Harper - 5 months

Harper is 5 months old today.  I still can't believe how big she is growing, even though it is happening right in front of my eyes.  Part of me can't believe she's only been with us for 5 months because it feels like she has been part of our family for years.  The other part of me remembers back to the days when she was a tiny newborn and it feels like it wasn't all that long ago.  

Before Harper was born I always wondered how I could love another child the same way and same amount that I loved Handley.  It does happen though.  I am completely head over heels in love with Harper and just want to hug, kiss, and squeeze her all day long.  

At a 5 months old she:

• has got the sweetest personality
• will smile at anyone who glances her way
• loves to flirt with everyone when we are out running errands
• is perfectly content to hang out in the stroller and watch the world around her
• still likes her paci and can grab it and bring it to her mouth (but just can't quite get it in the right way yet)
• rolls over to her belly the second I lay her down on her back
• sleeps on her stomach while sucking her thumb
• sleeps a glorious 12 hours straight at night
• is taking 2 naps a day now (generally 1-2 hours each)
• eats rice cereal like a pro
• loves her big sister
• has curly hair that is out of control...Handley calls it her "crazy hair" 
• is wearing mostly 3-6 month or 6 month clothes, size 3 diapers
• laughs when I pretend to nibble on her fingers, toes, belly, neck, etc. 
• discovered her toes and likes to try to put them in her mouth
• loves to look at and talk to herself in the mirror

A girl has got to eat

Harper had her first taste of rice cereal yesterday and I must say, she LOVED it. :-)  

I've been trying to hold off giving it to her because it's just one more thing to add into our already busy day and I do feel like she was satisfied without it. However, she has been showing signs of being ready for several weeks now.  She was eyeing us all down as we ate in front of her, staring at our food and drinks, and looking on as if to say, "PLEASE give me a little taste."  

Well last night Handley and I fed her a little rice cereal and she did great.  She was fussy and tired, but the second she got her first spoonful she lit up and was all smiles.  Handley enjoyed helping and loves the fact that Harper is "eating" now. 

Tonight for her second meal I made the cereal a lot thicker and you would have thought she's been eating food for months.  We were at a friend's tonight and she kept smiling and then would look over at everyone and start talking as if to say, "look how big I am...I'm eating!" 

Same Birthdays

Our next door neighbor and I were pregnant together and ended up having our babies on the exact same day!  We kept joking all along that it might happen and couldn't believe when it did.  Harper and Calvin were both born on April 10!  We got together with them this weekend for dinner and both kids had fun getting to smile and interact with each another.  

Win or Loose...

...we still love the Bulldogs. 

Yesterday we had some friends over to watch the first UGA game of the season.  Handley was excited about our "football party," but seemed a little disappointed when she realized the party was only 6 adults, her and Harper.  However, as soon as she saw the cookies and brownies, she was excited again.  

I realized on Wednesday that Handley didn't have anything to wear for this weekend's game.  I looked online and thought about ordering her a UGA cheerleader outfit, but thought I could make her something just as cute for a lot less.  This is what I came up with: 

I'm so excited about this little dress. It only cost me about $5 in fabric and supplies and it's the first time I've every sewn anything using a pattern!  Isn't that crazy?!?!?  All that sewing I've done and I've always made my  own patterns.  It was a lot easier than I expected and I'm all geared up to make lots more dresses now...one for every holiday and occasion.  

Harper sported the "Georgia Bootie" yesterday. This outfit is a classic and was a gift for Handley from our friends Jen and Justen.  I had to recreate the same pictures I had of Handley in this outfit with Harper.  

Harper's Georgia Bootie

Handley's Georgia Bootie from back in the day...

Daddy and Harper

Daddy and Handley

Can't wait for the next game so we can all sport our red and black again! 

