While much of my online journaling has been related to Tato and his illness(es)(es)(es)(es), I need to give props out loud to our little trooper, Harper.
Amidst ear infections #4 and #5 for Tato, Harper had ear infection #2. She apparently also had a fever when we went to the clinic, though you’d never know it because she smiles and laughs in the face of her little body fighting infections.
Through a week of her brother being pretty damn sick and waking and screaming every hour or two or three, she lived up to her middle name, Grace, in SLEEPING RIGHT THROUGH IT ALL. A miraculous blessing for two very tired mommies. We’ve had two stomach bugs rip through our house in the last six weeks. The first time, her belly was ill for less than two days. This time, she escaped all contagion.
She sprouts teeth (she now has SIX!) with barely a drip of drool. Has fevers of 102 with no indication in disposition. This makes for an “easy” baby, but it also means that we need to check her more often because she doesn’t “tell” us that something is wrong. We have learned that if she wakes during the night, though, that’s a dead-ringer for an ear infection – because that is the only time she does that. We can only hope that her sleeping through the entire night continues indefinitely.
Each morning she awakens so very happy and curious and busy, with a near constant look on her face expressing something like “isn’t today AMAZING?? Can you believe we get to have another today? What am I going to DO today?” Oh, that we would learn to emulate her enthusiasm for each moment of each day.
The only time she’s really fussy these days is if (a) you disappear from her line of sight for too long. She plays well independently, but every once in a while, she just needs to know that you are THERE and will cry out if she doesn’t see you. (b) she’s tired/hungry at the end of the day – which we can’t do a lot about except get her fed, bathed, and put to bed smoothly and efficiently. (c) she’s tired during the day and needs a nap but fights that nap like hell. And I think in exchange for her being so “easy” is the counteracting blood curdling SCREAM that comes from her tiny body when she’s one of those things above. Because I am telling you, all those years of being next to the stage speakers at a concert DO NOT EVEN COMPARE.
You can see her wheels spinning all the time. If a toy is held in front of a baby, they will tend to grab at it or bat it around. Harper will study it, look to see how it is hanging from your hand, and then deliberately move to the connecting point before pulling it from you and studying some more. She has the appearance of being serious and contemplative, but my gut feeling is that she’s getting a sense of how things work and plotting something. Something that will ultimately get someone ELSE in trouble. So full of mischief and sass, she is.
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December 4, 2008 at 9:26 am
Sheena
where do you guys shop for little miss Harper?? She is so freakin adorable…
December 4, 2008 at 10:24 am
meg
Her hair is really growing! She is so sweet. I can’t wait to meet her soon!!!
December 4, 2008 at 10:52 am
Goddess in Progress
Isn’t it amazing to see how different two kids can be, even with the “twin” thing? I think one benefit to having two at a time is that you usually have one who is (at least sometimes) the “easier” one. They’ll swap personalities and each will have an easy phase and a hard one. But I think it kind of makes you feel good as a parent, and seems to take a little bit of the pressure away. Because you know there are some things that just are the way they are, through no fault (or credit!) of your own parenting.
My daughter was, on the whole, the slightly more laid-back one. But she’s also a clever, independent little thing. And while sometimes she’s “easier” than her brother, I can also tell she’s going to be trouble.
December 4, 2008 at 4:10 pm
ohchicken
i love your kiddos. your stories and photos are so very wonderful.
December 4, 2008 at 9:08 pm
indigoscot
harper is just so amazingly adorable!
December 8, 2008 at 2:42 pm
lil fen
Hey Rach and Jen,
I’ve just gotten caught up on the latest of the rajen household!! Wow! I am so sorry you are going through such sickness. I could tell Mateo lost weight, and Harper is looking so much older! Amazing what one month can do!
I miss you and am thinking and praying for you!
Love ya,
Susan
December 9, 2008 at 4:25 pm
RaJen
The short answer is: we buy their clothes at Target, BRU, Old Navy (O/N) and Crazy8 with the occasional purchase at Gymboree (if we have Gymbucks, coupons, there’s a deep sale, or we head to the clearance racks). More recently, we’ve also shopped at Children’s Place, mainly for their holiday attire and for footed pj’s. They just tend to have a wider variety of zip-up footies. We buy Carter’s pj’s and solid knit pant-type wear (usually at BRU unless I have a coupon to the Carter’s store and then head to their clearance/sale racks), but beyond those, their stuff is too babyish for me/us. We’ve also been quite fortunate to get a lot of hand-me-down’s from Jennifer’s clients. Though that’s to no advantage of Harper’s, since all those hand-me-down’s tend to be boy’s clothing.
(Photo 1): undershirt – Carter’s 3 pack long-sleeve bodysuits, purchased at BabiesRUs (BRU). We use these under their cute short-sleeve stuff when it’s cooler, totally extends otherwise summer-wear); denim fringed skirt – I was looking for a denim skirt and found this one at one of my fav new stores, Crazy8. Their online options are sparse, but if you can find a storefront (they are owned by the exorbitantly-priced Gymboree), you’re golden. I like this store because they have clothes for babies without being overly “babyclothes-ish”. I can only take so much of the flowers and butterflies and teddybears and ballons and dinosaurs and trucks or cotton-candy pink or powder blue. I find their pricing to be comparable to BRU and Old Navy (O/N); Shirt – Peace top with lacey cap sleeves – got this at Old Navy. She also has one similar that says Love, as shown here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2772548903_564d138177_o.jpg
(Photo 2): top – short-sleeve tee from Children’s Place
(Photo 3): long sleeve hoodie – O/N; leg warmers – BabyLegs!; the hat with ears on her lap is a hand-me-down from Baby Gap
(Photo 4): plain ‘ol white long-sleeve bodysuit (Carter’s, purchase at BRU)
(Photo 5): jacket – zip-up hoodie jacket in “sweatshirt material” from BRU, no special brand; brown beanie hat – a splurge from Baby Gap, but they can BOTH wear it.
(Photo 6): shirt – white 5 button longsleeve bodysuit with fringed neckline from O/N; skirt – purchased at Gymboree from the discount racks in the back.