning so I took you out of your car seat and held you, but then you slept the rest of the time in my arms.  You were warm and cozy and most importantly, quiet, the entire time! Here are some pictures of the fam all dressed up on Easter..

The whole crew on Easter morning (minus Coop!)

I love our cute little family, even if Addie's sticking her tongue out in the picture!

Here's another one minus Addie's tongue

Just me and my favorite little girl

All smiles with Grandma and Pap

Addie you have always loved staring at your daddy!

Love these two

 
Grandma and Addie all dressed up


The last thing on the agenda was to find our Easter baskets!  Aunt Kristen volunteered to help you look.  You were lucky enough to have to find not 1, but 2 Easter baskets!   The first one you found was in our big family beach bag, the Easter bunny must of known that you are going to be a beach bum just like your mom and your dad.  The second one you found up in your crib.

Checking out your basket from Grandma and Pap.  You got your very first Barbie to go along with your new barbie dollhouse that your Great-Grandpa built for me when I was a little girl.

Check out those shades!

You got a ton of goodies in your very first Easter basket.  You got a book, new shades, "Somebunny loves me" outfit, 2 new toys, a clip for your pacifier, and eggs filled with new headbands!

You are one spoiled little girl!

"Hmm what should I play with first?"

Addie with her Easter goodies


Coop even got to join in on the Easter fun!

And so did we!

Relaxing in your swing, sporting your new bib!

Check out that cutie in her new shades!

That pretty much sums up how we spent your very first Easter.  Let me remind you of our to-do list:

  1. Take picture with the least creepy Easter bunny that we can find
  2. Use our best artistic skills to decorate some top notch Easter eggs
  3. Buy cute Easter dress (and make sure we have a matching headband of course!)
  4. Attend your first mass (yes, I know you are 2 months old but we haven't been brave enough yet to take you to church because our church does not have a cry room)
  5. Search for our Easter baskets after church and maybe even throw in an Easter egg hunt
We completed 4 1/2 out of the 5 things (we got lazy and didn't end up doing our Easter egg hunt, there's always next year though right?) Needless to say we had a lot of fun and we will always remember your very first Easter!

Happy Easter sweet baby girl!