21 weeks: No. Sleep. Til Brooklyn!

My dear, sweet baby and I have gotten off track somehow. We used to start each day at 7am (and this was when she was two weeks old and getting up every three hours to eat). We'd turn on all the lights, say hello to various rooms and objects around the apartment.

Once Harper started distinguishing day from night and once she started sleeping longer in between night feedings, I think I started to realize just how sleep deprived I was. In the past month, the only thing that has been regular about Harper's day/night routine was that she would wake up at 4 or 5am, eat and want to play which promptly earned her a spot between her dad and me in the big bed and we'd all sleep some more. Dad got up for work at 7:30. Mom got up when Harper got up. (and I think Harper got up when Mom got up)...usually around 9.

I knew this was not the best thing; that she was supposed to be going down for a morning nap around 9 instead of just waking up. Yet at that point, sleep, no matter when it was garnered, was a very welcome thing. Even the Dr. said it was fine. It was like she was taking the morning nap first thing, right?! Well...wrong... She would only nap for an hour (at the longest) twice a day. Which left me with so little time not in mommy-mode (hence the delay in updating this blog). And the effort to try to get her down at night proved that she needed a better schedule. We all did.

So all this week we've been trying to get up by 7am. No matter how the night went before us. Harper would go down around 8a the beginning of the week...by the end it was 9a. Her naps have been longer (well those not disturbed by construction or heat). If she woke up, I'd get her back down is she could. Girl needs her sleep! And I realized it's not HOW she gets the sleep (ie. in her own crib, falling asleep on her own)...it's that she gets it. Period. Be it Bjorn, Stroller, Sling, Bouncing for half an hour, Music, Ocean waves, Air-conditioning (sorry planet, I'm usually nicer to you, but I've got a baby with heat rash who needs to sleep), Fan, Pacifier, Bumper, Lavendar scented pillow...under her legs, Swaddle, No-swaddle, or Cuddling in the big bed...
We'll worry about bad sleeping habits once she's getting good sleep. (New moms: learn from my mistake!) I mean it's great if you can get your kid to sleep on her own, by my kid...she needs help. At least right now. And she's getting it. Even if it kills me.

One of the highlights of this week though: trying solid foods again. After all, who can sleep on an empty stomach.

20 Weeks: Don't Mess with (Harper in) Texas

We just got back from Houston. Harper did incredibly well and is quite the seasoned traveler. She even had her own seat! She ate and slept most the flight there and slept the entire ride back. 2.5hrs is the perfect flight time with a babe her size.

Houston was great. It was so much fun to see Carrie & Tim and their boys, Will (3.5) & Nick (1.5). They've grown so much since we saw them a year ago. Will was very sweet to want to share his queso dip with Harper. And Nick was very good about only touching Harper's feet. He's been nick-named 'The Destroyer' by his big brother, so we're pretty happy that he was so gentle with his new friend. It was so wonderful to see the three all hanging out together for the first time. The first of many!

Harper got her 1st experience in a swimming pool on Friday. There was a perfect little shelf for us to sit on...it was almost like taking a bath.

Friday night we arranged for Carrie's babysitter, Marta, and her daughter to come watch the kids so we could have dinner with Marc and Charlotte (who just moved to Houston from NYC). This is how came upon the subject of this week's post. Of course, it wasn't the best idea to let Harper fall asleep just before Marta arrived, but we were hoping she would just sleep through the whole experience. We should have known better. 15 minutes after we walked out the door she woke up. Probably just as I was turning to Carrie and saying, "I should be more nervous about leaving H with a total stranger, but I'm sure Marta is great, so I feel good."
Dinner was great: the menu and the food was truly impressive. We were just about to order another bottle of wine, when I suddenly felt the need to call and check in. Carrie and Tim insisted that if there was any problem Marta would call us. I hemmed and hawed. And was just about to...the phone rang. I could hear Harper crying in the background. Marta's daughter said they gave her bottle. They gave her some more. They poured over our 2pgs of instructions and can't find anyway to soothe our little girl. Then she said, 'Wait. She's settling down. We'll call you back." 30 mins later, we got the call: Please come home! There's nothing we can do here.
When we walking in Harper was still crying. All poor Marta (mother of 3 who has watched Carrie's kids for 2 years) could say was, "Maybe she has colic!"
Harper is still hoarse from the whole experience...
But she quieted down the minute I picked her up. Needless to say we're trying to earn back her trust. She been waking herself ever since just to make sure we're still around.

