Our Little Fishy!

Harper is learning to swim! Ok, Harper is really just getting comfortable in the water, but she loves it!
We are taking parent/child swimming classes that give her a chance to play in the water. She bounces up and down with excitement as soon as we get on the pool deck! One thing is for sure though- swimming sure is tiring!



Modeling her suit before we leave for the pool.



Runaway swimmer baby!



Ready for the first class- no time for the paparazzi, too excited.



Swimming is exhausting!!!



Barely awake once we got back in the car!

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Photo Catch up

We take a lot of pictures- we can't help it, she changes so quickly and we don't want to miss or forget anything! So- here is a look at our last few weeks.




Waiting patiently for breakfast!




Holding her own bottle for the first time! (She still prefers to be "served" most of the time, but we now know she can feed herself when necessary!)




Harper's first Valentine's Day! (Her Valentine (daddy) got her a fun singing turtle to crawl after)




First time drinking from her sippy up (she has not repeated this much, but we are trying to introduce it)
Visiting the Grandparents in PA:




Harper's first Ash Wednesday experience (we went to mass at the school I attended from K-8, weird to be back with my own little one!)




Story time with Grams and Cousin Gregory




Hamming it up for the camera




Hanging with mom before getting dressed




Reading one of our favorite books, "But not the Hippopotamus" (We read it as "but not the HARPopotamus" though)




The beginnings of one of our new favorite activities - standing!




Our little diva rocks the bow even when she is just in a diaper- why not? (That's a better explanation than the fact that this was probably caused by a blowout!)
Back home in Minnesota:



Eating a frozen banana in my mesh feeders! (This was suggested to help her teething- but she just sucks the banana out!)



Making mommy look crazy at the doctor's office- does this look like a sick baby to you?




Last bath in the baby tub (She looked like a giant bathing in a puddle- time for the big tub!)




Checking out her singing dog (she likes to knock it over).




Walking on one of the early spring nice days.




New fun place to play- under the bouncer.




Making sure Hesburgh is watching her play.




Someone found the toilet paper that was set out to go upstairs... And I was worried the dog might get into it- guess I was worried about the wrong kid!
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Harper the Explorer

Harper is army crawling everywhere and pulling up more and more. Here are a few pictures of her recent adventures.




During an early crawl attempt she found humor in her backwards scoot under the tv stand.




Checking out Hesburgh's spot (and his toys).




"Hey, I think there may be fun stuff in here!"




"Yep! I found my books!"




My little laundry helper (she doesn't quite have folding down yet)




Pushing this empty box around was lots of fun!
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Watch me Grow

I know we are already at 8.5 months, but our little mover has kept me busy lately! So, without further delay, here are her 8 month pictures (taken at about 8 months and 1 week).



It is a challenge to get her to sit still for the picture now!



And off she goes

Now a few updates about life with Harper at 9 months:
• She is moving- a lot. She doesn't crawl on her knees, but doesn't seem to need to. She is a very efficient army crawler and quickly goes after things that catch her eye.
• She pulls up to her knees on lots of things (especially the dogs elevated bed, a fabric box with books in it, the laundry basket, etc).
• She loves to just stand for long periods (either holding our fingers or at a coffee table/couch).
• She still loves Hesburgh and really likes his bones- something that confuses the dog (why does he have to leave her stuff alone if she makes a bee line for his?)
• She is loud! Harper babbles a lot. Her sound of choice is mainly "da da da" but she is getting closer to "ma ma ma".... Or at least I am telling myself that.
• She learned to clap this weekend! (So technically this should probably go in the 9 month update- cause she is 8.5 months, but oh well).
• She STILL doesn't take naps in her crib- and I have largely given up hope!
• She still sleeps well at night and is doing great at putting herself to sleep at night.
• She goes to sleep sometime between 7-8 and usually sleeps till 6-7.
• She loves her bouncer(s) and bounces like a crazy woman!
• We finally gave up the baby bath tub this weekend- and she seems to like playing with her duckies (and sea animals) in the vast adult tub!
• She is a great eater and gobbles up mostly any baby food (and always wants to share the bananas mommy eats). We are eating any "2nd foods" and we love the squeeze containers (we feed them to her- otherwise none would get swallowed). She likes yogurt drops and thinks puffs are OK but she plays and feeds the dog with them when left to feed them to herself!)
• As grandma Drelick learned, if you don't feed her fast enough she will grunt at you!
• She loves when her daddy gets home at night- she is usually in the high chair and immediately grins and giggles.
• She is a bit of a mommy's girl- if she sees me she wants to be in my arms.

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Child proofing just got more serious...

(I will even admit that this was taken AFTER I closed the sliding doors on the tv stand that she had managed to open)

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