Mmmm....Toast

This is how Harper eats toast. She has to lick the jam first. She eventually eats the whole thing, but not without having some fun first.

7 Weeks

On Thursday of last week, I had a tiny bit of spotting. And if you look online, everything basically tells you that it either means nothing or that you could be having a miscarriage...oh, thanks. So I called my OB, just to be sure. She said it's probably nothing to be concerned about, but scheduled an ultrasound just in case. Sure enough, there was nothing to be concerned about. Baby is doing just fine and has a strong heart beat of 146 beats/min! Isn't it crazy that we can both see and hear that heartbeat already?? Seeing Questington, looking ever so tadpole-like, just makes it all feel more real. Of course, I know it's real. But when you feel like a crazy hormonal pregnant lady and you're so bloated you look 4 months pregnant when you're not, a little encouragement goes a long way! Here's to week 7...man do we have a long way to go!

When Did This Happen?

When did my baby turn into a kid? Here are some picture from when we took her to the park last weekend. The juice box ones might be my favorite. She looks like she's 5 years old!

The Timing Is Ironic

I'm pretty sure Harper's ready to go down to just one nap a day, so we're trying to do away with morning nap time. Which is perfect since I'm just now needing to start a morning nap time for myself. The first trimester is always the most exhausting for me.  If I take a quick cat nap in the morning, I feel pretty good the rest of the day. If I wait till the afternoon, I'm pretty groggy when I wake up, my mood isn't the greatest, and I have a hard time going to sleep.  If Harper takes a quick cat nap in the morning, she won't take an afternoon nap at all, and then she wants to skip dinner and go to bed at 5:30.

We've gone one week trying to skip morning nap time. Somewhere between 9 and 11, we both get very tired and grumpy. The weather is very cold again (we got snow on Monday), so being cooped up in the house is getting old, too. Over the weekend, before it was too cold, Chris and I took Harper to the park for the first time since she's been able to walk. She liked the swing, wasn't too sure about the slide, and played with her ball for about 2 minutes. Then she just wanted to read her books.

There was one day last week, however, where neither one of us made it. I put on Praise Baby (my saving grace...when that video plays, she sits still and just chills) so that I could do the dishes. Then I sat on the couch while Harper was in her chair (the one her Nana just got her...too cute!) and by the time Praise Baby was over, we were both fast asleep! Chris came in and found us and couldn't resist taking a few pictures.

Here's to one nap a day...woohoo!

Harper Cracks Herself Up

This is Harper watching a video of herself. This is one of her favorite things to do.

An Heirloom

This is Chris' chair from when he was a kid. It was one of his favorite things. He said he used it both as a chair and a table, whatever he felt like at the time. He thought about fixing it up and painting it fresh for Harper, but we decided it's much better left as it is. Now that she's walking and climbing, little chairs are her new favorite thing. She has 3 chairs now, and I'll post more pictures of the newest one soon. But this one is special...from Father to Daughter. I love it!

I'm Done!!

I worked my last night at World Market, and I am so happy to be done! It's been harder to go since I got pregnant. I'm always so tired, and I can't stay up until 11:00pm and then get up at 4:40am to go workout. It just wasn't happening. But most of all, I'm already realizing that my precious one-on-one time with Harper is only going to last about 8 more months. I'm sure we'll have time together, but I know it won't be nearly what it is now. So I want to enjoy all my time with her that I can.

So long World Market...it's been nice, but I'm so glad to be free!

November 13, 2011

Any guesses as to the importance of that date?? Well, chances are nothing will actually happen on that day for us, but it is the date that the next 9 months will evolve around....we're pregnant again! We have enjoyed Harper so much, that we decided we wanted another baby!  I'm only 5 weeks along, and I know you aren't supposed to tell people until after the first trimester, but we don't abide by that rule for 2 reasons: 1-we just can't, we get way too excited!  2-we want all of our friends to be praying for this little baby from the beginning. So please pray for Questington. That is the nickname for this little one, named such by Will Heck. (Thanks Will.)

Even though it's so early, this pregnancy already feels different than when I was pregnant with Harper. Some of the symptoms are the same, but I was not nearly this emotional! I only had a couple of crazy moments the first time, and I can remember them. Already I've had more mood swings than I can keep up with! And I so do not want to be that crazy pregnant lady!!

