Potty training Day 1!!!

We are officially on potty training lock down. Sydney told me earlier this week that she was ready to potty train, and honestly she's probably been ready for a while now. I've just been putting it off knowing that Harper would be here soon and I'd heard from other people that they tend to revert back if you train right before a new baby arrives. We're following a guide that was recommended to me called 3-Day Potty Training. I figure if she's not potty trained in 3 days that's okay but if she is then that is a total score! Here's our journal so far today...I'll try to keep updating throughout the day so you can see how she's doing.

8:30am - threw away all her diapers and put on big girls panties! She was so excited and kept screaming "NO more diapers!!"

8:30-9am - Sat on the potty 4 times but didn't go

9:10am - little bit of tee-tee in potty!! She got a sticker for her potty chart (8 stickers = special prize) and 2 M&Ms

9:30am - little bit of tee-tee in potty again!! Same rewards as before.

9:37am - little dribble in panties, no teetee on potty. Put on second pair of panties.

9:53am - LOTS of tee-tee in potty!!! I think she finally emptied her bladder. Another sticker but I gave her 3 M&Ms this time since she went so much.

10:55am - LOTS of tee-tee in the potty!

11:10 - LOTS of tee-tee in the potty!

11:30 - Tee-tee'd in panties but finished on the potty. On to pair #3.

12:10 - tee-tee'd in potty again!

12:45 - Tee-tee'd in potty. Got a special prize for going 8 times in the potty.

1:05pm - Tee-tee'd in potty.

1:25 - Tee-tee'd in potty and put her in a pull-up (which we're referring to as her "naptime panties")

1:30 - down for her nap.

1 Week Old

Today marks Harper's one week birthday! I have to say, she is a very good baby! She has already pretty much put herself on a 3 hour schedule which is very nice for mommy. Last night though, she did decide that she wanted to be awake from 1:15am to 3am! Other than that though, she pretty much eats every 3 hours and sleeps the rest of the time. Sydney is great with Harper and always wants to be where she is and check on her if she is sleeping. It's very cute to watch them interact. On Monday we went back to the hospital for a bilirubin check and everything was great. I was very happy about this since Sydney did have jaundice pretty bad (had to sleep on a bili bed for about 5 days). While we were there, they also did a weight check for us. When Harper was born, she weighed in at a staggering :) 6lbs 5oz and when we left on Saturday she was 5lbs 14oz. So...I was very happen to learn that in the 2 days we were home, she had increased her weight to 6lbs 1oz!! We go for her 2 week checkup next Thursday at the pediatrician's and I'm hoping for birth weigh or higher at that appointment. This girl needs some fat on those bones! Here are some pics we took today to mark the one week milestone.

Holding her first toy. Sydney is very anxious for Harper to be able to play with her!

Boogers?

There's nothing like a 2 year old's view on having a new baby around. Here are some pretty cute things Sydney has said over the past few days.

-One night, Sammy and Theresa had another couple come over to see Harper and play dominoes. When they came into the house, Sydney was on the couch "holding" Harper. Brenda (Theresa's friend) comes over to look at Harper and Sydney looks up at her and says "This is Harper." It was so cute and she seemed like such a big girl introducing her little sister to someone new.

-As I was breastfeeding Harper one evening:
Sydney: Mommy, where's Harper's bottle?
Mommy: Well mommy can feed Harper without a bottle.
Sydney: Ok.
Mommy: (thinking in my head: That was easy!) :)

-While changing Harper's diaper:
Sydney: What's that mommy, what's that?
Mommy: That's Harper's belly button.
Sydney: Harper has boogers in her belly button?
Mommy: (dying laughing)...Sort of hunny. (she was referring to Harper umbilical cord stump)

Sydney and Harper

We brought Sydney up to see us on Thursday afternoon (about 4 hours after I had Harper) and she just was not digging it. I think mostly she was scared of me...she didn't like my hospital gown or the bed or our bracelets. All in all she was pretty timid and I had to bribe her to even get her to hug me before she left. On Friday though, I made sure I was showered and dressed in normal clothes and was sitting on the couch in our room when she got there. This really made all the difference in the world. She came running over to me and gave me a flower and a big hug and kiss. She was also sooooo excited to see Harper and immediately wanted to hold her. Here are some pics we took. (the super adorable shirt was made by my friend Lisa...check out her site here) We have one for Harper too that says "Little Sister" but she's such a runt that it doesn't fit her quite yet.

Harper Grace

Today was a great day...here are some pictures and stats. I'll let Julie fill in all the details of what transpired up to and during the delivery later. 

Harper Grace was born on 6/25/09 at 2:31pm. She weighed in at 6lbs, 5 oz and was 17.5" long (a tiny little thing). There is no way to fully explain what looking into the eyes of your child for the first time does to you. It is truly amazing. Many of you know this, some will soon, and others will just have to take my word for it. 

Here are some pics...

Our New Sunday Morning

About a month ago, Craig and I decided to check out our new Saturday night service at church. In the past, we've always thought we were traditional "Sunday morning church-goers". Well this new service is taught by Jarrett Stephens who we think is awesome, has amazing music and a very casual atmosphere. We were hooked the first night! Since then, it's been somewhat strange getting used to our new Sunday morning. But, I have to say, we are LOVING it! Each weekend is different of course but here's a little of what we did today.

Breakfast at Krispy Kreme!! Okay, Sydney isn't a huge fan of donuts in general, so, yes, this was definitely more for ME! Hey, I'm 9 months pregnant, I think I deserve a donut or 2! :)








































Then we went to Home Depot to get some flowers to plant in our front flower bed. Craig also moved a bird bath from the backyard to the front and trimmed up all our bushes. Sydney was so great and was a big helper!

Hat day!!

Throughout the summer at Sydney's school, they have a theme each day. Well today was hat day and I just have to say that Sydney looked so adorable in her pink ballcap! Craig and I are always so worried that we'll be the only ones who forget about one of the theme days but today when he dropped her off at school, it appeared we were the only ones that remembered! :)

Sydney's big "Cheese!" face

Harper's nursery!!!

Well, with 18 (max) days to spare, I think we can say that Harper's room is officially done!! Well there's still a couple of things I need to get, but for the most part, it's done. Craig and Chris did a great job painting it and it was no small feat, that's for sure! You would think that making lines wouldn't be too difficult a task, but that assumes that your house is completely even...and well...ours is NOT! :) I really love the way it turned out and even though we're using all the same bedding and furniture we used in Sydney's nursery, I still think that Harper's is completely unique...which is what I wanted for her.

Here's the crib:

Other corner with a chair (thanks Jenn!!) and bookshelf. I still need a lamp for the top of the bookshelf and some other decorative items for it.

Changing table with Harper's name above it. I followed some great instructions from another girl on how to make these letters...took a little time but I love how they came out!

Close up of the letters