Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

 

 

Our best family photo attempt....ahhh the love of a taking pictures with a three year old!

Pre Christmas Festivities

I can't believe it's the day before Christmas Eve!! We've had a fun month getting in the Christmas spirit and getting ready for Santa to visit. 

Gingerbread House decorating

My Little Santa Babies!

Those eyes! That sweet face!

Visiting Santa down at Christmas in the Village of East Davenport

Santa butt cuddles

 

Salted dough ornament decorating for his daycare friends and family gifts.

 Sugar cookie decorating thanks to Jessie the Elf

Sitting around the Christmas tree watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and waiting for Adele LIVE to come in!

Big BRO

Madden has officially been a BIG brother for 6 weeks now and he has adjusted to his new role better than I could have ever dreamed possible! 

I want to remember these first moments of them together forever! He was so excited to be dropped off at grandma and papa's for a sleepover so mom and dad could have his baby sister.

He was more than thrilled to finally meet her at the hospital. He climbed up in the bed to look at her in the bassinet.  He tried sharing his sucker and laid her blankie on her. He LOVED her hair and wanted to touch it. 

He was all about picking out a gift for her all by himself for when he came to visit her at the hospital....and he even picked out a couple other presents for her after she arrived, like the little lion above from the hospital gift shop. When he came back the next day to visit he brought books with him specifically to read to his baby sister and showed her all the pictures. 

I think it helped that we talked to him about the baby from the very beginning, literally he was with me when I checked the pregnancy test and he was the first to know, even before daddy! He was even excited when I asked him if he wanted a baby brother or sister, so I guess it shouldn't be that big of surprise. 

We tried to have other big adjustments well out of the way so he wasn't overwhelmed with so much change at once, like giving up the pacifier, potty training, graduating from a toddler bed to a full size bed, and moving to a big boy room.

And since we've been home, Madden is literally OBSESSED with his sister! 

He is always looking for her or asking where she is. 

We're still learning gentle touch and to not poke her in the eyes or try to open sister's eyes. He gets very excited when she does have her eyes open. 

He adorns her with kisses daily!

Hugs and tickles are very abundant.

If anyone tries giving her attention he is right there too doing the same.

He likes waking her up from sleeping to see her.

He is more than helpful throwing away dirty diapers, getting blankets, showing her toys, telling mommy when she has boogies and will get a kleenex for me, finding her pacifiers, zipping up her carseat cover, watching over and trying to entertain her during diaper changes, and helping give her baths.

He really loves giving her raspberries on her belly.

He's got lots of nicknames for her already. He calls her "my baby", Harpie, cootie (for cutie), cootie girl, pumpkin, baby sister, that girl, and sweetie. 

Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been all rainbows and unicorns over here. 

He has had a few meltdowns. He had a major meltdown the week after when we all went to Toys R Us. With no nap and wanting to go home with every single toy in the store, it was a recipe for disaster and something we had coming. There have been two or three times when dropping him off at daycare he didn't want to go because either his sister wasn't coming in with or he wanted to stay home with us. And he definitely shows off more so when visitors come over to get their attention on him rather than the new bundle of attention stealing joy. 

Overall we have been very lucky and he has been one awesome big brother. I am so incredibly proud of him and absolutely love watching him interact with Harper.  

Harper's Newborn Pictures

It's hard to pick favorite but here are some of my many faves of Harper's Newborn Session

Harper - One Month

Our little lady is one month old already!

It's been both one long and super fast month. Having a newborn and a toddler is definitely challenging but really fun at the same time. I love watching MJ with his baby sister even if she currently isn't quite aware of him just yet.  

Age: One Month

Weight: 8lbs 2 ounces as of 2 week doctor’s appointment on 11/20

Length: 20 ½ inches as of 2 week doctor’s appointment on 11/20

Size: Newborn and 3 months clothes. Using up the last of the newborn diapers and just starting to break into a few of the 3 month clothes and pjs.

Hair: Dark brown, although I think it’s already lightened up a little bit from birth

Eyes: Dark blue gray, I’m guessing she’s going to have blue eyes like her brother.

Health: Thankfully so far she has been a perfectly healthy baby! Hoping we can do as best as possible to avoid colds and germs from being brought home from daycare by big brother for as long as possible. She has a sensitive bum, as she has already gotten one diaper rash. 

Teeth: N/A

Sleeping: Just a few days prior to 4 weeks we started transitioning Harper to her crib at night. She is one noisy kid that I’ve barely been getting more than an hour sleep at one time. It’s definitely been an adjustment but it’s going well so far. Naps are hit or miss right now. She cat naps a lot and prefers to be held for ALL sleeping which is a bit frustrating as no matter how long she has been asleep she will typically wake up within 5-15 minutes of being put down. I’m trying all morning/afternoon long to get her to take a nap without being held for longer than 20 minutes. She is starting to take one good afternoon nap so hopefully it continues.  At night Harper has started sleeping for about 3 hour increments. She usually eats and goes right back to sleep. She seems to have a witching hour from around 7pm- 11:30pm where she is pretty fussy and just can’t seem to figure out how to sleep during this time. I usually can’t get her to fall asleep for the night until after 11:30pm no matter what I do or try to cluster feed her, or swaddle, or rock/bounce, ect. But once 11:30pm hits then she is out for the night aside from waking to eat and even that I can't get her to usually finish feeding from both breasts. 

Eating: Breastfeeding only! She has been doing very well with it. She actually doesn't nurse for nearly as long as Madden did, she usually only east 5-7 minutes from each side and Madden use to nurse 10+ minutes each side. I kept thinking she wasn't eating enough but have learned she just doesn't need as much as she is growing and gaining weight just fine. She currently is eating about every 2-3 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night. She has been given a bottle once and took it just fine, drinking about 2 ounces.   

Movement: Lifting her head up

Milestones: Umbilical cord fell off, took her first bottle, starting to make more noises, and started smiling!

Favorite Toys/Activities: Eating, sleeping, pooping, being held, and definitely prefers to be bounces over being rocked to get her settled down.  

Little Turkey's First Thanksgiving

Dislikes: Being awake or set down, clothes going over her head while getting changed. 

Words: N/A

Sounds: Squawks, cries and just started cooing 

Santa Babe - look at those eyes!

Funny/Favorite Moments

• During a feeding she pulled away to catch a breath due to a heavy milk flow and it continued to spray her in the face! 
• Madden found some loose change around the house so I told him to go put it in his piggy bank. He has a large and small baseball piggy bank then a while back found a little plastic one we were given from a bank that he wanted also. He was talking to me about how many banks he and Harper have. I told him he has 3 but she doesn't have one just yet and we need to go get her one. Later that night when I took Harper to her room to change her, I found on her dresser his small baseball piggy bank. He had given it to her so she now has her own bank. My heart melted and I turned to a puddle of mush! How cute is that!!

Brother begged to be apart of her One Month pictures.

Monthly Highlights

•  Lost umbilical cord at 1 week 2 days
• First outing at 4 days old to Von Maur
• Took newborn pictures at 5 days new
• Took first bottle at 3 weeks old, drank 2 ounces
• Grandma and Papa Dexter watched you for the first time at 3 weeks old so mommy and daddy could go to a wedding reception
• You love being held!
• You’re most fussy between 7:00- 11:30pm
• Transitioned from sleeping in mom and dad’s room in the pack-n-play to your crib in your own room
• Although you act like you don’t like being swaddled, you seem to sleep best swaddled at night and afternoon naps
• You sleep A LOT
• First real smiles started at 3 weeks
• You’re brother really LOVES you!