9 Month Sleepy Shot

Harper 9 Months

Well we missed our 8 month update, 'enough' time to do things these days is simply non-existent!

While Addison Mae is at pre-school I'll do a few quick updates :)

Harper's already 9 months!



She's on the go now.
She eats lots of solids- mostly things I puree her, soft table foods, and occasional Beechnut baby jars.
We are still nursing- which marks my 2nd short term goal! Long term goal is one year :)
She is a horrible sleeper. 3 hour stretches are her MAX. She's in a bad habit of nursing through the night, because after a certain point I bring her in bed from her crib.
She's getting more personality. Like her sister did at this age- goofy!
She loves to 'dance' to beats, waves bye bye (pointed towards herself), and claps.
She says all of the first baby sounds- mama, dada, nigh nigh, ba ba
When Addison sings, Harper makes loud noises in attempts to mock her :)
She has gotten MUCH better with car rides, she hardly ever cries.
Still a big momma's girl, but the dramatic effects of me leaving her are slightly lessening.
One top tooth has white appearing, so I know it'll be soon that she has her top two in!
She had her first sickness- a 3 day fever, no other symptoms and otherwise happy.
She is the SWEETEST snuggler. Much more cuddly than Addison ever was ;) Harper prefers to be close.
She loves to play in the playroom with Addison. (Now if Addison would stop snatches all the toys we'd be set!)



Happy 9 Months Harp! I can't wait to see what this month brings!

Harper 7 months

I'm behind on blogging, per the usual. I'm not even sure how I still find a sliver of time to update here. I keep pushing myself though because I know how much I enjoy looking at Addison's growth, especially in the first year.

So here's the little chunker at 7 months..







At 7 1/2 months: 
she is getting her two bottom teeth
loves to say da da
doing so much better with daddy when mommy has photo sessions!
devours avocado & banana mix, apples & pears, and sweet potatoes
still nursing wonderfully- going for one year
goes to sleep in her crib, but is in mommy's bed a few hours after
is attempting to crawl, pull up, jump, etc. she's not far from being extremely mobile!

Recent iPhone Snaps

A few of many. @jessicalaceyphotos

Just a few photos...

Because Harper is becoming a 'sitter' and that calls for updated pictures!

Harper 6 months!

Wow!  A whole half of a year already. I am so excited to get to this new stage again. It was one of my favorites with Addison. Some nicknames we use: harp, harps, harper girl, chunks, and chunkers :)

• We started foods around 5 months but really only a handful of times. Now at 6 months Harper will usually have one food in the afternoon per day. Some days we skip still. She has tried: apples, bananas, pears, squash, blueberries, cinnamon, and peas. 

• 16 pounds 3 ounces, 26 inches. 

• Nighttime is still a nightmare. Now that she has outgrown her bassinet and rock n play (safely) I do lay her in her crib at the start of the night. She's usually pretty good about going to sleep in there. However, she still wakes up often- wiggling or hungry. By midnight she's always in bed with me. I really don't mind her sleeping with me, she's quite snuggly :) But I know that I'm setting us both up for disaster. Addison woke often to eat until a year, and once a night until 18 months. But she never slept with me. It was rough waking up and making bottles. Keeping Harper with me is easy because she's nursing.

• The past few days she has gotten good at sitting for short periods of time! She also catches her balance using her hands. I think within two weeks she will be a pro!

• Still no teeth! I thought a month ago she would have one soon but nope! 

• Loves Mickey Mouse! 

• A big struggle with us is she has major fear of 'strangers'. Basically anyone she doesn't see daily. She screams and gets thoroughly upset, especially if she has just woken up or is startled. It's seemingly getting worse. It started around 3 1/2- 4 months. And if I'm not around at all she will scream until she falls asleep or I return- even with daddy. The ONLY time I'm not with her is when I am at a photo shoot.  I've read this is a good healthy trait to have- but it sure makes things stressful and difficult. I'm okay with not being able to have free time to myself as she goes through this period- which could last awhile. But I do have to work, and there's nothing I can do about leaving her :/ 

Otherwise she's a pretty happy and healthy baby girl! She loves to smile and grab mommy's face. 

breastfeeding- my experience with the girls.

There's a lot to be said here. Every mom and baby is different. But I do want to write down and share MY experiences.

