Hunter Farm

Fall is here and I am loving it!  It is my favorite time of the year!  The cooler weather, pumpkin patches, the anticipation of the holidays, FOOD, football and boots!!!  :)

We kicked off the season by visiting a local farm.  A hay ride, petting zoo and pumpkins!  Doesn't get any better. 

Since Stella is still a little too small, I took Lottie to Hunter Farm (local farm in Weddington).  She loved it!  She couldn't wait to pick out a pumpkin!  She ran around the pumpkin patch screaming she had to find the perfect baby pumpkin.  She must have picked up 10 pumpkins until she found the perfect "baby" pumpkin.  It was sweet!  Well, until we got halfway to the car to leave and she threw her pumpkin on the ground and shouted, "I don't want this one!"  TODDLERS! 

I'm sure this will be the first of a couple of fall farms we visit this year.  I'm still debating whether or not to go back to the farm where I almost had my hand eaten off by a psycho miniature horse!  Remember that?  :)

Here's a quick look at mine and Lottie's little mommy/daughter morning out!

Lowe's Build & Grow

A couple of months ago Steve learned that Lowe's does a Build & Grow workshop for kids on Saturday mornings.  It's FREE!!!  When was the last time something you were able to take your kids to do was FREE?  It was probably when we were kids. 

Steve normally takes Lottie to all the Build & Grow workshops that are available.  It's Daddy and Lottie time!  However, this one particular Saturday, Steve had to work.  Steve had already signed Lottie up and I didn't want her to miss out because she loves using a hammer and pretending to build things. 

The past two workshops that he took her to were related to the PLANES movie that came out.  So, of course, they built cute little planes.

The workshop I took her to was building a fire truck.  The weather was gorgeous, so they held it outside.  Let's just say it wasn't EASY!  Ha!  I think for the most part I'm pretty handy and am able to follow instructions.  It started okay - well I thought it did anyway.  I should have hammered in two long nails from the get go in the top of the fire truck but instead hammered in two short nails.  Well, when I needed the short nails at the end, they were no where to be found.  HELLO!  I already used them in the beginning!  To wrap it up, our fire truck looked okay in the beginning until we got to the wheels.  I hammered a nail/screw so hard into one of the wheels, half of it went flying off!  Lottie was like - "Mommy!!!!"  I told her to grab it, that we would just tape it on when we got home.

In any event, there is a reason Steve usually handles these types of things.................he is really great at being handy!  The guy builds everything!  My dad would be proud!

Here's a quick look at our little adventure to Lowe's!  Stella had a great time!  She chilled in her stroller soaking in the glorious weather we had that morning!

Oh and after completing each workshop, the kids get certificates of completion along with a badge/patch to iron on the apron they give you after your first workshop.  So cute!  Lottie has three badges now.

The Coopers - Watch Us Grow

We may need to make this a tradition!  Tripod in full effect!  Now all we need is a fancy camera!  Can you hear me SANTA?????  :)

 

My grandmother (96) has been a little under the weather and not feeling like herself.  Unfortunately, she has had a couple of hospital visits and a stay at a rehabilitation center to get her back to her old self.  While in rehab, my uncles have pitched in and completely renovated her home while she was away.  One of the more modern things they are doing is making her a photo gallery of all of her kids and their family.  She comes home on the 18th!  YAY!  With that said, Steve and I whipped out the tripod to try to capture a picture of the four of us!  HOLY COW- just trying to get out the door and in the yard seemed like a task in and of itself!  But we did, and here is what came of it............. Hopefully one of them will work in my g-ma's new living room!  :)

 

Sisters - Watch Them Grow

 

Stella - 4 Months

 

Lottie - 2.5 Years

 

1st Panther Game of the Season!  Go Panthers!

Stella - 4 Months

Weight: 14 lbs, 12.3 oz (62%)
Height: 24 inches (35%)
Head circumference: 43cm (98%)  Massive!!  HA!

Clothes: Bye Bye 3 to 6 months - hello 6 to 9 months clothes.  I went through all of her 3 to 6 month clothes and packed them away.  I feel like Stella didn't get an opportunity to wear half of the cute clothes Lottie wore at that age.  I tried desperately to rotate the clothes as much as possible, but she grew way too fast!  I was hoping the girls would be in sync for the changing of seasons, but I may end up having to go out and buy a few things for Stella before it is all said and done.  All of Lottie's 9 month clothes are WINTER wear.  I know it is only around the corner so hopefully she can still squeeze into a few things while the warm weather lingers. 

