Big Girl Bed

Today we converted Handley's crib into a toddler bed.  Originally I thought I would want to keep her in a crib until she was 5 (well maybe not quite that long, but had no plans of taking her out of the crib anytime soon).  However, we started talking about an upcoming trip we have planned in a few weeks and decided it would be easier if she could sleep in a regular bed instead of having to worry about 2 pack-n-plays.  Last week I asked her if she wanted to sleep in a big girl bed and at first she was excited, but then she said she still liked her crib.  I explained to her that it was still her crib, but the front would just be off so she could climb in all by herself instead of having mommy or daddy pick her up and put her in.  Since then she's been talking about Daddy getting his tools and making her big girl bed. 

Robby converted it this afternoon and she couldn't wait to climb in.  

Harper wanted to climb in too.  

 (Yes, she does sleep with all that "stuff" at the foot of her bed...books, toys, blankets, etc.)

I feel like I told her 100 times that she wasn't allowed to get out of her bed and even in the morning when she woke up she had to call for me to come get her, just like when she was in her crib.  Tonight she laid down and went right to sleep without a peep.  I couldn't believe it!  We'll see if it was a fluke of if she'll do the same thing tomorrow night.  

About an hour or so after she was asleep Robby and I heard a loud thud and both went running up the stairs.  She had fallen out and landed on a few pillows I had placed on the floor.  Good news is that she didn't even wake up!  Robby picked her up and put her back in the bed.  Hopefully we won't hear any more thuds tonight.

FRIDAY!!!

I'm so happy that today is Friday.  We have a REALLY fun weekend planned and the weather is supposed to be great.  Today has been chilly which means I could dress the girls in some of their cute fall clothes.  

It's taken all I have to keep from putting Harper in a flower hat up to this point...finally, it's cool enough for hats!!!

 

And one more because I just can't get over how darn cute she looks.  :-)

Handley looked especially sweet in her fall clothes today too.  Every night before school she gets to pick out her outfit for the next morning.  I had something else picked out for her, but she was instant on wearing this because she loved the sweater.  

Everyday when she comes home from school she runs in to see Sydney and shouts to me, "It's our dog, Sydney!  Here she is mommy!"

I just had to add this to today's post.  Harper just woke up from her nap and when I brought her downstairs we sat beside Handley on the couch.  Harper leaned over towards Handley and they were hugging.  Handley said, "I love you Harper."  Melted my heart.  She is such a sweet big sister.  Harper is very lucky.  

Thumb Sucking, Bath Seat, and Eating Out

Harper has become quite the thumb sucker. I actually love this because I don't have to play the dreaded paci game/retrieval.  Today she started doing something new.  While feeding her breakfast she would eat a few bites and then take a break to suck her thumb.  She continued to do this during lunch and dinner too so I decided to snap a picture of her.  It makes for quite a mess, but it sure is cute. 

We are borrowing a bath seat from a neighbor and trying it out for Harper.  Tonight was her first time in it and she really seemed to like it.  

Handley loved it too because it meant she got more room in the bath tub.  

Lastly, I had several people comment or email me about not having been out to eat in months. Let me clarify - I have been to lunch at places like Chick-fil-A or Atlanta Bread Company, but I was referring to being out to eat at a real restaurant for dinner.  Handley is great when we go out and loves eating a restaurants.  Harper is the one who has kept us from going out.  If I let her she'd probably go to bed at 6:30 PM.  She does go to bed by 7:30 which means we'd have to go to dinner really early.  Robby usually works later on Fridays so there is no way we could go on that day.  Saturdays we would be able to go out, but over the summer we've just been super busy and either been out of town or had other plans. We've done take-out or pizza, but I'm hoping we're on a roll now. :-)  I do LOVE going out to eat and now that Harper is able to sit in a high chair it makes it much more enjoyable for all of us.  

The end of summer...

...for us is not marked by an official date on the calendar, school starting, or even the upcoming holidays.  The end of summer for us is when our boat is winterized and put away until next year.  So sad!!!  Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows that we LOVE the lake and spend many weekends over the summer at our lake house.  Robby and I love it, Handley REALLY loves it, and Harper is learning to love it too.  It's bittersweet when the time comes to say goodbye to boat rides, beach/boat picnics and fun-filled weekends with friends.  However, I also love Fall and can't wait for the upcoming holidays.  

This weekend we went to the lake for one last boating weekend.  Last night we went out to eat with Gigi and Papa who were also up there this weekend.  I was SO excited because it literally had been MONTHS since I've been out to eat.  Harper even tried sitting in a high chair for the first time. :-)  

Trying to figure out the highchair

Mommy and Harper...love those sweet cheeks of hers.

Papa and Handley playing with playdough

Gigi and the girls

This morning was chilly, but warmed right up, and Handley even got to go for a swim.  It wore her out because on the ride back to our house she fell asleep helping Robby "drive" the boat.

Robby spent the afternoon winterizing, cleaning, and storing the boat for the winter.  While he worked, the girls played (and I tried to get all of our stuff packed and the house cleaned).  Handley is becoming so entertained by Harper and loves to play with her, especially now that Harper is moving around more.  Here's a video I took while they played.  It's nothing special, but a few things to look out for - Handley singing her ABC's and Handley asking if her LeapFrog toy will sing the Lady Gaga "Poker Face" song.  Ha!  It's one of her favorite songs. :-)

Harper - 6 months

I can't believe it's been 1/2  a year already.  How in the world did that happen?  I remember thinking when she was just a month or two old that I knew it would get easier when she was older.  Now that she is older I'm wishing it wasn't flying by.  However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this age. 6-12 months age was one of my favorites with Handley because of all the fun milestones like eating, clapping, waving, crawling, walking and talking.  I know we are in for a treat these next few months and I'm just trying to soak it up and enjoy every second.  

At 6 months Harper: 

• sits up unassisted
• has become quite the thumb sucker
• still likes the paci in the stroller (although she is more interested in taking it out and then trying to get it back in her mouth)
• is rolling all around
• has acquired the nick-name of "Scooter" from her Daddy because she does love to scoot around
• LOVES to eat and has had sweet potatoes, carrots, and bananas so far
• takes two naps (1-2 hours each)
• Sleeps 12 hours at night 
• has a great laugh when being tickled
• is starting to have a little separation anxiety
• tries to climb into my lap if I'm sitting down beside her (I love this!) 
• has her front two bottom teeth
• does not like riding in her carseat
• is learning to drink from a sippy cup

Her first time sitting in the shopping cart

• 
  

Dress like a FARMER

This week at pre-school Handley's class has been learning about the farm.  Today they got to dress like farmers.  (We were in luck because Handley is actually going to be a farmer for Halloween...more on that later.) I told her all about what she was going to wear, including her bandanna.  From that point on she kept saying she was going to BE a bandanna and she kept asking Harper if she wanted to be a bandanna too.  Funny thing is, she had no idea what a bandanna was until I showed her one last night.  Robby told her farmers say, "hey y'all" and this morning when I was taking her picture, she busted out with, "HEY Y'ALL!!!" It was really cute.  She also sang "Old McDonald" all the way to school.  

Posing with the scarecrow...because they live on the farm too. 

Handley was having so much fun being dressed up that Harper wanted 

to wear her overall dress too! 

Halloween Dresses

I've been waiting for October to get here so that my girls could wear their Halloween dresses I made.  Don't be surprised if you see them in these a lot during this month!  

Handley got so tired of me trying to get a good shot of  her she decided to grab her camera to keep her entertained.  

Now when she is playing with her camera she'll say, "my camera is taking too long" or "your eyes were closed."  I guess she's heard me say those phrases too many times!