Reeves Family Updates: October 2011

Monday, October 24, 2011

Watch Me Grow!

4 Months Old!

Lounging on Pooh

She was off center and about to topple, but I loved the smile she was giving her mommy

Checking out her toes with Pooh

Even as I type this post, I can't believe what I am writing. Harper is 4 months old! Our last spring at Tuck, graduation, Adam's interviews all seem so long ago and so recent all at the same time. It is already hard to remember how we filled our time before our Harper arrived. (Although I seem to remember creating my own schedule, eating a leisurely meal without wolfing it down to hold or nurse a baby and even sleeping for many uninterrupted hours.)

All kidding aside, we couldn't have imagined the happiness that Harper brought into our lives. She keeps us on our toes (in a good way) and always manages to make our day with that adorable little smile (which she already seems to know how to use to her advantage - like when she is supposed to be sleeping!).

We just had her 4 month check up and shots. I really liked her new doctor (recommended by a neighbor). Everything checked out well and she only cried for a short bit after her shots. Her head circumference is in the 56th percentile, her length (24,3/4 inches) is in the 66th percentile and her weight (13 lbs) is in the 32nd percentile. Our little string bean!

Here are a few of her recent milestones/activities:

Rolls to her stomach almost immediately when placed on her back - lifts her head and part of her chest off the ground and is pretty content to "play" that way for a while.
Rolls from her tummy to her back occasionally (she does this with such force that sometimes her head bonks off the floor or mat and she immediately regrets the roll).
She jabbers a lot - especially to her toys on her playmat
She likes to play on the floor more now - especially with toys that make noise
She is really interested in the toys hanging from her car seat handle now - sometimes she just seems amazed that they are there.
She is sleeping pretty well during the nights (anywhere from 5-10 hours straight without needing to be fed)
Naps continue to be a challenge for her. The process of "learning" to nap had gotten stressful enough for both of us that I decided we would take a few week break and try again later (although I do put her in her crib if she doses while eating in the middle of the day, etc.)
She loves to watch the other babies in our Mommy and Me class.
She is constantly drooling and sucking/gumming her bunny/pacifier/blanket/fist/etc. so teeth are probably in the not too distant future

She is definitely a handful (and I am still learning how to manage when Adam travels - day one usually seems like a breeze, but after a few days those extra hands are definitely missed). She seems to grow up a little each day and I love to just sit and watch her smile when we talk to her or play with her. I can't believe how fast we have arrived at 4 months and am excited to continue to watch her grow and learn about everything around her.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Baptism

I am pleased to report that Harper was, once again, an all-star traveler. She decided not to sleep on the flights (despite being incredibly over tired) but she barely made a peep and everyone thought she was adorable. (She did, however, decide to make her presence known during the entire drive from the Pittsburgh airport to Oil City).

We had beautiful weather in Pennsylvania and her Baptism was very nice. It was great to visit with our families and friends (and now God-parents) and welcome Harper into the Catholic church.
Below are a few pictures of the weekend. Thanks again to everyone involved (and to the Irish for making watching the game on tape delay enjoyable).

Enjoying a Pre-Baptism snack with Grandma Reeves

Godparents (Jon Knokey - friend from Tuck, Eileen Carroll friend from ND) and parents

Action Shot! She didn't even cry!

Attempting a picture with the Reeves Grandparents

Catching a picture with Babcia (Harper's Great-Grandma Drelick)

The whole crew

Godparents and Parents again

Family with Fr. Jeff (glad we got one at the Baptism, since we missed this picture at our wedding!)

Drelick Family (Gregory slept through the whole Baptism)

Godparents

Daddies with their Daughters back at the house (Avary Knokey is 6 weeks younger than Harper)

Family

ND Roommates (and future ND girl!)

Drelick Ladies

Hanging with Fr. Jeff

Cousins relaxing in the hammock

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Life as a Big Brother, by Hesburgh Reeves

Hanging out in the shade of the apple tree in my backyard (keeping watch for squirrels)

Making sure Little Sister is safe in this peculiar seat.

Needless to say, I, Hesburgh Reeves, have had to adjust to some major changes in my life over the last year. So, I thought I would share my story. (I mean come on, there are all sorts of Harper stories on here - everyone must have been dying to hear from me!)

First, my life started to change when mom started getting a big belly and I was told I had to be more "gentle" with her. (I couldn't understand why they didn't want my 70 pound body sitting on her anymore!).

Then one day I was dropped off at my daycare/doggy hotel and when dad picked me up he said I had a new baby sister. This was REALLY confusing because they had been preparing me for "George"... )

Right from the start I knew things were going to be different. I had to share my attention with this little thing and she kept waking me up in the middle of the night! (I was ok with her arrival though because she brought me bones and toys as gifts!)

She does cramp my style a bit sometimes - when we moved I had to share the back seat with her (and mom!), I can't just play with (read: tear up) any toy I find on the floor anymore and when mom takes us on walks together I have to wear my gentle leader (again - why wouldn't them want me to pull them all over the place and run in crazy circles?). But on the whole it is pretty neat to have a baby sister. Sometimes she pets me (with mom and dad's help), sometimes she lays on me (with mom and dad close by), and sometimes she even watches me play in my new backyard (more on this when I take over the blog again later!). I even get to be her protector (from pretty much any dog that looks at her - even from Corby if he gets too close without my permission!)

Overall, being a big brother is pretty cool! Dad is still my best friend, I still get lots of attention and my grandpa still makes me homemade dog treats (hint, hint!!). Now if I could only figure out where that George character went!