Hartz is THREE

I love birthdays for lots of reasons... one is because they make me sit down and look back at photos and remember. I still remember the moment I saw Hartz's face for the first time. I thought he was super cute (with a slightly large nose and big ole' eyes and SO much DARK hair....) Our little 7 lb 2 oz baby boy. I was so in love and so happy... I always say those first 2 weeks I felt like I was on something... I was just so thrilled and wanted everyone to meet our baby boy. I didn't need sleep and I was totally fine... until week 3. We won't go there. :)

Day 1

Day 3

5 Weeks Old

That first year flew by...

The second year flew by even faster I think...

And now we have a three year old. We went to Pensacola and spent his birthday at Portofino with Chris' parents at the beach and pool. Was paradise. 

Poolside

So excited for Cake!

Like Father, Like Son

What Hartz is up to... (beware it is random because I can't organize my thoughts well anymore.)

- He has started to sing. Slightly delayed when singing along to a show or music, but he is trying to be musical. 

- He LOVES rescue bots. He has earned almost all of the rescue bots by putting poop in the potty. The longest stretch that a toy has kept his attention.

- He has tons of energy. Loves to race, jump, run real fast, playing "catch" around the loop upstairs is still a fav past time. 

- He loves his "friends" or "kids" and would rather play with them than mom on any day. 

- He plays really well with Nola and can make her giggle and smile. Loves her to get in his crib with him and hang out. Is super remorseful if he accidentally hurts her. Like 

can't talk, quivering lip, mental breakdown" remorseful.

- I told Chris I want to record everything he says, so I can remember how he says things so cute. Tonight he wanted to "ex-ur-size" with Charlie on the couch. 

- Still takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoons. In bed by 8pm and up between 6 and 7am. 

- Still sleeping in a crib. Big boy bed will happen soon.

- He is going to start school in the fall 2 days a week. He told me initially that he wanted to ride the bus. 

- He is 33 lbs, 34+ inches tall ... 50th percentile in both weight and height. 

- He knows all his colors, shapes and can count to 13/14 depending on the day. 

- He calls letters "numbers" and I can't get him to stop. 

- He is going to to go school to learn his ABC's or hopefully the Leap Frog show will teach him. :) 

- Says "What" instead of "Maam" or "Sir" or "Mom" or "Dad" and I blame it all on Chris because he has taught him to do it. 

- He still has the best laugh I have ever heard. And the best smile and handsome eyes and I want him to stop getting big because I can't handle thinking about him as a teenager.

Too fast

Lately, I feel like my kids are growing way too fast. Everyday I think about how I want to make sure I write something down so I don't forget, or video that funny thing Hartz said, or backup the 2000+ photos I have on my phone and I find myself snoring around 9pm... hoping my brain kept track somehow. But, we all know that my brain is not so capable of that, so I am going to attempt to just write everything down here. Now.

Hartz (2 1/2 years old)

Says,
 "Licious" while flossing his teeth with minty floss.
"Blessa Me" after sneezing... "Excusa me" after burping
"Me try" when he wants a turn (sometimes nicely and sometimes not so nicely)
"Baby or "Nona" for Nola
"Catch" aka chase is still his fave activity
"Roooaarrs" like a dinosaur

He loves to go to the park to see "kids".. I so pray that he doesn't remember the kids that ignore his attempts to play and act like he is not cool at 2.

He asks multiple times at night/nap for "one mo' kiss" and it ends up being about 5 "mo" kisses

He has started missing people. "I missa hogpaw" while looking down with a pout on his face. (not sure why he adds an "a" to lots of words, but he does)

He is a pro at making Nola giggle... whether he bounces her (gently) in the exersaucer or runs up to her scaring her gently.

If I ask if he is ok.. he usually responds with "K, mama"

He snuggles so sweetly in the mornings in bed while we watch a "show"... Usually snuggles up to me while I am holding Nola and says "my two babies"... Because I always hold them both and say that.

He likes to help make his eggs for breakfast by using a spoon to stir... I have caught him twice sticking his finger in the raw mixture for a taste. yuck.

Time out is still super effective in fixing behaviors... please let it continue.

He is ADDICTED to "pakeets" still. Please help.

I love how he asks a lot for permission to do different things. I don't know where it came from except from the Lord or maybe it is his father's genes. I LOVE IT. Definitely a compliant kid for the most part.

He gets quite emotional when toys break apart or a sweet child takes a toy... full on tears like the world is ending.

