Monday, December 22, 2014

Hannah is 3!

What?!?!?!  She's 3, already???  I really don't like the adage that as you get older time goes by faster.  I can still remember three years ago just praying our baby girl would decide it was time to come into the world.  Cliche but it seems I've blinked and now here we are.

Our sweet girl is still full of life, even more independent, and usually as happy go lucky as you can be.  We've experienced a few periods of some not so happy Hannah within the last few months and I have to say these have been some trying times for all of us.  I believe the terrible three's have hit our house early again (hopefully they don't stick around too long).  

*Hannah's schedule pretty much revolves around school--hers and Luke's.  I get her up about 7:30 to get LJ to school.  On Monday and Wednesday she is down for her nap by noon.  She is usually awake by the time we have to get LJ from school about 2:45.  Tuesday and Thursday she goes to MDO and on Friday and during the weekend she's down for her nap by 1 and usually sleeps about 2 hours.  She goes to bed between 7 and 7:30.

*Stats: The last time we went to the doctor Hannah weighed 37 lbs.  Whoa!  (She's going to pass her brother soon as he's only 45 lbs.)  I'm not sure exactly how tall she is put it's at least 36 inches.  Her check-up is at the beginning of January so we'll find out then.  Hannah is wearing 4T clothes (much to my dismay some of the 3T clothes I had for her this fall never even fit).

*She recently had her first "real" haircut with clips and layering etc.--it's a very cute bob now.  There is still curl to it but it's lessened without the humidity.

*Hannah's eating habits haven't changed a whole bunch.  She still loves to eat but she's definitely more picky about what she's eating.  Some of her favorites include: peanut butter, strawberries, cheese, sugar snap peas, Caesar salad, spaghetti, yogurt and mac n cheese.

*Hannah seems to have a habit of asking for the parent that's not around/available at the moment.  She is constantly asking for Daddy when he's at work but then when he gets home she won't leave my side and sometimes makes fixing dinner a bit challenging.  She also wants only me at bedtime (much to Troy's disappointment) although we alternate nights with each kid.

*Hannah has never back-tracked with potty training.  We rarely have accidents now although she is still wearing a diaper at naptime and overnight.  We're still working on going poop in the potty but it's not something we are pushing too hard right now.

*As I mentioned above, we've had some trying times the last few months.  She seems to be going in phases of every few weeks being happy and energetic to being sort of whiny and clingy and not in a good mood.  It's hard going through this roller coaster but looking back I remember it with Luke too.  Hopefully it phases out quickly and she goes to back to happy, smiley Hannah all the time soon.

*Dolls, dolls, dolls!!!  Hannah loves her baby dolls.  For the last couple of months, "Baby Sister" has been the #1 doll.  Then at her birthday party last weekend she got a "Baby Stella" doll and literally the doll has not been out of her sight except when she is at school.  Both dolls seem to constantly be crying and needing attention.  They also like to take naps, sit in a highchair to eat and to look in a dressing mirror, and they love a fast stroller ride around the house.  Bedtime does not go well if one of them hasn't made it into her crib.

*Hannah still loves to be outside.  The weather hasn't cooperated much in this lately but we've taken advantage of the nice days we have had.  Riding bikes, playing ball and going to the park to swing or swinging here at home are all high on the list of fun.

*Legos are still a favorite as well.  She received a few sets for her birthday and has enjoyed helping mom and dad put them together.  She still just really likes to sort them and pick out the flat pieces to cover a base plate with but I think she's starting to understand that you can make really cool stuff with them.

*Rather recently she has started asking me to do art projects.  I love it!  She made some very fun gifts for Christmas and she is very good at holding a writing utensil properly.  I have some fun projects planned for both kids over the Christmas break.

*Hannah sings constantly--eating, riding in the car, playing, literally all the time.  They have different songs they sing each month at school so we've had turkey songs, Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and others that I can't quite understand.  She also loves Old MacDonald, ABC song, Frere Jacque, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and she is always making up songs to go along with her activities.  We love the made up ones the best; they are SO funny!

*She is counting correctly up to 13 and sometimes gets up to 17.

*One thing that has definitely not changed is the love she has for Luke.  The last few months they have really been playing well together--making up games, building Legos, chasing each other in circles upstairs.  They have become true playmates as Hannah has gotten a bit older.  This is not to say there aren't times when they're not getting along but I've really noticed how much more they are interacting and love watching them together.

*Hannah has several phrases that we hear repeatedly:
--"Go to the baseball game next summer with Mom and Dad and Luke and Hannah."  After the baseball season ended we heard this one every day for over 2 months (no joke) and we still hear it on a fairly regular basis now.
--"Baby sick" or "baby's crying"
--"Mom, fix dinner?"  Almost every time I go in the kitchen in the late afternoon.
--"Mommy's turn to read stories?!?!"
--"No eyes in soap" while in the bathtub
--"HUH?" when she doesn't hear or understand what you've said
--"Go bye bye."
--"Somefing just smells."  I can hear her perfect little way of saying something whenever I think about her saying this one.  It's one of my favorites.

*Her favorite color is blue with pink and purple close behind.  When we change into underwear she insists that they are blue or have blue on them somewhere.  I have to stay up on the laundry with that one because no blue underwear is apparently cause for major meltdown.

*Hannah really is enjoying books with flaps or anything interactive.  We reread the same books over and over until Troy or I refuse and we start the cycle over again.

*Hannah has a very sweet habit of giving kisses on cheeks especially when snuggling or singing a good night song.  She'll grab your face with both hands and just plant a big one on your cheek.  I love it!!!  Such a sweetie!

