Happy (Second) Birthday Harper Reese!

Last night, while doing our bedtime routine I snuggled Harper close and rocked her in her glider (which I rarely do nowadays) just hanging on to that last moment she would still be one.

Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones and maybe it’s just that they grow up so darn fast, but my goodness these past two years have been amazing watching my sweet girl grow and become her own little person.

I know I haven’t done an update in ages…but Harper has changed so much over the last 6 months or so. We have full on conversations. She talks in sentences and learns new words and expressions every day. She’s jumping and climbing and running and trying new things and mastering lots of skills.

She is kind and loving…she holds her stuffed animals and babies and pats their backs and says “it’s okay” if they are “sad”, “scared” or if she drops them.

She tells me she loves me everyday and is sweetly affectionate (when she wants to be, cuddling always happens on her terms!) She’s also fiercely independent and as most toddlers, likes to do things her way.

She has the most joyful smile and the silliest laugh— but she’s also super serious when she’s in a new situation, place or around new people— she takes everything in before she’s comfortable being her playful, outgoing self. When she gets really excited about something, she makes her mouth into the little “O” shape and her eyes get so big. It’s absolutely precious.

She’s so polite. She says please, thank you and bless you without being prompted 95 percent of the time. She’s pretty social and when she’s in the right mood, she will really ham it up when we’re out in public and greets/waves at people.

She can also be slow to warm up to new people, but once you have her heart, she’s yours. She’s about to transition to her next class at daycare and I’m a little worried because she loves her current teachers so much and she has been crying a little during her new class visits. I know she will get used to it (she loves school, the activities and her friends-she knows all of their names!) but it’s just a big change for her.

Harper knows what she wants and when she doesn’t get it, well, let’s just say we’re still dealing with the typical toddler tantrums, but they’re not as drawn out as they used to be.

She is so bright. She can count and counts items (and can even count to 10 in Spanish), knows all of her colors, days of the week, shapes, etc. She can point out everything she sees in a book and say what it is correctly. She can sing several songs and when I read a book to her that we read often, if I pause, she knows the exact word to fill in and she yells it out loudly and proudly. Their little memories are so strong at this age.

Among my favorite sayings/expressions of hers:
“Kiss it mommy” (when she has a boo boo)
“I’m relaxing” (she will lay back and say this)
“Ready, set, go!”
“Why not? Be nice mommy!” (when she doesn’t get what she wants)
“I text people!” (while holding up my phone LOL)
“Pass the blanket, mommy’s cold” (I really am always cold)
“Maybe later”
“It’s breakfast time mommy!”
“Mommy I’m a robot, beep bop beep boo” (she was just in her diaper when she said this and stuck an iPhone on her bare chest and moved her arms up and down like a robot. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard)
“My turn now!”
“I want coffee too!” (and then she makes herself her own cup in her play kitchen)
“I love you…so much!”
“I want to go poop in the corner” (yep, for real)
“I’m mad!!!” (girl is not afraid to express her feelings)
“I have the hiccups!”
“I want to touch it” (anytime she sees something new or interesting— she also wants to smell it, LOL)

She tells me her favorite color is green (it changes every few weeks), her favorite animal is “puppies” and her favorite food is peanut butter sandwiches. I don’t have her two year old stats yet as we have an appointment with her pediatrician next week, but I imagine she is still in the high 90’s for both height and weight, as she always has been.

I cannot wait to see what Harper’s second year will bring. She will learn so much and grow and become a big sister. I’m so honored and privileged that God chose me to be her mom.