Birthday Recap
Harper's birthday weekend extravaganza was wonderful. So much laughter, excitement, and "pawty"ing. From the bday kickoff at gladys' to our outdoor pumpkin party to the back deck present opening party, this little lady delighted in every second. It's no wonder she woke up from her nap on the Sunday after everyone left and said, "Harper birthday! Harper pawty! Harper two!"
Here are just a few highlights...
Please note Carrington's placement in these pics- never more than 6 inches away from the birthday girl! Such a great big sister!
Harper officially discovered the joys of balloons, birthday hats, and presents (especially those with wheels!)...
Such fun! Welcome to 2, my girl!
Morning "with" Harper
... from Antalya.
Technology is insane!
Turkey
There will be a considerable delay on recapping the big bday weekend due to a quick work trip to Turkey, back Friday. It was hard to leave last night! Luckily Harper has Darren, Bruno, and an explosion of new toys to keep her happy and entertained all week while I'm away...
Two Year Stats
33 3/4 inches tall - 55% (quite a jump!)
27 pounds - 54%
48 cm head
... and increasingly wary of the nurses who bring in the needles!
Two
Dear Peanut,
You are two! I absolutely positively cannot believe it. It seems like only yesterday we were welcoming you into the world.
You are a fiercely independent, exuberant, loving whirlwind of joy. You are focused, determined, and strong-willed. And you are funny. You've learned that making people laugh is one of life's pleasures, and you now frequently announce "Harper funny!" while opening your face into a wide-eyed, wide-toothed grin of fake laughter.
Your language explodes by several new phrases a day, in English and Spanish. You've mastered many word combinations to tell us exactly what you want, where you want everyone, and what everyone should do next. Things like, "no mama, dada chair, you sit there and Elmo sit here and eat grapes." Your most frequent combinations include "Harper need that, Harper want that, no mama stop, Harper's turn," and "my got it!"
You sing. Twinkle twinkle is top of your repertoire - "clinkle clinkle up above the world so high likeeeeAdiamond in the kguy." Happy birthday and row row row your boat - "merrrly merrly merrly merrly life is buddadeam" - are a close second and third. You dance. Mostly to the songs played by Violet the bear, but also to yourself while singing and also when no one is looking and you can be found bopping side-to-side in your high chair.
You love to swim and scoot and run and run and run. You can frequently be heard chirping "Harper's gonna getchooooo" as you run laps around the downstairs of the house, propelling yourself onto us. You have started to acquire the serious bumps, bruises and scratches that show you are a girl on the move.
You are practicing being a big sister. Elmo needs frequent diaper changes daily, your babies need dressing and undressing, and Bruno needs to be bossed around to ensure he is following the house rules ("mama Bruno eating dinner! - Bruno bed" when he is under the table at mealtime despite knowing he should be elsewhere).
You are testing and discovering boundaries. And then leaping over them. Shimmying up on the dining room bench by yourself without bumping your head? Check. Jumping from the ottoman to the couch into a puddle of giggles? Check. Climbing the stairs unassisted, while clutching Elmo and a baby? Check. Casually stepping off stairs while chatting and looking everywhere else but in front of you? Check.
This fearlessness, combined with your intense determination, make you a force to be reckoned with. You are marching your way with purpose through life.
This also means newly instituted "thinking time" at daycare and daily reminders that toys need to be shared and you can't bite or hit when things don't go your way. Patience is not my strong suit either, my girl.
You love your people. All of them. Far, far too many to list here. You form bonds with your little friends that transcend the many miles and months that separate you from so many of them, and have formed memories that enable you to look at a photo across the room and exclaim "Dylan! Kip! Mags! Lukas! Jack! Rocco! Mason!" and so on. It's astounding.
You make us laugh every single day. I wake up in the morning and cannot wait to see your face and hear the always different, always descriptive first words out of your mouth ("mama elephant over there, Harper got itchy, Harper need froggy lotion, Harper need waffles").
You have brought happiness to a new level. We love you so much.
Cupcaking
Birthday festivities are upon us!
Tonight, I was going for this:
And ended up with this:
Luckily the kids at Gladys' will think they're delicious anyway! Perhaps applying the (already too soft) icing to the cupcakes as they sat on the (still way too hot) stove was a bad idea?
This is what true love looks like, my girl!
Girls Dinner with Isa
These two share a VERY special bond. 💓
Fall in Maine
We had the most delicious long weekend in Maine last week with the Reynolds. Harper rekindled her serious love affair with Mags and Kip ("Mahhggiiieee and kuuuuppyyy"), and she discovered what it means to have a real, live idol:
We soaked up incredible views, ate delicious food (read:lobster), and generally came back feeling refreshed, wind-blown and sun kissed from fall in New England, and grateful for this amazing crew.
THANK YOU REYNOLDS!
Swim Lessons
Sometimes, you just need to take a thousand videos of the same swim lesson. 🏊❤️🏆
It's Fall!
We welcomed fall in DC last weekend with a zoo trip and subsequent dinner outing to celebrate Maria's birthday, some lazy snuggle time, and a family hike through rock creek park. Harper started to fully embrace the nature walk theme, complete with acorn collections, stick sorting, and general marching through the leaves after dada and Bruno. Oh, family pizza night! Life is good.
Off to Maine tomorrow to see the Reynolds!
Fall Family Walks
And Harper making deals with the top down...
And this is what mini-mom looks like
Just in time for the new actual bundle to arrive in need of diaper changes a bazillion times a day...! Oh dear.
Overnight with Aunty Ash
Ash nailed the tickle spots!
