The Secret Sitter

Quite possibly the most important piece of knowledge my sister has shared with me up to date.

The Secret Sitter.

Brian and I love to still have our time.  But it's not so easy when you have 2 working parents who feel like they are missing so much.  We hate leaving Harper to go on a date, but when we are out, it's mostly entertaining her so that she will be good and last through a dinner.

So when my sister introduced me to the idea of the Secret Sitter I was in awe!!!!

Two things the Secret Sitter does:
1. Your child won't freak b/c she's being put to bed by a babysitter
2. You get your date night without losing quality family time


Harper goes to bed around 8:00...we have a sitter come over around 8:30... and Voila! Date Night without the little lady ever knowing!

You might be asking if paying $20 is worth a date night at 8:30? Well, to us it IS! 2 hours (+/-) of quality talking time as a couple? Yes, so very worth it.  I don't know about you, but an atmosphere outside the home lends itself to such better conversations for us! And...getting to get dressed up never hurts, either!

If you use it, I'd love to see your #secretsitter photos on IG! I'll start tagging mine, too! :)

Loving Toddlerhood.

I feel like over the past few months, I've really come into my own.  Much more than I had first thought in the months that followed Harper's birth.


I've realized with Harper at this stage...I just wasn't a good "baby Mommy".  Sounds so bad, right? I don't know if it was the colic, the pain I felt after giving birth, etc., but now looking back, I just feel like I am a better 'bigger kid' Mom.  Does that make sense?

Staying home with Harper this summer has been an absolute joy.  Last summer was as well... And don't get me wrong, I do still love teaching, but it's like I have a little buddy around this year.  One who can talk pretty darn well for 21 months, a little independent lady, and one that still loves to "hold you" (hold her).

In the start of summer, after I'd had a few days off, my Mom said, "See, staying at home isn't all that easy...I bet you never get a break."  And while I have to agree with this a little, right now, I think it's about a ton easier than working a full time job and being a Mommy.  With my job, I NEVER got a break.  It was a rarity when I had an actual planning where I got to sit at my desk and 'rest' for a minute.  Especially when it was down in the nitty-gritty of May.  Now, Harper and I have a pretty good routine going, and she naps for 2 hours straight.  I'm sure if you've followed me for a while, you remember Harper was never a good napper on her own...so 2 free hours a day? WOWZA! :) :) :) It's just a nice time being home with her.  Of course we have the daily melts or tantrums, but I've learned to deal with them promptly and effectively for now, so they really don't take much thought.  Of course we aren't yet 2, but from what we've seen, I'd say we are seeing some of the 'terrible twos' already.  That's the funny thing about this age, they go totally CRA CRA for a minute, and the next minute they are giving you a big 'ol neck-hug and telling you 'sowwy' and 'love you'.  I mean, you just can't stay mad at that!!

Another reason I feel like I've grown is with Brian.  I'm not going to lie. It was hard the first couple of months. But as Harper gets older I think Brian and I feel like we learn quicker and do things a little 'better' than before. We've learned to laugh at the moments where Harper goes "out of her mind" during a tantrum instead of fretting over the obvious inevitable of having a strong-willed toddler.  We've learned to take comments and suggestions with a grain of salt, and learned that nothing is better for Harper than seeing her parents hug and kiss (even though Harper very quickly says "my daddy" at the first sign of anyone getting close to him, including me! Daddy's Girl anyone?!).

Anyways, I just feel like a re-newed Momma lately and it's such a great feeling.  The feeling that I truly only have 1 major job going on has really helped perk me up.  Of course, doesn't the sunshine perk you up all by itself?


I truly don't even know what my summers used to entail before the little lady came to be...but I sure wouldn't have it any other way!

(I promise she smiles, haha these were just the 2 easiest pics to get to!)

Instagram!

Hey ya'll! After getting into the 21st century with an iPhone hubby suggested I start instagramming! Woo! I'm loving it so much more than posting all my pics to fb and its a lot easier than blogging! Come follow me and leave me your name, too! I'm sharing mostly Harper pics but some of our new house, too!

meganburton4 :)

See you guys soon!

I quit Blogging

Can't ya'll tell?

:)

I got overwhelmed, stressed, saddened, and just really a lack of the want.

Blogging used to be great when I first began.  I wrote for myself.  I wrote for my family album. There weren't many blogs out.

