14 Months Old

Harper Grace is getting so big. She is now 14 months old and rapidly turning into a toddler. She is such a joy and a ray of sunshine to our family. She is getting pretty feisty at times and is showing a smidgen of a mean streak towards her closest in age brother. She will pester him ALL day long. How do siblings know to do this, especially this early in age. She likes to pat Paxton on the head, and as everyone knows, Paxton does not like his personal space invaded at all. He freaks out and gets so agitated at her. I have to watch her like a hawk all day to make sure she isn't hitting him. She is the sweetest little stinker though, which means I better get ready or she will play me like a fiddle. (Funny story from today. I had to get on to her for hitting Paxton and she got pretty upset and started crying. I glance over at Maddox and see a single tear drop to his cheek. I turned to him and asked him what was wrong and her gently responded "Momma, when Harper cries it makes me cry a little too" Oh my mercy, he is so sweet and loving to her. I pray they are the best of friends and that she realizes how much her biggest brother loves her)

I wanted to document just a little of what Harper Grace is doing at 14 months:
-teething. she has 3 bottom teeth, two top teeth and parts of one of her top molars. She is still so content even while teething. She has moments where she is just off and more easily annoyed, but for the most part if she wasn't drooling so much you wouldn't even suspect that she was working on any teeth
-walking/almost running. She is a walker and enjoys the freedom she has. She will explore every inch of the living area just walking in circles. I think she loves that she can walk and turn around in any direction with such ease now.
-talking...well sort of. She has spoken the words "thank you" "wow" "momma" "dadda" "Gigi" and "hi" and she can sign the words "eat" "more" and "thank you" Now, while she has done all of these, I cannot get her to do them on command, but I know she can do it if she wanted to and that is what is important
-she watches a "Meet the Letters" DVD while we wait to pick up Maddox from school and she mimics the alphabet song, there are times where it sounds like she is actually saying the correct letter in the song...I'm not so sure that she really is, but it is getting close
-she is so sweet first thing in the morning and I love how excited she gets when I first walk into her room. She jumps up and starts walking from end to end of her crib giggling and plopping herself down on her mattress on her bottom making herself bounce up and down. This is so different from the boys. Maddox was always so angry when he woke up in the mornings, all he wanted to do was eat and I could never do it fast enough. Paxton has never been a morning person and was usually pretty crabby for an hour or so after he got up. Not sweet Harper. She is a great sleeper and is happy when she gets up
-taking one nap in the afternoon. This has been an adjustment for all of us now that Maddox is in school. I am having to find a new routine and time schedule for lunch and naps, but she doesn't seem phased by it at all. Such a go with the flow kiddo. Thankfully
-baby girl loves her milk (lactose free, hormone free organic milk. Trying so hard to make sure she doesn't have the tummy issues her brothers had/have)
-she can point to her nose, mouth, eyes and teeth and if you ask her to "wash her hair" she will rub her hands together (like you would if you put shampoo into your hands) and act like she is scrubbing her head.
-she gets super excited when Brad gets home from work and she will squeal with delight and talk talk talk  speak non-comprehensive gibberish in a very enthusiastic tone
-she has started walking up to me and giving me hugs. Melt me. Yesterday she came running speed walking down the hallway and wrapped her arms around my legs and gave me the biggest hug and sweetest smile then walked away with her baby doll tucked under her arm. Precious.
-she has become quite the laundry hoarder. Whenever I am folding laundry or getting clothes out of the dryer, she will steal an article or 5 of clothes, wrap both arms around them, hugging them, and walk happily around the house. She will plop them on the ground and make nice place for her to lay down. I've tried just making her a pallet or something on the ground, but she is way more interested in the clean laundry than any blanket or pillow.
-she is getting too big too fast. Gosh, time is going by so quickly with her and I am trying to stop and cherish any last glimpse of her as my baby. I am with Maddox on this one and I too "wish she could stay a baby forever" I am so excited to watch the little lady she will become, but she is just so darn cute, cuddly, loving and sweet right now.

One year ago, all decked out supporting our Red Raiders

And now, such a big girl