2 Months

Harps,

Wow this month has flown by. I know I will probably say that a lot, but by golley it is true. August was a fun month and I just can't believe how much you have changed. You are starting to do a lot more than just eat, sleep, and poop. Here are a few things that have happened this month.

We noticed you really started cooing and smiling when you were 6 weeks old. Since then you do it more and more and we love it. This past week you started doing it when you were supposed to be going to sleep. You would just look up in your crib and give this big ole smile. Not the most appropriate time for a smile, but we'll take it. It makes that middle of the night feeding much easier.

You finally like sitting in your swing, bouncy, and laying on your mat. I can actually put you down and you are perfectly content. This morning I turned your mobile on and you laid in your crib for 45 minutes just kicking your arms and feet. I never heard a peep out of you. I was able to take a shower and get ready and you were perfectly content. Thank you!!!!

Last week is really when I finally felt like I had figured you out. I finally got us on a good schedule during the day that seems to be working well. Now if we could just get you to sleep longer between feedings at night. You will occasionally go on a 7 hour spurt, but I wish we could see that more often.

This month you went on a lot of outings. When you were 6 weeks old we took a trip to the lake. It was a much needed vacation for us all. Your dad (that feels weird to say) and I got some much needed relaxing time together. We were very thankful that the monitor would work on the dock so that we could relax while you were taking naps. Dan & Jere also enjoyed meeting you and of course Nonni & pops loved spending time with you.

At 5 weeks we switched you to size 1 diapers. You also got these cute little rolls in your thighs. I am still praying that you will have your dad's legs.

We went for your checkup at 6 weeks. You weighed 11lbs 3 oz (90th percentile) and your were 22.5 inches long (90th percentile). Last night daddy weighed you on the wii and you were 11 lbs 8 oz, so you are still a growing girl. You have grown out of your newborn clothes and have started to fit into all the cute big girl clothes. I have loved dressing you up in all the dresses I wore as a baby. Gigi (Jennifer) bought you an Auburn bow that looks so cute on you. I put your Auburn onesie and bow on one saturday and your daddy made me take it off. He said it was your gameday outfit. He didn't want to jinx it. You will learn that he is quite the devoted fan.

You had your first trip to the church nursery at 7 weeks. Mr. Nathan said you were an angel. He even sent us a picture of you during church with your bloomers on your head!! I guess since it was your first time he had to mess with you a little. We were very glad to get to see all our moutaintop family and enjoy worship together! Boy did we miss it!!!

Maggie has really started to pay more attention to you. She will just come up and give you kisses and lay by you. It is really sweet. She still likes to sleep in your room.

You also took a trip back to St. Vincent's to meet Kate. I know you don't know it yet but Kate is going to be one of your best friends. Kate's mommy and I have been friends since we were 13 years old. Kate is such a cute girl and I can't wait for us to have play dates together. We will also find out soon what Rachel is having. I can't wait!!!

Everyone has been saying that you look more like your daddy. Your hair and eye brows have starting to lighten up and we are seeing a little bit of red in your hair!!

One of my favorite times of the day is in the morning. I feed you at 6 then we eat breakfast with daddy. You just sit by him and just laugh and smile at us. We love it!! It is one of your happiest times of the day and one of our favorite.

You finally sent your dad to hang his head over teh toilet. He was changing you and you pooped all over him. Up his arm, hands, all over his clothes. It was hysterical!!! He was gagging and ran to the toilet. It was so funny. I finally got to tell him, "see how I felt for 9 months!!!"

You are really not liking your swaddle lately. So today I put you down for your afternoon nap without it. You went right to sleep. Maybe you have outgrown your swaddle, we'll see. I still think you will be a belly sleeper.

Nicknames for you: Harps, munchkin, muffin, precious, and muffaletta

Harper, this is my last month at home with you. I tear up every time I think about going back to work. I am going to try to soak in every moment I have with you. I know Ms. Kristen is going to take good care of you. I will just miss spending the day with you.

Harper, I love you more and more every day. I promise I will continue praying for you and for God has in store for you. I love you very much!!!

Harper's Video

I made this video last month but debated posting it. I kept forgetting to show it to friends and family, so figured this might be the only way for them to see it.