But then... I started following bloggers, and they started following me.  I started getting paid for some posts, I started getting criticism for some posts.

And all I really wanted to do was journal my life.  My REAL life. Not a cookie cutter life. 

I also couldn't keep up.

Do you feel like that?

With Pinterest, Fakebook, and Blogging, I just couldn't keep up!  I don't have time to craft! I don't have time to make gourmet meals! I don't have time to take a picture of my outfit every stinking day!! You also wouldn't want to see what I look like every day! Most days I have crazy curly hair, I'm wearing the nicest thing that was clean, but man, I am teaching WELL and I'm loving WELL.  And it just seems I didn't feel I needed to blog that...

So, I write all that to say.... I hope to take back blogging.  I miss writing down little things I want to remember about Harper.  She's such a great toddler. With MAJor ups and downs, but nonetheless, AWESOME.

:)

Oh, and we moved! :)
See ya'll soon I hope!

The Zoo!

Over Fall Break (yes, in the beginning of Oct.!) my little family went to the Zoo! Here are some pics...

Tell The Truthy....Does your child throw Tantrums?

So, ya'll know my rage against the Mommy Wars... but let's get serious... Do you always tell the truth about your little ones?

Does facebook or other blogs make you sometimes feel like your child must be the only one in the world who isn't perfect?  It sure does me!  I also feel a lot of times that when I talk to some Mommies they tell me how wonderful everything is, how easy it is if you have things well thought out and planned, and how children are so easy...

UMM, can I please live at your house and be your child?!?!? Yea, my kid was pretty easy during months 3-11...now let's get to toddlerhood!

Well, friends, Harper has come into the *possibly* full blown tantrums...and she's barely even 13 months old.  Is this normal?? If it's not, will you please tell me it is?!?!? :)

Tantrum 1-
When Harper is out and about with me running errands or out to eat she is not one to be ignored.  She enjoys full on attention and being spoken to, engaged, etc. the entire time.  If not - tears come.  Of course, you non-mommies may be thinking "why wouldn't you speak to your child" but let me tell you, sometimes it's hard to have a one-way convo out in public and sometimes you just want to be quiet!

But, I've learned, and have schooled my Hubby on the ways that IF you'd like a successful trip in public, the KEY is to ENGAGE, ENGAGE, ENGAGE!

Tantrum 2-
This one comes into full effect usually when Harper is sleepy or hungry.  Harper will bend down and squat (like only kids can do - you picture it?!) and begin whining/crying.  Then, she will turn her head to the side, peek out of one eye to see if you are looking.  If you are: she will continue and sometimes move her position to laying on her side OR lay her head right on down to the most difficult yoga pose you've ever done.  If you aren't looking, she will usually get over it, come around the corner and be like nothing every happened.

The KEY is to walk away and don't even let her see you watch...don't you let her peeking meet your eyes!!

Tantrum 3-
Similar to Tantrum 2, but this time it occurs when you've offered her a toy, a piece of food, water, etc.  You know, all those horrible things parents do... ?!?!  Well, our gal is pretty stuck on her independence and knowing what she wants when she wants in - read: her time.

So, when this begins, the KEY is to walk away, totally ignore, and begin talking/laughing/playing with something else.

****************************************************************
I was totally worried and nervous about this, but after calling Harper's doc, she said that this next year will be all about seeing what manipulation she can get away with (what?!?!) and beginning to learn what she can do for herself.  Am I worried? Yea, a little bit.  Would I wish her personality and her possible strong-willed-ness away? No, I don't think so.  Ask me again when she's a teen...or 2...but I think I'm okay with this side I'm seeing of her.

I want her to be a strong girl~woman.  I want her to know what she wants and doesn't want.  I think those are qualities that make a strong woman and one who can take care of her own.  My Mom tells me that I was the same way and that she's proud of the way I've turned out and that my personality has helped me get to where I am and what I said 'no' to in the past.  I like that.

****************************************************************
HOWEVER, after a wonderful suggestion from my Mom...we have now gotten down to some of the terrible tantrums Harper was having...yup...her milk.  We thought the transition to whole milk was fine, but it turns out, it wasn't.  The poor girl is still having issues with milk so we have switched her to Organic Soymilk.  It was like a different child in 2 days.  Honestly.  She still has maybe a few of the tantrums I mentioned above, but it is UNREAL the difference in her - all because of the milk! And really, I can tell you I haven't seen a tantrum in over a week - even a small one!