He loves to pretend. He asks me to sleep (my FAVORITE game), while he gathers blankets and pillows. He stretches his arms up and yawns to indicate its time to lay down and then proceeds to lay for 2 seconds and then say "awake!" Working on stretching the 2 seconds to a good 15 min nap for mama ;)
Pretend animals are a hit too. Dinosaurs (very loud roaring happens) and a doggie are the top two right now.

Nola (6 months)

Stats:
Weight: 16 lbs 1 oz (55th percentile)
Height:  27 1/4 inch (93rd percentile)
Head: 17 1/4 inch (85th percentile)

Sweetest smile ever.
Blows raspberries.
Scooches backwards (ahhhh. Hartz didn't crawl or scooch until closer to 10 months... this girl is gonna be on the move early).
Sits up.
Loves to bounce in the exersaucer.
Talks real loud and real often (total girl, right?!)

Ended up doing hard core sleep training right around 5 1/2 months. It has helped so much and my girl is finally giving us rest. She naps usually 3 times a day. Two of the naps seem to be at the 1 1/2 hour mark and one is shorter...45 min. Nights have been 7pm-5am (quick feed) and back to sleep until 7am. I know the 4 month sleep regression exists. We almost died due to it.

Started eating food! We are doing a mixture of Baby Led Weaning and purees. (It really means that I am lazy and will just feed her what is available) We started with bananas... have done some pears, carrots, and green beans so far. She is getting the hang of it.

She is just plain sweet.

We have 2 kids.

We have settled into life with 2 kiddos. It has been easier in some ways than I thought and maybe a little tougher in others. Hartz has adjusted really well. He had Daddy and Nana with him for the first 4 weeks combined, so I think having the extra attention helped get through the toughest weeks for me as far as sleep deprivation and healing went. He calls Nola "baby" and doesn't pay too much attention to her unless he feels another sweet child might be threatening her or wants to see her. Typical territorial toddler behavior I guess. He does seem to ask where she is more often now and will give her a few tickles with some prompting. I'm excited to see them interact more as she becomes "more fun." 

I think the toughest part is figuring out the balance of taking care of kids, the husband, the house, dinner, relationships with friends like you used to be able to... it obviously has to change, so I'm slowly figuring out those changes and what our life looks like now. 

Nola (2 weeks) and Hartz (25 months)

'Seriously, dad, another picture"

The first of many sibling pictures

Nola (9 weeks) and Hartz (27 months)

Nola is now 9 weeks old. I so don't want to start calling her "2 months" because moving to months from weeks makes them way bigger in my mind. I hate how fast these first weeks fly and I wish I could freeze moments in my brain forever... except, I think I have lost my brain most of the time these days. :)

Nola started smiling purposefully around 4-5 weeks. It is the sweetest smile you have ever seen. She is cooing and chatting it up with her mobile (thanks Nana) and loves smiling at the letters above her changing table (thanks Auntie Christie). She has been sleeping pretty consistently about 8-9 hours (from 8pm- 4ish) through the night. I have not been so great with the schedule this time and I just pray she learns to be a flexible baby and just naturally sleeps through the night. ha. 

9 weeks

9 weeks and smiley

Stats from 2 weeks 4 days 

Weight 9 lbs 15.5 oz (95%)

Length 22 1/4 inches (97%)

Head 15 inches (75%)

Stats from her 2 month visit

Weight 12 lbs 4 oz (90%)

Length 24 1/4 inches (>95%)

Head 15 3/4 inches

10 years

I kept thinking about what to write in this post and all the things that come to mind seem to make me cry.. especially with post-pregnancy hormones on board. But, I think the one thing I keep thinking of these past days/weeks is the fact that I am so incredibly blessed to have a daughter. My mom got to have three of us girls and it seems that anything that was the same for her, makes me feel closer to her.

Mom, me, and Christie

It is incredibly hard to believe she has been gone for a whole 10 years... a whole decade. My whole 20's I haven't had her here. But, as I look into Nola's face I feel like I get to do something she did. I will get to experience a mother-daughter bond and I pray I am half as good at raising girls as she was.

I still miss her like crazy and wish she was here to snuggle my babies.

Nola Jo

Our sweet baby girl, Nola Jo, came into the world on Sunday morning, July 29th, at 7:24am. She weighed in at 8lbs 11oz and was 20 3/4 inches long. We are blown away by the blessing of her and so excited that God has given us the gift of getting to be her parents.

Hartz turns Two!

