22 months old

22 months old!

Our sweet girl is 22 months old, and she has been busy, as usual.  However, life is about to get much, much busier, as our grown-up girl is about to become a big sister!  She has been very attentive to the little brother inside mommy's tummy so we are looking forward to seeing how the sibling relationship unfolds.  In the meantime, here is how our little girl has been spending her days:

Baby girl is serious about her stickers

Stickers and Starbucks--two of Harper's favorite things!  The other day, Harper pointed to the icon on my reusable cup and remarked, "Mommy's Starbucks?" Dallin's face was priceless.  What can I say?  Even water tastes better from a Starbucks cup, and my baby girl clearly agrees.  As for the stickers, she can't get enough of those either, and she loves to adorn paper, floors, furniture, and even an arm or a leg with colorful stickers.  If I'm being honest, peeling stickers off the floor isn't on my list of favorite activities, but who am I to interfere with the creative process?  

Dinner at Ikea: parent of the year award?

Ikea!  Harper is truly a good sport, and she recently accompanied me on a trek all the way to Ikea to pick up a few needed household items.  As Harper is currently obsessed with washing her hands in the sink, you can only imagine her delight as we pushed our cart through the bathroom section of Ikea, where countless sinks and faucets were on display.  She wanted to try each and every one; fortunately, I convinced her that we could pretend to wash our hands from the comfort of the cart.  Then, as luck would have it,  we discovered that kids eat free on Tuesdays.  Shopping does make a girl hungry!  Harper was happy to enjoy chicken fingers and french fries, and now she equates fries with Ikea and has been asking to go back.  We do have a return to make...

Domestic goddess.  Harper's kitchen was recently remodeled, and she has since been chefing it up, cooking all sorts of culinary masterpieces.  Her go-to menu includes mac and cheese and fruit snacks.  Happily for Harper, the play oven is also a fabulous hiding place.  

Now you see me...

Now you don't!

A day on the farm with Great Gramzy.  Prepping for the arrival of baby brother has been a little bit stressful, but we have been blessed to have the love and support of amazing family and friends as we count down the days.  Last weekend, Harper and I spent the day with Gramzy.  We enjoyed some time outdoors and made a special visit to Codman Farms. This trip, we didn't visit the animals and instead picked up some delicious farm fresh eggs and other goodies at the farm store.  Harper was glad for the chance to ride around on the tractor again.  There was another little girl just her age doing the same thing.  Little girls just love John Deere green.

Park play!  We have been spending as much time outdoors as we can, enjoying what are likely the last warm days of the season, with the first day of fall coming this weekend.  We were lucky enough to be introduced to a really fun local playground, after we went there for a birthday party for one of Harper's friends a couple of weeks ago.  Harper really can't get enough of the park; no sooner do we get home, Harper will be asking to go to the park again.  It is such a great way for her to get her energy out, and I'm already wondering what we are going to do during the long, cold New England winter.  I'm thinking this girl is ready for gymnastics.

Speaking of fall, we have been getting ready for that too.  In fact, Harper decorated her first pumpkin of the season at school this week!  She's SO over crayons and only wants to use markers these days--and coloring with markers on a pumpkin is like an added bonus.  

This little girl is growing up so fast.  Perhaps the biggest milestone yet awaits her this weekend, when she will become the proud big sister of one very lucky boy.  We can't wait!