Monday, February 29, 2016

Easter Gift Ideas


These are a few of the things I've picked up for the girls. I wanted them each to have a super cute basket that I could re-use years to come and I thought this bunny and lamb one were perfect. I also wanted to get Ella a Jellycat rabbit since I got Harper one for her first Easter. I also picked up this super adorable Jellycat unicorn for Harper because I couldn't resist, because it's a freaking unicorn!

I picked out a few Easter board books and a few fun little toys, including these awesome jumbo alphabet magnets for Harper which I think she's going to love! I also found her a new little play tent (hers is currently falling apart) from Amazon for a good price and it had great reviews. I thought it would be fun to make a trail of eggs that lead to her new tent all built with their little baskets inside.

Now I'm just on the hunt for the perfect little spring outfits and Easter pajamas to complete their baskets. 

Easter is probably my second most favorite holiday after Christmas. I have the best childhood memories from Easter time as a kid. My mom always got us the coolest little gifts for in our Easter baskets and obviously loads of chocolate. The best Easter I had as a child was when I was about 10 or 11 years old, I got a new bike and the Little mermaid VHS (as well as other toys and treats). My mom also made it sort of a tradition that my brothers and I would get a few new spring outfits, which is something I plan to continue with my girls.

   Story time: One Easter when I was maybe 6 or 7, I got up bright and early before anyone else and found all of the eggs. I opened all of the plastic eggs and sorted all of the candy, jellybeans in one pile, chocolate eggs in another. Realizing I was going to get in serious trouble when my parents woke up, being that my brother didn't get a chance to find any eggs, I put all of the candy back into the plastic eggs and re-hid them ALL. My parents never caught on AND I knew where they all were - so I had the advantage!

 

Friday, February 19, 2016

Smarty Pants

Although I've taken a bazillion pictures of Harper, I haven't done an update in a long time. Harper is 27 months old now. It feels like just last month she was just starting to crawl and then walk. Now she's this big girl with a super big personality. First of all, she is one of the sweetest kids I know. I'm not just saying that because she is my child, which makes her totally awesome ;), but because she truly is. She is always so concerned with everyone around her. For instance, she cannot handle when her baby sister Ella is upset. The second Ella starts to cry, Harper will run over hands overflowing with toys to try and cheer her up. If the toys don't do the trick, then she's full of kisses and head patting. It's so amazing to watch her try and comfort her sister. My favourite is when she says to Ella "c'omm here" (trying to mimic me), with her hands out. 

When Harper gets upset she always wants a hug. She will come running to Fraser or I asking for a hug. It's the sweetest thing ever.
Since Harper started to talk, it was very apparent to us that she was very intelligent. She picked up new words so quickly and also new the proper context in which to use them - which was the most impressive to Fraser and I. Now Harper uses multiple words to form sentences and also knows her entire alphabet, numbers 1-10, colours and animals (including the noises they all make). Her memory is amazing. You can tell her something once and she will remember it. If you read a book to her for the first time, she will remember the title and what it was about. She's a total book worm. If she is in a room full of toys and books, she will first go to the books. She brings books to Fraser and I constantly, sitting on our lap, wanting us to read to her. For bed, she wants us to read 5+ books to her.
Harper's been an amazing sleeper since she was 13 months old. At night she sleeps between 12-14 hours and still has a 2 hour nap after lunch everyday. I'm hoping Ella eventually sleeps that well.
This little girl brings so much light, love and happiness into our lives - and we're so proud of the little lady she is becoming.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Ella's 8 Month Update

This little lady is 8 months old and where the hell is the time going?!? Seriously. Since she is our last baby, the bigger she gets the sadder I get. Ugh. Every time I put away clothes she no longer fits in I tear up a little bit. Not just because she's growing up so fast but also because I will never have another baby to put them on. Waaaahhhhh.
 If I had to guess Ella's weight, I would say maybe 17lbs. She is still pretty tiny, especially compared to Harper at 8 months old. Although she's tiny, she does have some rolls and meat on her - which I love! She's also finally growing into her head. Now that her hair is growing in more, her head doesn't seem so massive (it's because she has a big beautiful brain). I brought her head size up to the doctor last time we saw him and he did confirm that she's in the 90th percentile for her head circumference - but that shes always had a larger head since birth so he has no concerns. If her head was drastically growing over the weeks and months - that would set alarms off.
Ella and Harper continue to warm my heart with their interactions together. They seriously love each other. Ella is always trying to see what Harper is doing and Harper is always interested in what she is doing. Harper's such an amazing big sister. She just adores Ella. 

