Piper turns 3

Piper is THREE! 

With all eyes for Daddy, and puppy love overload we celebrated our post valentine baby. We sure love her hugs and kisses; and her independent attitude is sure to make 3 fun! Daddy is relishing in all the attention she gives him lately and is hoping it never ends.

I Spy Paw Patrol Badges

Pin the Badge on SKYE

Of course she was totally spoiled. 

It is so fun to buy for this age. 

Color and Find Paw Patrol Style

Amberlee went all out with her Card!

Favorite Gift = Ice Cream Shoppe

Thank you NANA!

Making Slime!

I did a cake over on the Ice Cream Cake Piper picked so it also fulfilled her Paw Patrol dreams (she almost cried when she picked it up with Dad and it wasn't Paw Patrol-ed).

So I put on a decal I bought on our beloved Amazon and glitter-fied it with edible spray glitter and decorated it with chocolate pink and purple pearls. I was pretty proud of the redo.

Of course we even dined out at her favorite place

Chick-Fil-A!

It was a fun day celebrating our growing sweetheart!

Allergic

For record purposes Piper is still allergic to eggs. Her annual allergist check up came back positive for white and yolk allergies. So with epi pen prescription and brave little girl in tow we left. And if Piper has anything to say about the experience it is, "don't go there". She was telling the lady in the waiting room as we checked out and left not to go there. It was the sweetest thing and yet so sad. We also had to get blood done so off we went to the next stop, and she was not happy but didn't cry she just kept angrily asking "Why?"

Daddy took her out afterwards for a special lunch date and spoils. 

Shea was so shocked and disappointed by the results he was so excited to give her eggs and not have that stress anymore. I was too a little. 

But I am still holding out hope that this egg allergy will get better not worse, and eventually be gone all together. 

Either way I think her dislike for eggs is only growing considering she knows she can't have them now and every time she sees them she says "ewww"  and sticks her tongue out and says "they make me sick".

Piper's Potty Trained

So let me start at the beginning. 

First off we knew this girl was getting ready to start potty training, but honestly I wasn't ready. I had hoped we would be pregnant with Baby #5 or have Baby #5 already. So my mind was just not in the game, and I didn't want to cope with the emotional toll that potty training possibly my last was going to take on me. So I was trying hard to ignore the signs and push this out as long as I could...

But after a grueling week of literally having almost every. single. diaper. leak through because she was holding her bladder till she exploded every. single. time.  I was done. I gave up the battle of waiting and on the spot decided we were going all in. So that morning off to the store we went with everyone in tow (because of course it is a day off of school) to grab undies (I totally overbought thinking she'd be like Bella and have lots of little accidents in the foreseeable future), salty snacks and drinks. I printed the first potty sheet I could find, dug up some matching-ish stickers from our stash and out came the potty and on went the potty shows. 

She was ambivalent at first. Excited for the undies and trying them on and off and very happy with the leftover Halloween treat incentive but not sure what else she was in for. 

I won't say the day went amazing or horrible. She was probably definitely on the easier side of potty training (Bella was really my only hard one, so honestly my bar is pretty high, I have been seriously lucky). At first I wasn't sure she was going to get it because like Bella she holds her bladder for long periods of time so naturally it is harder for her to learn because she doesn't have quite as many opportunities. No matter how much juice I am pumping into her. Honesty though she surprised me she was into it and just sat on the potty all morning and happily peed in the potty multiple times, and at the end of the day she even pooped in the potty, albeit unexpectedly and alarmingly. 

The day ended with 2 accidents, and they were full bladder ones... and 6 successes!

Day 2, she definitely had the peeing in the potty part down flat but was scared to go poop. 5 successes, 1 poop accident. 

Day 3, 9 successes no accidents. Still fearful of poop in the potty and pretty grossed out by it, but she went, so I was happy. 

We did another potty sheet as we continued to struggle a bit with the poop part of potty training. But all in all a couple days with a couple Mommy outbursts about poop in the pants and she was fully potty trained.

We obviously were doing pull ups for bed and outings for a while still. 

But even that luckily enough she never had a problem with and it only lasted a week, dry pull ups every night. 

And gradually going out we got more and more brave and she impressed us every time. 

Honestly I never even had to go through the really reminding her constantly stage. I will say we had our fair share of accidents as the weeks progressed with a slight regression at one point, like everyone else had. But all in all I felt like this potty training thing was easy. 

I will say the biggest struggle of the entire potty training experience was breaking Daddy and Piper from the potty = treat incentive. She was begging Daddy for treats for months, well after she was potty trained and Daddy is a sucker for her pouty face, so...

Next time around I need smaller designated treats for a specific time or no treats at all. Both other girls were just sticker driven. 

Thanksgiving was around the corner and I was pretty stoked to have this little Miss potty trained; 

and it all happened on a whim!

Mommy victory!

Love Mommy

Piper,

I am amazed your growing so fast. It is funny though how many times you're mistaken for younger than you are; because of your lack of hair and small little frame, and your desire to love on anyone younger. Because in truth your really becoming a "person", the baby mode is officially fading and your personality is shining through as your find your own voice and your own love for life.

You are truly a sunbeam in our home and your sweet little smile seems to lighten all our loads. You are one of Mommy and Daddy's biggest helpers and are always the first one to chime in when someone asks. It is such a blessing to have you be such an example to your older siblings. Your the best, happiest playmate and willing to tag along and no one can say no to including you. You somehow unite them and your touch softens them despite their battles. I don't know how you do it, and it may not last forever but I thank you for it. 

