January Edventures

January has been a busy month.  It started with a Pajama Day for Harper and me.  Christmas and New Years were so busy I just needed a day.

Harper is fully immersed in nursery.  I started taking her to nursery in October (I would stay and help).  The class was mostly boys and they were so sweet with her.  One boy, Tane, offered his hand to help her get off a chair.  Another boy, Bransen, held her hand as they walked back from a field trip to primary.  This year there is just Harper and Slade in the class.  She has wonderful nursery leaders and enjoys going.  

 KayLynn Larsen brought Harper this dress from Africa.

 Harper has a sweet tooth and decided to also wear her chocolate.

We were cleaning the laundry room and came across Harper's bike helmet.  

Her helmet finally fits her and she wanted to wear it all afternoon.

My friend Kay Handley bought this mop for Harper.  

Harper's favorite thing to do with it is to trip me with the handle (well I pretend to trip).  

We have a prankster in the family.  

Harper's attire for when Mommy and Daddy run at Lake Sylvia.  

The first time she wore it she fell down (at home) and could not get up.  

Reminded us of the kid on "The Christmas Story".

January has had some nice sunny days so we went for a picnic/hike around 

Lake Sylvia one Sunday after church.  

Gavin gave Harper "Bear Bear" for her birthday.  She sleeps with "Bear Bear", "Lamy" and "Elephante" plus two blankets.  She likes to have her blankets or stuff animals near her face.  I wonder if it is because as a baby I would stroke her eyebrows or face to help her fall asleep.  She sleeps through most nights unless her diaper is full.  We put her to bed between 7 and 7:30pm and then she wakes up between 7:30-8:30am.  She takes one nap during the day.  Recently she has been telling me "bye bye" when I lay her down for nap.  Her bed routine consists of reading the Book of Mormon, brushing and flossing her teeth, reading a few books, maybe a musical number on her piano, and trying to procrastinate going to bed by playing with her kitchen set or tent.  At night I will hold her for a few minutes and sing to her.  I love when she lays her head on my shoulder and cuddles.  She is really good about giving hugs and kisses.

 

I recently picked Harper up from the high school (she went to open gym with Daddy).  We went out on the track and football field and she loved it.  On the track she would get down low and then started running.  I guess she is working on her starts.  I wish I had had a soccer ball and she is quite good at kicking and throwing her soccer ball.  I have taught her to say "Goooooooaaaaaaallllll" and she likes to scream it when she playing with her soccer ball or we are at a high school basketball game.

First real haircut.  When Harper was probably 5 months old I cut some of hair for her baby book and well, my hairdresser, Whitney, had to trim and fix where I had cut.  But this month Harper had her first real haircut.  Her hair has really grown since September and I thought she could use a trim.  I am letting her bangs grow so that eventually her hair will be all one length.  As a result, Harper's bangs are often in her face.  Harper did a great job sitting on my lap and letting Whitney cut her hair.  

                                     This is the night before her haircut.  Arriving at Whitney's Salon.

                                                  Sitting on Mama's lap for a haircut.

James built a bench and cubby for our laundry room.  
He did a really good job and it is nice to have it a little more organized.

Enjoying the Sunshine.  Since our yard is still dirt which means it is often mud from the rain, Harper and I have spent a lot of time indoors this winter.  This week has been nice so we have been going outside to explore. Harper loves being outside.  She likes to pick up the rocks, has tasted dirt, and is very interested in the neighbor's trampoline and basketball hoop.  We have also gone to the playground on 1st street and she loves the slides.

Mischief is my middle name.  I got out the stool so Harper could help me frost a cake that she helped me bake but while I was busy she pushed the stool over to the fridge, climbed up it, and tried to get into the fridge.  Luckily the door is too heavy and she can't open it.  She loves to climb and can climb the stool and get down on her own.  She also loves to get into things and when she hears us coming will run so she doesn't get caught.  If she is holding something that she knows she shouldn't she will throw it and run.  

Harper loves to help.  Her chore is to put her clothes in the hamper and she has started to do it (on occasion) without being asked.  She likes to help carry groceries and will try to lift heavy objects.  

Harper also loves to read and we try to go to the library once a week.  We read for 20-30 minutes three or four times a day.  Harper also has started "reading" to herself.  It is so cute to hear her talk to herself.  She also uses different tones like we use when we read to her.  We have been looking at animal books a lot and she says "Moo" when she sees a cow and "Maa" when she sees a goat. Sometimes she will hoot like an owl or say "Woof Woof" for a dog.  Last Sunday at Fory and Leann's she wanted to know where Benson the dog was and said "Woof Woof" and then pointed upstairs.  This last library trip I got her two Star Wars books, A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back; she loves them.

 Reading "A New Hope" with daddy

Harper's vocabulary is growing.  She says "Mama, Daddin, Bye Bye, Hi, Nain (Again), Animal Sounds, Ball, Baby, Books, and No".  She also signs "More, all done, please, again, and thank you."  She comprehends really well.  She loves when people come over and gets very excited to greet them at the door.