A movie and Harper's check-up

This morning we decided to try out Regal Cinema's free summer movies with our friends Sheila and Addyson.  Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 AM they offer free G and PG movies.  Today was a Veggie Tales movie.  I would really suggest this activity!  Since everyone in the theater has little kids with them, no one gets annoyed if the kids are talking, playing or, in our case, dancing in the aisles during the movie.  Handley is a pro at the movie theater, but this was Harper's first time and I had no idea what to expect.  Since it was free we decided to give it a try and I was pleasantly surprised by how well she did. We sat in the handicap aisle so that Harper could have room to walk around in front of our seats.  She did that for part of the time and sat with me quietly the rest of the time.  We were able to stay for the first 45 mins. of the show before we had to leave for Harper's 15 month check-up.  

Harper's apt. went well.  She was very cooperative and didn't seem to mind getting checked out in the least.  Her stats are: 

weight - 24 lbs. 1 oz (70th percentile) 

height- 30 1/4 inches (50th percentile)

head - 18 1/2 inches (80th percentile)

She also got 3 shots that she wasn't too happy about, but nothing a little comforting from her mommy and big sis couldn't cure.  Plus, a trip to Chick-fil-a for lunch and a little ice cream treat helped too!  

Harper 15 months

My baby girl is seeming so much more like a toddler these days and so much less like a baby.  Harper is such a mess.  That girl is full of personality and is not one to be forgotten in the crowd.  She makes it known when she wants something and if no one is listening, she will just continue to get louder and louder until we acknowledge what it is she wants.  She says "Mama" at least 300 times a day (followed by "that" and "no" which are her other favorite words).  Sometimes she doesn't even want or need anything. It's just her way of saying "hi" to me and making sure I'm close by.  

At 15 months she: 

• sucks her thumb and rubs her belly button simultaneously to sooth herself
  
• has learned the word "no" and likes to put it too good use
• loves to make a mess (dumps out baskets of toys out the second I put them away)
• is attached to her water and snack cup
• likes to put on beaded necklaces and bracelets
• pretends to feed her baby dolls and takes them on walks
• uses utensils (a fork and spoon) impressively well
• enjoys putting things in bags and carrying them around.  She'll often tell me "bye-bye" as she walks off with her bag.
• loves to cuddle
• imitates things Handley does and wants to play with the big kids
• wants to brush her teeth every chance she gets
• is starting to fit into 18 month clothes a little better than her 12 month clothes
• likes to pick out her books before bedtime and if given the chance, will pick no less than 5 or 6
• would be happy to play with my phone all day long
• likes to wave and say "hi" to people when we are out and about running errands
• gets just beside herself with excitement when her Daddy gets home from work
• wakes up happy in the morning, but wakes up very grumpy from her nap

She recently reached the vocabulary explosion.  I feel like everyday she is saying new words.  Some of the ones I can think of off the top of my head right now that she says are: 

up

ball

bow

buc (bucket)

nack (snack)

caka (cracker)

cook-coo (cookie)

bath

uh-oh

boo (book)

NO

Mama

Dada

Papa

walk

that

pop-pop (popcicle)

more

wa-wa (water)

ra-ra (Raffie/Graffie, her lovey)

juice

scoop (in reference to swimming)

ma-more (one more, in reference to reading books one more time or giving one more kiss)

eh-oo (hello)

wama (watermelon)

bye-bye

hi

A day with Daddy

Yesterday while I was at a baby shower Robby took the girls to the mall to try to get his watch fixed.  They had Chick-fil-a at the food court for lunch and on the way out Robby stopped at a make-up counter and asked if they would do a little make-over on Handley.  He sent me this picture and the caption said, "My little Diva."  

I was surprised that he'd taken them both to the mall and I was REALLY surprised that he'd thought to do something so special and girly for Handley.  When I got home she looked up to me with really big eyes and in kind of a whispery-wonderful voice said, "Mommy, I got make-up!" She told me she got lipsticks and that she picked out pink with the brush (I'm guessing maybe a little blush??).  