Saturday we went to Marc and Charlotte's for lunch. They are currently renting a 5 bedroom house with a pool for the same price they were renting a lofted 2 bedroom in TriBeCa. My god! They have a beautiful back yard, a wine cellar and rooms to spare. Charlotte has the biggest closet I've ever seen. We could've sat and had tea in there.

Saturday afternoon we hit the pool again. Harper was starting to really enjoy the pool. And she looked so cute in her DG anchor swimsuit (courtesy of my big sis, Rachel). It was so nice to lounge around in a backyard that wasn't infested with dust from construction or mosquitoes. I thought...and it's this nice in December?!? I could get used to this.

At 20 weeks, Harper is really starting to come into her own. It's obvious that she's ready to mobile. She will now grab for things when she's sitting up, almost as if she imagines she can crawl over to get them. If you lay her on her belly, she'll push with her feet against you and belly-crawl along the floor. I help move her hands forward and she'll push forward some more.
She's mastered sitting with assistance. Now she's onto standing.

She still loves to stretch, babble and when she whines, it really sounds like she's saying, "Mah-mi!" She still fights sleep...she's an very alert and curious baby. But she's always quick to smile and coo. Even when she's about the hit the great wall of fatigue. Once she's hit it though, there's no turning back. She loves to be bounced, she even needs it sometimes to calm down. And she needs the dark to sleep, otherwise she'll just pick out new things to stare at and contemplate. We would think she did have colic if she wasn't in such a good mood 80% of the time.
She loves to sleep in though! She wakes up at 4 or 5 in the morning just to come in bed with us and sleep in til 9! She loves to hold hands. She's keenly aware of who her mom and dad are: our voices & our touch. She loves to lay in bed between her dad and me, holding both our hands. It's very sweet. She'll pull our hands into her temple and nuzzle against them.

We're returning from Houston with renewed drive to get this sleeping thing under control. Stay Tuned!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

I was extra good today because I knew it was Mommy's birthday. I took a nap in the morning. Played and laughed all the way through Yoga so Mommy could find her smile. And then I slept two hours in the afternoon! Though I did give Dad a bit of a hard time getting me to sleep, once I ate an extra 4oz. I was out like a light.

Happy Birthday, Mommy! I love you. xo Harper

19 Weeks: Rolling Over!

Harper loves her play gym. It's basically a mat on the floor with various toys dangling from arches overhead. It's a wonderful way to start the day. She plays as I get ready. Its wonderful to see her play independent of me. 'Course she doesn't mind if I join in the fun, but she's generally good for at least 15 mins alone. Except for the other day. I was on the computer and she started to fuss. I came around the corner and voila! She was on her tummy with her hands stuck underneath her. Holy Moly! She did the more difficult one first!
Today we were at yoga and she rolled over to her belly, so I moved her hands out in front of her...to give her some tummy time. And pow! She rolled over the other way!

She also can sit up now with minimal help: just holding her hands. And she LOVES to sit up. She is trying to do it on her own constantly...jutting her little chin forward and forcing her upper back up. Between that and how much she kicks her legs, she's got abs of steel under that buddha belly.

She's a happy baby. Save for night-time. She's been into being carried around the past week. She loves to look over the shoulder, so she can chew on your yours as she takes the view in. She fights sleep. She always has and now she's older and more of a fighter. She also wakes up every time you try to leave her in the crib... We'll figure it out sooner or later. It's kinda hard when the routine never gets established. And we're always on the move. Next weekend we're heading to Houston! We need to get Harper her own frequent flyer number!

4 Months Old and Trying Solid Food

Happy 4 Months to Harper!

She is growing up so fast! She's starting to hold her own bottle, eager to control her eating. We tried to give her some pears...she made some funny faces and didn't really seem that taken with them, but we'll try again today. She's starting to roll around (not all the way around, but close!) to her tummy. She's beginning to show signs that she wants to sit-up on her own; though she's still doing the adorable bobble-head whilst sitting. She loves to look around as ever. She's fascinated with faces. She's a joy to interact with. She's quick to laugh at whatever strange audible you can come up with, which is humbling...hey, I'll do whatever it takes to get a giggle or even a smile.
And of course, she babbles and coos all the time.

This week we had such a lovely time with Grammie Wax. We do miss Daddy...He's fishing up a storm in Minnesota with his Dad, his brother and his dad's fishing partner. He caught a monster Wallie his first day. I think they're all having a great time.