*Current nicknames: HannahBean, Sugar Bean, Princess Sugar Bean, Beanie

Sunday, December 21, 2014

December Daily: 8-11

So, I'm obviously a bit behind on this.  There's been a lot going on lately (when is there not in December) and I'm not remembering many details of some of the days gone by.  It is what it is and I know I'll be glad to have what I get down years from now.

December 8
I don't have any pictures from this Monday.  All I remember is that I had my board meeting at FUMC and Hannah came with me (rather than stay with Grandma as usual because she had a dr appt).  It was a nice day and after picking LJ up from school we went to what the kids call "the dinosaur park."  They had a great time chasing each other and enjoying some time outside.  I also enjoyed the sunshine.

December 9
Again no pictures from today.  I had a dentist appointment while the kids were both at school.  I was majorly bummed to learn that I had my first ever cavity :(  It really depressed me.  Not to mention I really don't like the idea of having it filled tomorrow morning.  Blech!

December 10
Another afternoon at the park followed by some bike riding time in the driveway at home.  If I remember correctly, this is the last nice day we've had.  It's been so cloudy and overcast/drizzly for over a week now.  We are all very ready to see the sun!

December 11
No pics today.  Honestly, I don't remember much about this day except that Hannah and I went to Sam's Club after we dropped off LJ at school and then after I dropped her off I ran some more errands before I cleaned out the toys in anticipation of all the incoming toys.

Friday, December 19, 2014

December Daily: 7

Troy and I had had this surprise planned since October.  We were really excited for the kids to learn what it was.  Doby, our elf, sort of spilled the beans a little earlier than we wanted but the kids (mostly Luke) was beyond excited that Doby was telling them a secret.  Doby said that the kids needed to be good that morning because he knew we were planning a surprise but he wasn't sure what it was.  Luke couldn't stand not knowing so we gave him clues until he figured out that we were going on a train ride called "The Polar Express" that afternoon.  This was Hannah's first train ride and Luke's second.  Part of the experience included wearing pj's.  The kids wanted to wear their "Christmas jammies" they got for Christmas last year.

Our ride lasted about an hour.  The book was read, we had hot chocolate and cookies, saw the north pole (LJ was super disappointed at this because it was pretty awful as far as imitations go) and we got to meet one of Santa's helpers who handed out a bell to each of the kids.  Overall, it was a fun afternoon even if just a bit cheesy.

Monday, December 8, 2014

December Daily: 4-6

December 4
Luke had his Christmas program at school tonight.  Several children had lines to say including Luke.  He did a great job with his--"The wisemen, after hearing the king, went on their way to find the child." The program consisted of the story of the birth of Jesus with carols in between the story telling.  The program didn't last very long, maybe 20 minutes but it was just perfect.  When I went to get Luke he told me that he had been nervous about saying his line but that he thought he had been one of the best at saying his line (sweet boy, I think he was proud of himself and so was I).  Grandma and Grandpa H along with Troy, Hannah and I enjoyed the show very much.

December 5
The first year ever that Troy has put up Christmas lights.  He finished the job this afternoon just in time for our yearly neighborhood horse-drawn carriage ride to see lights on our street.  Hopefully you can tell that the lights are supposed to be snow.  Troy was really excited to get it done and he wants to add more lights next year.

December 6
Troy took Luke to the free OCA snowtubing event at bricktown ballpark.  We went last year and Luke was super excited to go again this year plus he got to see several of his classmates.  Apparently, they did the short slide once and then went down the big slide at least 6 times because it was so much more fun.  LJ was beyond exhausted when they got home.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

December Daily: 1-3 (plus a few extras)

I'm a little late at getting this started but better late than never.  I've attempted to participate in December Daily for the past couple of years and will make another attempt this year.  It's hard to believe that it is already December 7th!  The month is flying by and I know it will continue to do so.

November 29
Saturday after Hannah's nap we went to pick out our Christmas tree.  The weather was beautiful--sunny and 70 degrees (although a bit windy).  As predicted, we walked around the farm for a bit pretending we might cut down our own tree but then in the end we picked out a pre-cut tree.  I have to say that I love, love, love those red cowboy boots Hannah is sportin'.  She loves to wear them and gets several comments when she does.

November 30
Doby appeared a day early according to Luke.  I guessed it was because December 1 was a Monday and a school day and getting all that to work out well may have been tough.  He brought us quite the surprise.  Santa must have known that Troy and I had been discussing a new tradition for us because Doby delivered 3 "Christmas" Lego sets with directions stating that they can only be put together when all 4 of us can work on them.  Of course, we all promptly sat down after breakfast and worked together for an hour (didn't finish though).  

December 1
After dinner, we put on my favorite Christmas CD by Harry Connick, Jr.  and starting hanging up the ornaments.  I had put the lights on the day before.  This was Hannah's first year to help in the decorating.  She really had fun!  In the pic of both of us above we are hanging her princess ornament from last year--she kept saying how much she loved it!  And I have to say that the annual Luke on Dad's shoulders on a step ladder thing still totally freaks me out and makes me a nervous wreck but the angel always gets in position without a problem.

December 2
Tuesdays are normally school days for Hannah but she was really suffering from a nasty cold and didn't have too much energy so I kept her home.  We made a quick run to Hobby Lobby to get her a tree for her room and some ornaments to put on it.  She was rather worn out when we got home so I did most of the decorating before lunch and nap time but she did put a few of the ornaments on.

December 3
Luke and I put his tree up after he got home from school.  He was excited to have a few new ones to add this year along with a red star I bought him the day before.  He made sure that each branch had an ornament on it so they were nice and spread out.