Fourth Of July 2013

We headed up to Okoboji for a week of fun at the lake! This year the weather was perfect making our stay much nicer than last year. Highlights:
- Arnold's park. Harper went on her first mini rollercoaster. She looked terrified but said she liked it. Ri and I went on the log ride.
- Riley and Harper shared a room (and bed) and slept great.
- late nights for both girls. Riley rambling on and on in excitement.
- watching the neighbors two houses down put on their own private fireworks show. Awesome, but loud!
- Riley continuously yelling hi to all of the neighbors.
- grandma laughing and making Harper repeat "diarea-ra". Harp saying she had diarrhea every time she pooped.
-fishing off the dock.
- one late night family card game.

What we learned this year: vacation with three little ones is not relaxing! But it was nice to be together as a family for a whole week!

Cole Carlson: Six Months Old

Exciting times around here. Cole is six months old and changing every day! Here's what he's been up to this past month.

- He weighed in at 14 lbs 8 oz at his 6 month check up.  He seems like such a big boy compared to the girls as babies. But in reality, I know he is still on the smaller side in just the 20th percentile.
- He is wearing size 6 month clothes. He seems to get goosebumps any time he is in shorts or short sleeves.
-He is a very laid back baby. But if he decides to cry, it's a full out scream.
- he makes a lot of noise now. He's learned to keep up with his sisters and screams really loud!
- he can sit up on his own. He can also roll both ways.
- he loves to grab his toes. If he can reach them they are in his hands.
- we started feeding him baby food regularly. He still isn't a huge fan. So far he's had oatmeal, banana, applesauce, avocado, sweet potato, and squash. Bananas and avocado seem to be the favorites.
- He is still eating 4 oz bottles of breast milk every 3 hours. He will sometimes take 4 1/2, and sometimes only eat 3 1/2.
- he went from sleeping from 7:30-5, to this week waking up for a bottle between 12:30-3am. Needless to say we feel like zombies again.
- he sometimes fights his sleep. Last night he wouldn't go to sleep until 9pm. Another night he was awake from 2am-5am. We are looking forward to the day he decides to sleep well again!
- he is pretty much on a nap schedule now: sleeps for 45 minutes - 1 1/2 hours around 8:30 am. Then takes another 1-2 hour afternoon nap.  He is usually tired again around 5 and may nod off for 30-40 minutes.
- He is proving to be a typical boy: diaper changes have become an exploration mission. He giggles every time Mom changes him, but never when Dad does.
- he likes playing in his exorsaucer and walker. He is just now learning how to scoot around in the walker.
- He hates the bouncy chair now.
- He still has eczema. As soon as it goes away its back again a week later.

He is such a sweet little boy and we just love him to death!

Preschool Graduation

Riley had her graduation from four year old preschool at Westminster. We were excited for another year to come to a close, but sad to see her moving on. Riley loved her teachers this year.
Next year she will go to afternoon preschool at Westview Church Preschool. I'm  excited to see how she does at the new school and to have her home with me for one more year.

Science center

We bought a membership to the zoo and Science Center this year.  I took the kids to check out the Science Center last week. They had a blast since there wasn't a crowd and we could do pretty much whatever we wanted. They even decided to sit through one of the presentations. Favorites this trip: bubbles, making a rocket, and eating lunch in the food chain café!

Frog Hunting

We took the kids on a walk to a little pond in our neighborhood in search of frogs. No frogs this time, nut I'm sure the search will continue! The girls had a blast while Cole slept right through it!

Harper's Second Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Harper's birthday as a family on the 27th. It was rainy most of the day, much like the day she came into this world.
We celebrated with a pancake breakfast, opening of one small gift (bubble machine and new plates), singing happy birthday, a trip to Target, lunch at Chick Fil-a, playing outside and Orange Leaf.

We held her birthday party with family a week later.  The weather was much nicer and the kids had fun in the bounce house! Harper chose an Elmo themed birthday this year. I made Elmo cupcakes since a bakery cake was out of the question with her egg allergy. They turned out great.  This year Harper and Riley received a joint family gift...a new swing set! Sadly, it has yet to arrive. Nearly a week late now. They know they are getting it, but I don't think they will truly get it until it is installed. She also received some new clothes, a folding chair, four square ball, bubble mower, and an Elmo CD player.

Such a great day to celebrate our little two year old!

Harper Grace: Two Years Old

Harper turned two on May 27th! This little girl sure is something. She's a little sweetheart mixed in with a lot of spunk! Here is what she's up to:
- She weighed in at 23 1/2 pounds at her two year checkup. She is wearing 2t clothes and a size 5 shoe.
- she has awesome hair! We have yet to cut it and it can now be pulled into a pony. She really hates anything in her hair so she has become very good at brushing her hair out of her face.
- she is talking in full sentences. She will say things we had no idea she knew. She is always very descriptive when talking. She always requests "many" when making for snacks...or just helps herself to whatever she wants.
- she is sleeping in the bottom bunk in the girls' room and hasn't attempted to climb the ladder in the middle of the night yet.
- she now know that eggs give her owies and are yucky.
- she is very empathetic.  She is the first to help someone feel better if she knows they are sad. She is always offering up hugs. And usually adds a kiss.
- she wants anything and everything that is Riley's.
- she loves puzzles, balls, and bubbles.
- she insists on walking instead of riding in the stroller when we go for walks.
- she thinks its the greatest thing when you let her wash her own body at bath time. She loves pouring water into her hands.
- she will immediately dump out any cup that she sees on a table. If there are two cups she will dump one into the other as many times until you can catch her.
- she loves her brother and insists that she lay right next to him when he's lying down.
- she loved her music class at the library. She participated and followed the teacher's directions.
- her favorite color is purple.
- she could eat a bottomless bowl of raspberries, blueberries, pears or apples.
- she is very close to being potty trained. We are attempting to fully potty train later this week.

She is really growing into her personality and is such a sweetheart...when she's not dumping the cat food out, getting into the pantry, or throwing a fit.