With Addison I had an extremely difficult time right from birth.
First off, hours had gone by before I tried nursing her after she was born. At that point, she would latch, but not well. We spent two nights in the hospital awake every hour with her wanting to nurse. I watched the clock spin. I was exhausted. When it was time to go home the nurse said we had not documented if she peed and we would have to wait until she did. Hours went by, nothing. It was frustrating. We were packed and ready. The nurse then proceeded to push formula our way so she may pee sooner. At home we were still up all nights, and she nursed around the clock. She wasn't getting enough. I would break down and give her formula here and there. It was an extremely tough three weeks. She never slept and was never  content for very long. I tried pumping, I tried just letting her nurse for HOURS- one night I was so hell bent I stayed up with her on me for 6 hours straight. I did not want to give up so quickly. I had set a short three month goal and I wanted to make it there. But nothing was working. I went to my post check up and cried to my doctor. At this point I was honestly leading into a depressed state. I felt like a failure. He advised me that Addison needed a happy mommy, and THAT was most important. Soon after I fully switched her to formula. Still it wasn't smooth sailing- she fought bottles, we went through 6 different formulas, and she was colic. But I was able to handle it a little better- because I at least knew she was well fed and I wasn't exhausting my body trying to feed her. If that makes sense.

Before Harper was born I had a plan. I wanted to nurse as soon as she was cleaned up and handed to me. And I wanted everyone to wait to meet her until she was finished. I knew I needed that time with her.  I also said I was NOT going to give myself a hard time if it wasn't working like I did with Addison.  I did just this. I told the nurse during labor about my wishes. When she handed me Harper she told my few family members there politely to leave the room. She helped with the first latching. It. was. awesome.  Harper latched perfectly. She would nurse every three hours and sleep in between! I was in Heaven. I actually got some sleep!

It has now been 6 months.  Like most nursing moms, we had struggles along the way.  It has not been all butterflies and rainbows.  There were times I thought I was developing mastitis (thankfully never happened), times I thought she wasn't getting enough (growth spurts of eating ever hours), etc.  Even now she nurses every two hours around the clock.  BUT we made it to my goal, 6 months exclusively breastfed.  AND she is a little happy chunkster!

In the beginning I constantly counted the weeks and days I had left to get to 6 months.  But around 9 weeks I finally felt normal! Meaning, my boobs never hurt anymore, I didn't get those hard uncomfortable lumps, everything seemed to even out... I also think (now) I'll be a little sad when we are done!  Never thought I would have that feeling.

So there it is. My experiences so far. Maybe this could help someone try again if they had a hard time with the first, or help someone relate to the struggles. Although we all have been drilled that 'breast is best', I hate the pressure that is put on new moms.  I truly feel that a happy mom and baby is best. And if it doesn't work for one reason or another, don't be so hard on yourself.  They will be just fine!

 Thankfully, society is slowing opening up to normalizing breastfeeding.  The more support and knowledge every mom has, the more likely she is to at least give it a good chance! 

I do not know if we will go a year. And that is completely okay with me. My new goal is 9 months.  I have never been good at pumping, and honestly despise it.  So we'll see...taking it day by day!

Happy 4th of July!

A day late :) Hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend!

Harper 5 Months

Five big months, what is Harp up to now?

- Rolls over

- LOVES Mickey- crazy but true she giggles when Mickey comes on every.single.time.

- She seems to be teething! I see two very faint white buds on her bottom gum. 

- Still doesn't care for car rides but mayyybbeee getting slightly better.

- Sleep fighter, only likes to sleep with mommy at night

- Nurses on and off all night

- Loves her big sister

- Highly dislikes when mommy leaves

- Growing well

- Started foods! Apples, pears, bananas, and a taste of sweet potatoes so far

- Still breastfed- closer to our 6 month goal, contemplating up'ing our goal to 9 months

Harper 4 Months

These four months have flown by. I'm not sure if I'm complaining. I love that you're getting a little personality and all the smiles make my day. I'm am sure that I will one day miss the teeny tiny baby. But for now I still get in plenty of snuggles. You are quite a 'hold me' baby. You love to be swayed and will lay in my arms calmly for a very long time before falling asleep. We have co-slept since birth. While I love being close to you, I do wish for my space back. And for longer stretches. Right now you're pretty much eating whenever you feel like it. Every two hours is normal. Again, I'm not complaining too much. I do get sleep, and you are still a great nurser. That's all that matters in my book. Well, and you are growing well! About 50% for height (24 inches) and 40% for weight. You are still exclusively breastfed but I will be starting some rice cereal shortly to get you used to eating from a spoon. I do plan to nurse until at least 6 months, and then see what happens! We are lucky, right now you can come to work with me. But by 8 months you will likely go to Grandma's. Which may make it difficult. Again, we will see. 

While you're a happy baby, you are super sensitive. And you love your momma. So while I'm at my sessions you tend to give Daddy a hard time. I guess I just know your needs so well and Daddy doesn't get to be with you during the week. 

I think you look a lot like your sister, but different too. Either way I think you're pretty dang cute :)

Love you sweet girl. Can't wait to see what you do this month!

Harper 15-16 weeks

Lots of photos, because I can't stop. She's changing every day! 

I'll update on her 4 month next week! But for now... 

love my babies