Our boy turned 2 on June 21st. He woke up to find a new tool bench in the living room. Then we had some yummy quiche with daddy before he went to work and spent the day with Auntie Amber, Charlie Belle, and baby June. It was a super fun day with bike rides, sprinkler pad fun, wagon rides, and a new scooter when daddy got home. 

Working hard on his new tool bench

Giving CB a ride

CB giving birthday massages

New Scooter!!

We had planned for a big birthday bash on Saturday, the 23rd. We had sharks, pool games, and lots of yummy food planned. Hartz woke up Friday morning with a stomach bug and I ended up with it that night. Needless to say, a party with friends didn't happen. We did have a family party Sunday evening, just the 3.. errr 4 of us. Nola enjoyed the cake too. 

Sick boy

New bball hoop 

Sweet Birthday Boy

2 candles!

 We celebrated a few days later too with Annabelle (born a day shy of Hartz's birthday, a year later.. ha) They share a love for bluebird cupcakes. Hartz was a gentlemen and shared some :)

Hartz and Annabelle

2 year update

Stats:
29 lbs (30th percentile)
Height was 50th percentile (can't remember how tall... around 31 inches I think)
Head is 75th percentile (tons of brains)

Hartz seems to be becoming a little man before our very eyes. He is becoming more independent every day, which I am so thankful for as we approach his sister coming any time. He can go up and down the stairs like a normal person, even though my heart rate goes up a bit as he doesn't want mama's help anymore. He walks into stores with me, holding my hand. (Really HUGE)

He loves trucks, cars, planes, and above all the trash truck. He waves at the trash men as they come by and he doesn't get that they have to go to other houses besides ours. Can be traumatic.

He can pretend anything is a plane.. including both his pointer fingers.

He moved up to the 2 year old class in base camp and comes back after church with a craft he made. Sheesh a big boy.

He is addicted to baby food packets. I will need a weaning program one day.

Not showing any cues that he wants to use the big boy potty. Will work on it after we settle in with 2 kids and he shows some interest.

Loves splash parks and the pool. We did swim lessons in May that went ok. He loves the water, but not so much going under the water.

We spent a month at the gymboree gym (thanks amber and steve) which I felt like gave him a new confidence with climbing, going through tunnels, learning about monkey bars, and mini trampolines.

He likes to eat "daddy" sandwiches now. Meaning a real sandwich not cut into bite size pieces. Loves peaches, mangos, yogurt, turkey, pb & honey, and does try new things fairly well when he is hungry. Otherwise things are called "ick".. he
has his nightly smoothie made by daddy where everything under the sun is put into it, making us feel like responsible parents that feed our child very nutritious things.

Words/phrases include: No, Yes, Stuck, Wa Wa, Truck, Car, Plane, Green (that is usually his first guess when asked what color something is), Up, Down, What is this?, There it is!, Hulk, Captain, Help, Please, Thank You (is rare, but he CAN say it), Juice (refers to juice, the color orange, and sometimes just plain water), Dance, Mick = Mickey, Ick, licks his lips and says mmmm when he wants something to eat or yells snack, Shark, Dog, Bug, said dodger for Eric and Patricia's dog yesterday, and CAKE.

He is still an early riser.. around 6am and naps around 2 hours in the afternoon.

He will still be carrying his "blank"aka blanket with him when he is 15, I think.

We are so thankful for this boy. Can't wait to see what this next year holds.

Funny Face

Eating a Whole Peach!

Clothespin Airplane

Daddy Sandwich

First Round of House Guests

Hartz has had several visitors this month. First the Puzeys came down to hit the parks. We did Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom on back to back days. The kids were pooped.

Grandpa Harlan and Mrs. Jean came soon after and we showed them a good time. We went to Animal Kingdom (can't get enough of that place) and saw some sharks at JOE'S CRAB SHACK! Best time ever!

Hartz is now almost two. It's been too long since we've blogged. He's doing tons more stuff. Talking up a storm, running everywhere, etc. He's got a ton of new words:

• Truck - He loves spotting trucks when driving, but once we pass a truck and he can't see it anymore its "Moooore truuuuck"
• Shark
• Pease (Please)
• Green (He's good at pointing out colors, if you ask him which one is blue, for example. But if you ask him what color something is, he'll most likely say "Green")
• Dance (he routinely runs up to the stereo and demands dance time)
• Dip (Ketchup)
• Croc (Crocodile)
• Shoes (This can mean either shoes or juice depending on the situation)
• Keys (Neither one of us has any idea what this is supposed to mean. Pretty sure he doesn't want our keys. We asked him if he it meant "kiss" and he said no, but he says it a lot)

He has also started laughing after letting out a loud fart.