I have always felt this amazing bond with you, ever since birth. I connected to you like no other child. And despite the sleepless nights I just couldn't be mad. I just was in awe of you and still am. You have this knack of getting your way and I know it can't last forever... although I am still convincing Daddy of that fact. You have the best pouty face ever, seriously I don't know how you melt us so well. Bedtime is what comes right to mind, it is a bit of a struggle and I don't see it getting better real soon (partly because Daddy says he sleeps better snuggling with you... I'll try not to be jealous). But even I struggle when your whimper and fat lip greet me in the dead of night or when I so slightly feel your warm little body shimmy its way between Mommy and Daddy in the wee hours of morning, trying your hardest not to be spotted. 

You also somehow know the desires of our family and are baby obsessed and are the best little mama as you dress up and play; it makes me never want to stop adding to this family of ours, no matter the struggles we have. Especially when your tender little heart is there to wipe my tears and to pat my back and whisper in my ear, "Why you crying Mama?" Some days I feel like I fail you and your sisters and brother, but your smile reminds me over and over again that I must be doing something right. I am so grateful for your constant joy and your love for everything around you. It makes life so much easier and reminds me daily to have joy in the journey.

Love,

Mommy

First Trip to the Dentist

A little nervous ...

but with the aid of sister and Mommy I made it through. 

There was a tv to watch, which helped.

And Mom said she'd hold me when the dentist came.

I practiced opening WIDE!

And was super excited to pick the flavor of toothpaste.

I won't lie I cried. 

And I'm not excited to go again.

But Mom says it was a success because they got a good look and they declared me cavity free!

Growing

Little by little this little girl is growing up and recently she started sleeping in the toddler version of her crib. 

Although not very well...

It is a transition for sure.

And lots of nightly walks taking her to bed and sitting outside her door while she cries and finding her like this. 

But it beats hearing her crash from the fall of escaping the crib and ending in tears moments later. 

Piper Turns Two

Once again the days of terrible twos are ahead of us. EEEK!

We celebrated early this year so that Valentine's Day didn't cramp your style, and we celebrated with your favorite... 

PUPPIES! 

 You were so into cake and presents this year that you cried when Mom tried to pose you for pictures because you just couldn’t wait! 

We decorated the house with puppies everywhere for you to find which you LOVED! 

It was a day of play and puppies and presents and cake and I think your favorite part was helping Daddy put together your new “ride” as you call it. 

Even though this year you were anti camera which isn't unusual for you as of late, you are the sweetest and you get far too many kisses and snuggles because we love you so much and can simply not resist! 

This year I have loved watching you become a true playmate with your siblings, mimic and talk and express yourself in the most hilarious ways, and you haven’t lost your stranger danger stare. It is so amazing to see you, become you! And I can’t wait to see what the next year brings you! 

Hopefully potty training and a love for baths!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PIPER!

{this moment}

Shea got out the heated blanket for movie night and the next second this little Miss claimed her spot. 

She was more than a little proud.

I've never seen a baby more obsessed with the heated blanket/portable heater. She runs right over every time someone gets them out and scoots her way right in. Fighting her way in when necessary. 

But tonight Daddy was happy to share the heated blanket and get some snuggles in and she was in heaven! Shea and I loved how she tucked her hands behind her head for ultimate comfort and that giddy grin, made everyone smile. 

Halloween

Per tradition we started our Halloween with (free) Scary Face Pancakes at IHOP, (before school started). 

After school we went to the Martins for a Halloween party. We had Mummy Dogs, and Halloween Bingo and got all dressed in our Halloween costumes. 

Then we did our first trick or treating at the Martin's door and then we headed home with Uncle Joe to join us. 

Shea was ready to take everyone out trick or treating and off they went. 

While I did door duty, which is way funner when you have a baby or someone with you to do it with.

(Favorite scene from the night was a little girl dressed as a robber who acted out a whole thing about the cops being after her and running off and then moments later her Mom and little brother dressed as cops came along calling after her... it made my night!) 

I must say the turn out was not as good as last year but it was fun!

When everyone got home I had our Halloween sleepover ready to start. So after changing into PJs and having their candy checked and saying goodbye to Joe. We got snuggled up for our annual viewing of Hocus Pocus.

Happy Halloween from our Fairy tale crew!

2017

Connor: Evil Wizard
Piper: Flower Fairy who hates her wings
Sydney: Princess
Bella: Queen

Picking VS Carving

There is nothing that screams Fall more than pumpkin picking. Even though summer is clinging on for dear life with these warm temps, we're finally getting into the Fall spirit around here.

The day after Bella's birthday we made our annual trip with the Martins to Mayne's Pumpkin Patch.

 

Piper wasn't a fan of pumpkins much this year
the picking or the carving. It was all a little too
hot and she couldn't walk too great in the tangly
vined field for the picking and the carving was
a slimey mess that she hated not being a part of
but also hated being a part of.
AKA Pumpkins aint this girls thing. 

Pumpkin picking is grande but the real work comes in when it is time to carve. 

Just a few days before Halloween we set out on our carving. I HATE PUMPKIN CARVING! 

Every year I say lets get one pumpkin or maybe 2, Daddy can carve and Mommy will do the seeds. 

Every year Shea gives in with all the kids pleading and we get more and then I end up carving too. 

Connor and Bella were determined this year to do it all on their own. 

For the most part Connor and Bella did great, it was truly quite the goal they had set. So Shea and I helped under the condition that next year we just get a boys and a girls pumpkin and they can do as much as they want and then Daddy can help finish. But we will see if that actually happens or not. Shea got pretty tired this year, and even he who loves the carving was ready to call it quits. 

They turned out great though and it is always such fun to see them lit up at night!