Daddy's Big Fish

Speaking of great times. Saturday Grammie, Harper and I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. It was so beautiful. All the roses were in bloom. It is such a lovely place to go. I don't know why we've only discovered it this year.


Sunday we went to Grace Church and Harper was blessed by the minister there. We had coffee and pastries afterward, took an afternoon nap and then strolled the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. It was a gloriously sunny day. We decided to head over to Pacifico for fish tacos...Harper slept through dinner...she's such a good baby.

Monday we were thinking of our Grandpas all day. It was Grandpa Wax's actual birthday & Grandpa Miles was enjoying his birthday gift of last year: the fishing trip. Harper wanted to share her sweet wishes with them.


Course we couldn't leave out the Grandmas.


It stormed a lot in NY that day, but we managed to get out for a stroll in the late afternoon and I made Grammie Wax's favorite: linguini and clams for dinner. Harper slept in her swing all through dinner. :) Tuesday was Grammie's last day. She spent the night in with Harper while I went out to meet some friends. We were so sad to see her go! I've got four days flying solo.

Wish me luck!

4 Month Check-up

Yesterday was Harper's 4 Month Check-up.
She is 14.5 lbs (75th percentile) and 25" (84th percentile) and ready to start solid foods.
Even though she's sick, she's still a smiling sweet girl. But it pains us to hear her labored breath and her congested cough. Oh, if her dad could teach her to cough a big mucus wad, I'd actually be proud!
She battling an acute case of baby bronchitis which sent us back to the Doctor today since she woke up with 102.3 fever. All is well. Her fever is down to 99. She got her pneumonia and meningitis vaccinations which may have helped her fever spike. We were sent home with the instructions to steam her (putting salt in the shower basin helps produce more vapor), give her rose-hip tea (20z.) and cranberry juice (1oz.) and for me to take lots of Vitamin C to pass to her via breastmilk.
Since her appetite is down, we never got her to take the tea and solid foods will wait til she's feeling better. Hopefully we'll get her to take a bite of Pears before her dad leaves for his fishing trip with Grandpa & Uncle Scott. He will be missed but we're so happy Grammie Wax decided to come out and spend some QT with Harper.

17 Weeks: 1st Roadtrip and 1st Cold

This week was a big one! Harper, as we said had her 1st visit from Auntie Whalen and this California Auntie always brings her A game. She was a fantastic assistant to Miss H on her 1st photoshoot for American Baby Magazine (August Issue), Harper returned the favor by ascorting us on a day of shopping in Brooklyn, then we all piled in a zipcar and drove up to Saratoga Springs to visit our friend Kristin and her beautiful boys, Brady and Tate. What a week! No wonder Miss H came down with her first cold! It was worth it, but next week we're taking it easy.

So...The photoshoot! Perfectly timed, if I do say so myself. H woke up early, slept from 9 to 11 when we arrive at the studio. Ate, changed and was ready for 'hair' & make-up by 11:30. It wasn't much, the make-up artist justevened out her skin tone and made her rosy cheeks a bit rosier. Harper was featured in what seemed to be a baby spa day spread. She posed with nail clippers, skin creme, a bath-tub, a brush and a car seat. She was a great sport. She only spit up once. Though she did need to be touched up from time to time...mostly drool. Chrissy was a amazing...she snapped a bunch of photos & videos. I'm so grateful she was there to capture H's big day.
Harper smiled her way through all the set-ups with the production staff stand-in mom. Everyone got in on the action to get the best smiles from our girl...the producer, the photographer and, of course, mommy too. H was so tired from all that smiling that she passed out on Chrissy within two minutes of been wrapped. I've never seen her fall asleep that fast before.

No pressure, Harper, just a room full of people waiting here for you to smile...

Thursday we headed up to Saratoga Springs, NY. Just a straight shot up the 87. It was the perfect road trip and a beautiful drive. Awaiting us was a Kristin, Brad and their sons Brady (nearly 3) and Tate (7 months). Both boys were so very handsome and lots of fun. It's so exciting for Harper to meet new friends!

Brady, Auntie Whalen & Tate

Our trip upstate was way too short, but H and I drove back to spend the weekend with Daddy who missed his girls. We all had a lot of sleep to catch up on.

We'll miss you, Auntie Whalen! So sad to see you go! Come back soon!