Our Fiesta of Five

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Summer Fun

We are so lucky to live in southern California, and especially Carlsbad where there are so many fun outdoor activities to do. I have loved spending the (very!) warm days with my little family, and of course, taking photos.
Enjoy!

Harper in a swimsuit!

Hanging at the Donavon Frankenreiter concert at Salt Creek

Harper is a rolly polly, always on her tummy

Daddy, Avery and Tim rolling down the hill

Goofy girl

Avery and me at Salt Creek

Avery modeling some adorable bikinis from "uncle" Owen

Family fun at Lake Arrowhead

Monday, September 10, 2012

Harper's Baptism

Mamina and Tats (Norma and Gaston), Alex's wonderful grandparents on his mother's side, live in Santiago, Chile. To avoid the southern hemisphere winters they come and spend the summer months with Solange and Ken, visiting with their state-side family. They were set to leave on Sept 5th so we decided to baptise Harper while they were able to be present.
We chose John Paul, the second oldest brother after Alex, to be her godfather. He lives in San Francisco and is working very hard in a culinary program at SFCC as well as working at a restaurant, but when we asked him to be Harper's godfather, he rearranged everything to be at the ceremony. It meant a lot to us that he was able to be there and we are so grateful.
Lauren, my brother Corey's wife, was gracious enough to accept our request and also rearrange her schedule, and is Harper's godmother. My brother is Avery's godfather, and we love them both so much. She is expecting my first niece, Penelope Louise, in December!!! We really appreciated them making the drive down to be there at the ceremony.
We had her baptised at St Edwards in Dana Point where we were married on September 20, 2008, and Avery was baptised December 2010. She wore the same dress Avery did and a bonnet that my Aunt Kathy sent her that can turn into a hankie for her to include in her wedding as her "something old" (that sure did bring tears to my eyes when I imagined that day for a moment!)
Father Steve was the officiant for the group baptisim that included about 5 other families. He is very funny and knows Alex's family well. It was a quick and meaningful ceremony and Harper didn't make a peep (thank goodness for that paci!!) She was a complete angel and looked the part in her big white dress.
Alex's parents were kind enough to let us have a small get together at their house after with lots of delicious mexican food and some good times in the pool.
It was a wonderful day, and we appreciate everyone who was able to join us in celebrating our sweet baby Harper!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Harper Joy, 3 months

HALLELUJA! HALLELUJA!
My sweet, adorable, precious baby now TAKES A PACIFIER!
She is officially perfect now! She hardly makes a peep but too coo and gurgle sweetly. One night, after I had given up, Alex tried a nearby paci (that I kept around in hopes that she would change her mind) she just took it! And then she took it the next day! And then that night!

I know you might think I am making a bigger deal out of this than I should but it has seriously changed everything with Harper. She used to get SO MAD when she was tired, we even suspected it was colic a few times, that nothing would soothe her. She would just cry herself to sleep despite all our attempts to shh, rock, sway, sing, freakin' monkey dance, WHATEVER! But now she is a perfect baby. Yippee!
I have noticed a routine has begun to develop. She takes a nap after waking up to nurse and hang out in the morning around 8:30/9, until 10:30/11ish. I put her in her crib or swing for this if we are home, but generally we are out and about and so she will sleep in her carseat. Ah, poor second baby! She does little cat naps here and there the rest of the afternoon until bed time. We are definitely on an Eat Play Sleep schedule and her awake times have increased to an hour or more.
She goes to bed around when Avery does or just before, 7:30/8 and most nights she will sleep through until 6 or 7, and some nights she will wake once around 3 or 4. I used to nurse her because I didn't want her crying to wake Alex and Avery but now that she takes the paci, I try giving that to her before nursing her.
Harper sucks her thumb when a paci isn't available, but I am trying to discourage it as much as possible, although it is super cute.

She still nurses exclusively, and we rarely do the bottle and I don't pump hardly at all anymore. I have a decent supply of frozen milk and am still aiming to nurse for a year. If it remains this easy, who wouldn't?? I have not had one second of pain from nursing aside from the few days of engorgement I get in the very beginning. I know it will likely be a challenge to maintain my supply once we introduce solids at 6 months, but I am learning so much in my Lactation Educator/Counselor course work that I am more dedicated to breastfeeding than ever before.