Now into the updates:

Sleep: First off all...THANK GOODNESS. She is finally sleeping better and it only seems to be getting better as time goes on. I've stuck to the gentle sleep routine and I'm finally seeing results. She usually goes down at 6/6:30pm and will sleep until 10:30pm, nurse and go to sleep again until 3:30/4am and then back to sleep until 6:30/7am. There's even been nights where she has slept through the 10 o'clock feeding which is awesome. A few weeks back, the longest stretch she would do in the night was one 4 hour stretch and then would wake every 2 hours afterwards. 

She's also napping better during the day, getting back to her usual nap champ self. I blame all of her sleep issues on teething as her first two teeth have done nothing but come up and down for the last 3 months. It was really driving me insane - poor baby. 

Fun fact: Ella sleeps with socks on her hands. It started out as a way to keep her from scratching her head when she had bad eczema. Now, even though she longer has eczema, she still prefers to sleep with them on. 
Eating: Ella still nurses the majority of the time but she is slowly eating more and more solids as the weeks go on. She has breakfast, lunch and dinner - but doesn't eat a ton. She is recently obsessed with yogurt and apple sauce. She will get fruits and yogurt/applesauce in the morning. Veggies and fruits at lunch and meat and veggies for dinner. I buy an organic brand for her baby food and combine it with homemade baby food. I noticed I don't have nearly enough time to make everything homemade like I did when Harper was small. I try not to make myself feel guilty about it, as long as I'm feeding her a brand that doesn't use preservatives and artificial colors and flavors, then I'm happy.

Milestones: She is SO close to crawling. She does this funny thing where she lifts her bum in the air, pushing up on her legs and then pushes herself forward. So she gets where she wants to go, just not technically crawling.  

She loves to color on her big sisters magnetic board. The crazy thing is that she flips the pen so it actually colors and tries to erase afterwards (she's sat and watched her sister do it several times). 

I'm pretty sure she says "ma-ma" and "da-da" but only when she's upset. Harper has "ma-ma" when she was 8 months old. 

Teeth: None yet, but two massive lumps on her lower gums (grrrr). 

Personality: She is going to be a very bossy and temperamental toddler, I can already see it. She is so LOUD and will have a tantrum if you're doing something she doesn't want to do. For instance, she's obsessed with her baths, so once you start to pull her out she will start to arch her back and scream. She hates being lotioned up afterwards as well, so she does this high pitched squeal/scream while also arching her back. She also growls and grunts at Fraser and I all of the time - which is hilarious and scary as shit all at the same time. She's a fire cracker that's for sure.
She loves to watch her big sister play and is always trying to reach out and touch her clothes or hair. They are going to be best buddies.
I love watching these two beauties grow - but sometimes I wish they would slow down!

Next up: Planning Ella's 1st birthday party - insert tears!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Valentine's Day 2016

Valentines Day was a busy one here, but super fun. We started off the morning with heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes while sitting at our fully decked out table (pictures below). Harper was pretty excited that her pancakes were cut into hearts, she was a little less impressed when I had to cut them up.
Harper and Ella have been obsessed with their new Valentines Day books. Harper loves ANY books since she's a total bookworm, but she's been loving the "Little Critters, Valentines Day" book. I think we've read it to her about 1000 times. I absolutely love how Ella sits next to Harper, looking at the pictures with her.
And of course, I got about a bazillion pictures of Ella and her famous scowl. Gah, she's so stinking cute!
hahahaha.
Harper and Ella got a few little toys and treats. Harper's favourite was her new "Room on the Broom, Activity and Sticker Book". She also got a new little purse and some bracelets which she was rocking with her heart shaped sunglasses. Cutest thing ever. I'm very fortunate to have such cute little Valentines!

Both girls outfits are from BabyGap.


Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Valentines Day Festivities XO

With Valentines Day right around the corner, I thought I would make a post including pictures of the girls sporting some of their Valentines Day gear. I always love a good excuse to dress up my baby girls. Harper got some new heart shaped sunglasses that I got from BabyGap and she fell in love with them the second she put them on! Ever since then, shes been running around the house in her jammies, diaper, art smock - in the buff - with her sunglasses on.
Valentines Day over here is pretty mellow, with Ella being so young, Fraser and I plan on ordering in and keeping the festivities at home. My plan is to make a sweet little table set up and bring out some decorations so we can celebrate together. The morning will start off with some heart shaped pancakes. I'm also going to be whipping up some homemade vanilla cupcakes that we can decorate together and possibly some heart shaped sugar cookies. This will be the extent of our festivities as we are way too busy with the two babies to be taking on anything more!

All I know is that these two better be my Valentine ;)