****************************************************************
And of course, if sweet Harper continues to come over and kiss your lips after any of these tantrums, and hug on her babies, and say thank you at the drop of a hat...I'm very okay with how my sweet baby girl is turning out to be!



*what are you ways in dealing and eliminating tantrums or small fits?

Go Vote!

I'm thankful I've got an extra day off with my cutie today!!

Regardless of who...be informed and GO VOTE!

{I'm sure my vote is not at all obvious...red and elephant hat....}

Tonight's Menu to handle the stress and polls coming through the TV:
Easy Cheesy Beer Cheese Soup & Buffalo Chicken Panini's!

Find the recipes in my recipes folder! :)

13 Months

No, no, no, I'm not going to be continuing my monthly posts...but there are a few major things I just have to jot down from this month! It's amazing how quickly she develops!!

*New Things*

~ We had to change Harper's whole milk to soy milk.  This was a change I was really hoping to not make, but since the change, things have just seemed to work out better.  She LOVES drinking the soy and will drink it more with meals and on her own than she was with the whole.  We also think the whole was hurting her belly - causing some unwanted cries and possibly causing some tantrums... Since the milk switch we haven't had nearly the outbursts we were seeing.  Not sure if this is correlated, but it sure does seem to go together.

~ Harper is such a sponge these days! It's just crazy what she picks up and repeats! Some newer things are: she can tell you where her shoes are and the word, where her socks go and point, follow multi-step directions (for the most part if she's heard those words before), and where her nose is. :) she can also high five!!

~When we ask Harper if she's ready for bed or a nap, she motions her head up and down and walks to the stairs.  It's so crazy! She does the same thing when we say it's bathtime.  *Side-note: I was not all about the CIO, but luckily we didn't have to for long, but it is SO nice to just tell her it's time for bed and put her in her crib without any fuss!! (i wrote a post about CIO somewhere!)

~Harper communicates a lot with head shakes of yes or no. We are still trying *really* hard to not use the word 'no' with her unless it's something urgent.  We use 'not for Harper' or 'uh-oh' - which she says over and over again when she's dropping things or falls.

~Tough girl! I mean, she is totally rough when she plays.  She plays hard and can fall hard, but she will randomly cry.  She totally doesn't get that from me!

~Loves going to the Church Nursery and loves those girls there!

~She still loves to kiss all the time and has gotten in the habit of kissing the faces that pop up on my phone if I'm on speaker phone.  She also SAYS 'LOVE YOU' which is just about the SWEETEST thing thus far.  :)

~Words that she uses in correct context:
uh-oh
Buh-bye (and waves)
Dada
Momma
shoe
duck
love you
peaches
baby
doggy (yes, still totally obsessed...we have no idea why or how)

~Tantrums (our Doctor calls them frustration/language tantrums)
I have a post on this...but...we have begun to see what people say are the normal toddler tantrums.  She can get very frustrated when she wants something and cannot get us to understand what it is she wants.  We are really working through these and like I said, I've got another post dedicated for this! :)

~We are officially OFF the paci....but I let her have it at night, don't tell our sitter!! Our sitter actually broke her of the paci in 3 days! We did not exactly want her to do this or were ready for her to get rid of the paci, but Harper has been talking a lot more...so I guess that's good!

~Eats everything in sight and a lot of it! ha!

~Loves to dance and will begin dancing whenever she hears music or little tunes.

~Moved up to the next carseat! She is back to liking the car now that she's not squished and she can see things!

~Has a total of 6 teeth with 2 more breaking through.

Halloween - Then and Now

We went to my sister's again for Halloween.  Except this year we actually went Trick-or-Treating.  We kept seeing such a big difference in Harper from last year to this year I just had to get it documented.  We didn't realize until we were looking through the pics that we were in the same spots as last year.  Just so crazy how FAST time really does fly!

 **this year**

Halloween Outfits!

Here are a few pics of Harper in some of her Halloween outfits! I got almost each outfit in pictures!  I'm really wanting to start selling Harper's clothes, but I'm worried if we have another child we may have a girl!  The 2 dresses in the pics below were only worn once for Church - so like 2 hours total! Oh well, I think I'm *finally* starting to see that I don't need so many nice clothes for Harper that can be out of season so quickly! But man, it's hard for me not to buy!