Harper Joy, 2 months

My little baby is living up to her name, and is an absolute joy! I fall more in love with her everyday. She has always had a pretty strong neck and is still doing great at tummy time. She seems to enjoy the bath, it always calms and interests her. She LOVES her big sister and rewards her with big smiles and attention whenever Avery is near her. She naps best in her swing and pretty well in her crib, and has been sleeping in her crib at night since about 6 weeks. She resembles Avery in many ways but reminds me all the time that she is NOT her sister!
Harper weighs 12.5 lbs, and is 23.5 inches long
She sleeps 10 hours a night
She is wearing 3 month clothes and size 1 diapers
She loves to suck her fingers and anything else that gets near her mouth (except the bottle or the paci, ugh)

Avery's First Day of Preschool

Before Harper came along, we decided we wanted Avery to have something fun she could do on her own, a few times a week once Harper had arrived. We considered many things (swim lessons, music classes, soccer) but at her age everything is "mommy and me" and I didn't know what to expect with Harper, so we decided preschool was a great place for her. At 2 years old, it isn't that in-depth, mostly arts and crafts, singing, reading, playing outside and learning social skills. We toured a few, and decided La Costa Valley Preschool in La Costa/Carlsbad was the best place for our little girl. She started on July 9, 2012 just a week after her birthday.
I was so anxious and emotional in the days leading up to her first day (being less than 2 months post-partum might have had a little to do with that!), but I also thoroughly enjoyed filling out her paperwork and putting together her school stuff (emergency kit, extra outfit, lunches, backpack). It was one of those moments that I remember looking forward to when I was pregnant with her.
True to form, Avery LOVED preschool (and still does, as I write this nearly 2 months later)! She ran right into the room with her little backpack on, hopped on the carousel they have inside and wouldn't even get off to say goodbye to us! Also true to form, I held it together until I reached the parking lot and allowed myself a weepy mom-moment. My girl was IN SCHOOL! Away from me for the first time in a new place with people I barely knew for 3.5 hours twice a week.
Avery always comes home from school dirty and chatty, and we are starting to get adorable little art projects to take home and display. I have very much enjoyed my little breaks with Harper. Alex drops her off and then heads to the office. I do Stroller Strides those mornings at La Costa Resort and still have an hour and half to run a few errands before we pick up our little student. Then she comes home and it is nap time!
It has been a wonderful experience for all of us.

Beach party...Birthday Part 2

On the Saturday following Avery's actual birthday, we went to Tamarack beach to celebrate with all her friends and our family. The weather wasn't very cooperative but I believe everyone had a great time! We brought the new water table that Nana got Avery for her birthday, a lot of sand toys and yummy food.
We really appreciate everyone joining us to celebrate our 2 year old monkey!
Enjoy the pictures.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Disneyland...Birthday Part 1

What a whirlwind July has been and it is only the first week! There are so many birthdays and fun things that happen in July but the most important one is my first baby girl's birthday on July 2. We had just returned from Kauai early on Sunday July 1st, but I was determined to take Avery to Disneyland for her very first time (and my and Alex's first time in at least 10 years) on her actual birthday.
So on Monday, after sleeping in quite late for us, we went to Disneyland along with thousands of other people! We went on It's a Small World first after a relatively short wait in line, and were surprised to learn that Harper could join us! We all loved the ride! It was cool and calm and Avery loved all the dolls dancing and singing. I nursed Harper for most of it and she was happy as clam. Next, we headed over to Tomorrowland to ride the Finding Nemo Submarine ride. The line for that one was over an hour and since strollers aren't allowed in line, Alex and Avery waited while I let Harper nap in her car seat, and we jumped in with them for the last few minutes. Avery and Alex liked the ride, I, on the other hand got claustrophobic and pretty scared and a little nauceous. Looking through little round windows under water in complete dark didn't really sit well with me and I was glad when it was over. They should have a reverse age limit on that one, haha. Alex really wanted to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and all 4 of us got to ride that one as well! They had added a few things since the movies have come out, but it is still one of our favorite rides.
Next, Avery and I rode Mr Toad's and went on the carousel while Alex hung back with Harper. We met our friends, Michelle and Marc Stockland at Toontown as their son Brady and Avery have the same birthday! We met Mickey Mouse (Avery was all excited in line and as soon as we saw him, she got scared!) and then we got ready to see the parade.
I have to say that the parade was by far, the best part of the entire day. Some very nice people let Avery and I right in front so she could see, and I had a "mommy moment" of emotion watching my little girl SO enthralled with the characters! Many looked at and waved directly at her and she waved back with the biggest smile on her face. It was an awesome parade and she loved every second of it. Best birthday gift ever.
Avery didn't nap all day long but since we slept it, we pushed it a little bit and went to dinner in Downtown Disney at Tortilla Joes. Avery had her first bite of chocolate ice cream and ate ALL of it!
We got home at 10 pm with a very tired 2 year old (and tired parents as well!). It was another amazing day in a string of amazing days we have had lately, and we can't believe our girl is 2!
We didn't take a lot of pictures as we wanted to spend time together, but we snapped a few on our phones.
Enjoy!