Preschool - Day 2

Handley had been talking about her school and her teachers all week long and was excited to go back today.  Notice in the pictures that she is still in love with her lunchbox. :-) On the way there she told me she wanted to go to tumbling class instead of school.  However, when we got there she excitedly posed for a picture, walked in, and headed for her classroom.  As soon as we reached the classroom and saw her teachers she burst into tears.  I pulled her aside, gave her a quick pep-talk, and sent her into the room.  She walked in teary, but willingly and I walked away leaving my sweet little girl to be comforted by her teachers.  

I wasn't emotional at all today when I left her.  I think I remembered back to my days teaching Pre-K.  I had a few kids in my class that would cry every morning and didn't want to leave their moms, but within minutes of their moms leaving the kids were laughing, playing with friends, and busy as can be.  I hoped the same would be true for Handley today.  

When I went to pick her up this afternoon I was able to peek in before she saw me and she happy as can be.  Her teacher told me that she was great all day and just fine after I left.  This afternoon and again tonight she told me she wanted to, "go more school again" so I know she's enjoying her time there.  

One quick thing I have to share, she can't stand to have shoes on.  As soon as we get in the car or get home she takes her shoes off.  I've been talking to her about having to leave her shoes on at school and we even got some new little tennis shoes for her to wear to school (since croc's aren't allowed).  Every time she puts them on I make a big deal, hoping it will encourage her to keep them on.  This afternoon she was putting them on before we went outside to play, looked at me and said, "Those look adorable!"   She was right, she did look adorable! 

OK, and one more thing to share.  When I was a little girl my mom would always pack my lunch for school and write a note on my napkin.  I looked forward to lunchtime each day so I could open my lunchbox and see the note from her.  I started doing the same thing for Handley and hope she'll look forward to see a little something special on her napkin each day at lunchtime.  

She just loved tumbling class!!!

Today Handley had her first day of Tumbling Class.  It's given at the Community Center where we live and is set up as a mommy and me class.  Some friends of ours took the class last year and said it was great so we were excited about trying out ourselves.  All week long Handley kept asking when she got to go to Tumbling Class.  She was excited too!  

The class was AWESOME!!!! She and her friend Avery had a blast and kept running from one piece of equipment to the other.  She loved walking on the beams, doing "flips", hanging on the bars, doing front rolls down the wedge mats and jumping on the trampoline.  Whew! We packed a lot into 30 mins. (that really only felt like 5 mins.)  She didn't want me to help her with anything and preferred for the teacher or for Tiara (Avery's mom) to help her.  She's getting VERY independent.  She also didn't want to leave so I know we're both already looking forward to next week's class!

A little nervous the first time on the big beam

Trying out the small beam by herself!

Avery was a natural!

Handley and Avery after the class.  

1st day of Preschool

Today was Handley's first day of preschool.  She woke up excited and ready to go.  As soon as she saw her lunchbox packed and sitting on the counter she didn't let go of it.  She carried it around all morning, took it up stairs with her to brush her teeth after eating breakfast and even held it the entire ride to school.  

When we got there she eagerly walked in and waited for the main doors to open so we could go down to her classroom.  While we were standing there she did not want to hold my hand.  She thought she was so big. 

As we approached her classroom she walked right in with her lunchbox and school bag and never looked back.  I called out her name and told her goodbye and she got a  look of panic on her face (even though we had talked A LOT about how she was going to school by herself and I was going home with Harper).  I quickly walked away so that I wouldn't make it worse.  I hated not knowing how she was doing after I left.  I was lucky to get an email from a friend and she said that when she walked by Handley's class there were lots of kids crying, but Handley was just standing there looking at them all as if she was thinking, "what's the big deal?" so that made me feel a lot better.  I was a little emotional after leaving her. I guess just because this is the first time she's ever really been away from me and I felt like I was leaving her with strangers.  I couldn't wait to go back and get her! 

When I picked her up she was excited to see me,  but seemed to be really happy and told me she had fun at school.  She told me a few things she had done during the day and overall seemed like she had a good time.  Her daily report said that her mood was "HAPPY" all day and her teacher told me that she'd made her self right at home in the classroom.  I'm so excited that this transition seems like it is going to be a smooth one!