After a low key afternoon including washing the cars, Robby took on double duty because that evening I went out with some girlfriends to see the new Twilight movie, Eclipse. While I was gone for the night they took a long wagon ride, threw rocks in the stream, ate a pizza dinner and had a "watermelon party" on the back porch.  I always miss the girls when I'm gone for a few hours like that, but I'm so thankful that they have such a great Daddy who does fun, creative stuff with them.  I am lucky that I get to be around them all day, every day so I think it's great for them to get some two-on-one time with Daddy too, without me around.  

Build-a-Bear

Today we made a trip up to Build-a-Bear.  Handley and Harper had both gotten gift cards for this store for their birthdays (Thank you Davis and Mason!) and we had promised to take Avery with us for her birthday present.  All the kids had fun choosing their bear, helping stuff it, and giving it a heart with a big wish.  It's no surprise that the big girls choose matching pink bears with matching pink dresses and matching pink names (Pink-a-Bear and Pink-a-Bell).  Harper liked her bear too until I put it in her spot in the stroller.  She pulled it out as fast as she could and threw it on the ground.  I guess she didn't want it taking over her seat.

After Build-a-Bear we made our way to the food court for a Chick-fil-a lunch and then a quick stop by the candy store before heading home.  It was a great outing and a fun way to spend our day.  

Holiday Weekend

***NOTE - I just added 4 posts, so be sure to read below and see them all so you don't miss anything!***

We spent the holiday weekend in Wilmington visiting with my family.  It was a wonderful weekend with great weather and lots of fun family memories.  

Before you go thinking our girls were dressed cute as can be and posing perfectly, check out these pictures...Handley copying Robby after he put a ball in his shirt (she was cracking herself up saying she had a baby in her belly), and Harper's dress tied up because I didn't realize it was going to be so long she could hardly walk in it! 

We were trying our hardest to get a good picture of my parents with the girls and they were both so busy playing that they could have cared less about taking pictures.  Then, Harper discovered the beach chairs in the yard still drying off from our earlier trip to the beach.  Handley plopped down in one too so my dad quickly moved the cooler in the middle and that's how we got this picture.  We were all cracking up because there is nothing like beach chairs and coolers in the yard.  Ha!  I love it because it's so real and so us. :-) 

Beach Babes

We spent both days of our holiday weekend at the beach and I'm happy to report that I've got a couple of beach babes!  I knew Handley loved the beach, but this was Harper's first real experience with it since last year she was only about 2 1/2 months old.  After packing for what felt like hours, we finally left my parents' house and made the 15 minute drive to the sand and sea.  They loved digging in the sand, jumping the waves, swimming, digging pools, more rolling in the sand, and soaking up every second of fun.  

Those of us without kids got to enjoy a nice adult beverage, long strolls, a little relaxing and a few games of ladder golf and corn hole...

while those of us with kiddos enjoyed getting sand in our suits. :-)

Robby does not like the sand, but he was such a good sport when Handley asked to bury him in the sand and both girls had fun covering him in it. 

Then, it was Handley's turn. 
And she also got to fly a kite for the first time!  

We had a fabulous time and can't wait for our week beach trip next month!!!

Happy 4th of July

We spent most of the day on the beach before heading back to my parents' house for nap-time.  I slept longer than I had expected when I layed down on the couch, but after chasing Handley and Harper around all day at the beach I guess I was just worn out! I woke up to Handley singing "Happy Birthday America."  Robby had tried to explain it to her, but then she turned to him and asked, "Who is America?"  I guess that one is  little tough for a 3-year-old to grasp. That evening we had dinner, played outside for a while, and then got ready to head over to my grandparents house to watch the fireworks.  They live on the inter-coastal waterway and just across from them is a private island that has a great firework display.  We had a great view and it was a fun way to end our holiday weekend.  

Everyone sitting on the dock watching the fireworks

Handley, Aunt Stefanie, Harper and Uncle Trey
Handley with both of her Great-Grandmother's on my side of the family