Warning: There are pictures from right after she was born so you might not want to watch if that stuff grosses you out. I was also priviledged to be one of those pregnant woman that had every body part swell up like a beached whale. So, for those of you who never got to see me all swollen (Lori). Here you go!!!!

Harper First Week from Emily Miller on Vimeo.

10:53 AM

Something Different

Ryan and I needed a change of scenery. He has been crazy busy at work and I just wanted to get out of the house. So we headed to the lake last Wednesday for a mini vacation of RELAXATION.

It was much needed and we both did not want to come home. Harper did well on her first overnight trip, and I think she enjoyed the lake. The monitor worked down on the dock, so we were able to actually lay out, swim, read, and ride the sea doo while she was napping.

This is the perfect dock game!!

According to boating laws, Harper must wear a lifejacket.

I know you can't tell by her face, but she actually liked it. I think it felt like her swaddle blanket except she could finally get her arms and legs out.

Maggie learned a new trick

Those 2 slept all the way home...

kankles

One good thing about not being pregnant is that I don't have to look at these things anymore!!

Happy 1 month

Dear Harper,

I can't believe that I am actually writing to my daughter. It actually feels very weird to call you that, I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet. I am just so thankful for you. We have prayed for you for a very long time and I just can't believe you are here. We have enjoyed our first month together. You have been a great baby. You have had many visitors and everyone just thinks you are the cutest thing; and of course I agree.

You are pretty easy. I was prepared to stay up for hours at night, but you have been a great sleeper from the very beginning. I laugh that I have slept better since you were born than I did when I was pregnant. You usually sleep 4 hours between feedings at night, although the past few nights you have gone 5 +. The great thing is that you do not wake up between feedings, so we can usually get some great sleep.

You DO NOT like being swaddled. You moan and groan and fight it every single time we wrap you up. The funny thing is during your sleep you always manage to get your left leg out of the swaddle, and it is always your left leg.

I'm getting better at putting you down for naps instead of letting you sleep on my chest. It has been hard, but I get a lot done that way. I just know you won't be able to or want to sleep in my arms for long, so I try to soak it in when it does happen.

When you were 2 weeks old you started this pee when we change you thing. Your dad could not believe it, he thought girls didn't do that. I thought it was hysterical.

I can't believe how fast you are growing. You weighed 8 lbs 13 oz at your 2 week appointment. I can already tell some of your newborn clothes are getting too small and you can no longer wear newborn diapers, so sad.

You love being outside. We discovered the first few days you were home that you loved swinging outside on the front porch swing. You can be crying and as soon as we go outside to the swing, you settle down.

I have toted you all over Birmingham and you have been great. I get tired of staying in the house all day so we usually take a trip somewhere during the day.

Will & Hoke came to visit

We think Hoke looks a lot like his uncle

Your daddy started reading to you last week. You just lay on his chest and he usually reads aloud for about an hour. It makes his throat sore, but he must not mind. He is currently reading some book made up of columns from the Wall Street Journal. Sounds pretty boring to me, but you enjoy it. He has been such a big help to me. Yall have your daddy/daughter time when he gets home from work. He always wants to do everything for you when he gets home. He gives you baths, reads to you, plays with you, and gets you ready for bed. It is really cute to watch.

There were a lot of things about the day you were born that I won't forget. The way you looked at me when they placed you on my chest. How much fun it was when we found out you were a girl. Announcing your arrival and introducing you to friends and family. There was one moment between your dad and I that I will never forget. You had just been born and they had taken you away and he was over with you while they were checking you over. Your daddy just looked at me from across the room and I will never forget that face; tears running down his face and the look in his eyes, we had done it, you were finally ours. It was such a special moment for us, one I will never forget.

I am going to try to take your picture each month so we can see how much you grow.

You weren't very happy in this picture!!

This past week you discovered that your hands taste pretty good. It is pretty funny to watch you try to fit your entire fist in your mouth. It is hard to keep you focused during your tummy time because your fist seem to be more appealing than practicing holding your head up.

Occasionally we can get you to do your big open mouth grin and it is so cute. We just love it!!! I can't wait till you do more smiling and to hear your laugh, oh it will be music to my ears.

Harper, I am so thankful for every moment I get to spend with you. You are such a blessing to us. We learn more and more about each other every day. I can't wait to see what you develop and learn next month.

We love you!!!