I'm extremely tired all the time...that's no different than the first time. But that just encouraged me to give notice at World Market, which I did on Monday. No more working till 10:00 at night and getting up at 4:40 to workout. I can't do both, so crossfit won. I know if I stop now, I'll never go back after the baby is born. But don't worry, it's very safe. Crossfit has a whole website devoted to pregnant women...what exercises you can and can't do, different things to be aware of during the different trimesters while you're working out...it's very helpful. You can see it here: Crossfit Moms

So thank you in advance for the prayers. We are so excited, and I'm also convinced that Harper is going to be an amazing big sister!! Can't wait to see her in action!

Balancing Act

This is one of Harper's new favorite tricks:

Now that she's getting so good on her feet, she's starting to move around in all kinds of different ways. Our friends The Herrington's just recently gave us a tiny little slide for her, which is perfect timing because she just started climbing, too. Another look at my precious goof ball:

Peekaboo!

Harper's Summery Sunday

Really this post should be called her "Summery Weekend", but that just didn't sound as cute. It was so nice to have a weekend together with Chris and Harper where Chris didn't have to go anywhere. And the weather was perfect. I got to put Harper in a tank top, even if she had a light sweater over it, and she looked so adorable. On Saturday, Harper had her first experience on a trampoline! I thought she would be nervous because of how wobbly she still is sometimes, but she loved it! She got to play with her new buddy Savannah, who is so great with Harper. Here's a look at some static-trampoline hair:

Yesterday when I came home from the grocery store, I found this:

just chillin' on the hammock with dad

Finally, I think Harper's lunch even fit with the weather outside. She had an avocado, sliced strawberries (so good!!!), a "cottage cheese sandwich" (a piece of bread with cottage cheese smeared on it...she likes it) and her first ever glass of chocolate milk. I've had Chris home for 2 weekends in a row now, and it's been so nice having all three of us together. We worked on our storage room and got it all cleaned and organized, which feels so good. It was such a great weekend. One last treat for you, and I do think it's a treat. Here's Harper bouncing and giggling on the trampoline...

Who Needs a Radio?

Harper entertaining herself in the car

Growing Pains

Harper must be growing again. She's so tired! Not the whole day...she's not sick. But she's getting tired quicker. She's also probably pretty worn out from the new found walking, too. But it's pretty nice, because she is an excellent cuddler, especially when she's sleepy! Her 15 month appointment is next month, and I'm  very interested to hear her stats. She was so small at her 1 year, but I feel like she's made up some ground since then. We'll see. Her eating is still going strong, so either way she's healthy. This morning she ate scrambled eggs, a whole banana, and then an entire blueberry bagel! The girl is definitely growing.

A Tired Harper Cuddling With Her Eeyore

March Madness

She's Walking!!!

Untitled from Rachel Holohan on Vimeo.

Harper is now officially walking! On Saturday, we would have her walk between us ("Walk to Mommy" or "Walk to Daddy"). And she did it without any help! The coolest part about it was watching how excited and proud of herself she is every time she reaches one of us. I think this may be the first time I've seen that emotion from her...her knowing that she's doing something she's wanted to do but wasn't sure if she could. It made me so happy for her, and of course I am one proud momma! Congratulations Harper!

Like Mother Like Daughter

Her face may look just like Chris, but Harper sleeps just like I did when I was a kid...

Butt in the air! I love those rare times when I actually get to go wake her up and for a few minutes I can just watch her sleep. And then she starts to stir, and she always gives me a smile once she rolls over and opens her eyes. I so badly wish she would take naps with me, but if I'm with her she refuses to sleep. There's just something so soothing about a sleeping baby.

STRETCH!

GETTING READY TO START A NEW DAY

BedTime

Baby Driver

Untitled from Rachel Holohan on Vimeo.

A Few Forced Steps

Harper took some steps on Sunday! Do they count as her first steps if she didn't have the idea? Chris and I sat on either side of her, and we were playing with her and her pink glitter ball. She would throw it to Chris, and I would help her walk to him to get it and then let go. For the most part she would just fall into his lap, but one time she took 2 steps before falling into him! Later that night we were at our friends' house for dinner, Jenn and Tye, and we were showing them the trick with the ball. She took a good 3 or 4 steps one of the times! Granted, she's not standing up and making the decision to try it, we get her started. So she's not walking. But she's definitely right there. And I couldn't be more proud!