Diapers: Size 2 - Huggies fit me best right now, but soon enough I'll be in size 3!  Mommy just has to use all of Size 2 before she'll put me in size 3! 

Eating: This child is still eating great.  She is still taking in anywhere from 25 to 28 oz each day.  A typical day when she's going to daycare is:

6:15 a.m.: 5 oz
9:30 a.m.: 5 oz
12:30 a.m.: 5 oz
3:30 p.m.: 5 oz
6:00 p.m.: 7 oz

She is still on a full on feeding frenzy from the time I pick her up to the time she goes to sleep.

Stella's reflux has gotten a tad bit better.  We switched up her bottles and have been using the Playtex Vent Air bottles.  She seems to really like them and I think it helps with the amount of air she takes in while sucking down a bottle.  Her tummy doesn't seem to bother her as much, but we've also been using Gripe Water.   We are on still on our third brand of formula.  Currently we are using Enfamil Gentle Ease (Sam's Club brand).  I've felt pretty comfortable sticking with this brand over the last month.  We will play it by ear for another month and see how well she does. 

Sleep: During the week she normally takes at least 2 catnaps at daycare and one longer nap lasting around 1.5 hours.  She's just not been a great napper from day one.  She just wants to sit up and take in everything around her.  Her favorite things to sleep in are her rock and play, bouncy seat and crib at night.  If ever we get desperate we put her in her car seat and lock it into the portable travel swing.  That normally does the trick but almost always our last resort and rarely used.  As far as the night shift goes, you couldn't ask for a better sleeper.  The kid absolutely wears herself out during the day!  By the time I pick her up from daycare, give her a bath and feed her - she is done.  She normally falls asleep around 7:30 p.m. and sleeps until 6:15 a.m. through the week.  I think she would sleep longer if we let her.  On the weekends she goes to sleep around 8 / 8:30 and normally doesn't wake up before 7:00 p.m.  AMAZING! 

Crying:  Stella is a pretty happy baby all day.  She smiles, coos, talks, laughs, constantly bubbling with happiness!  She just makes you want to pick her up and kiss those cheeks all day long. 

HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She is still on a crying fit from about 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. every night.  This has been going on for the past two months.  Same thing, day in and day out.  Crazy!!!  The tears and the uncontrollable cries are the last thing you want to have happen at the end of a work day when all you want to do is spend time loving and playing with your kids.

Again, the doctor said that this period is usually because she is over stimulated and just doesn't know when to give in.  I honestly think if she would start taking more naps or at least have two long naps during the day, she wouldn't get so upset at the end of the day.  I am hoping this period of crying is almost over.  The doctor said that they usually stop around 4 months.  Hopefully next month's post will be a little different.  I can almost see the light at the end of this crazy, crying tunnel.

Milestones: This past month has been full of smiles and laughs.  She has the sweetest, most genuine smile on her.  She loves being tickled and sitting up right.  She still HATES tummy time.  Go figure! I feel like she's getting stronger and stronger every day but by no means is she even close to being a full time "roller".  She's only actually done a couple of rolls from tummy to back during tummy time and I think those were "accidental".  Stella's ideal day is spent hanging in her Baby Einstein exersaucer, jumping in the bouncy thing that hangs in the doorway, hanging outside on the deck in her Bumbo or Rock and Play and chilling on the couch with her toys.  She's started grasping onto rattles, little dollies and her Sophie giraffe.  She loves pressing the buttons that make music on her exersaucer and has recently starting laughing/screaming at the "SUN" part of her exercauser.  It is hilarious!  Her most favorite thing though is sitting up right!  She does not like laying down unless it is to sleep at night.  Most of the day, she is sitting up - engaged in what's going on around her.  She's also found her hands!!!!!!!!!!  The girl loves sucking on her hands!  I remember not being able to wait until Lottie stopped putting everything in her mouth.  It starts with the hands!  Woohoo!   

Sibling Love: Stella is beginning to see what we see!  Her sister is quite the little character.  Stella has starting cracking up whenever Lottie is around.  When Lottie enters the room, the whole room knows - especially Stella.  Her eyes immediately turn to see where her sister is.  Lottie constantly talks and gets entirely too close to Stella's face about 1,000 times a day.  If I had a dollar for every time I have to tell Lottie to get out of Stella's face, I would be RICH!  But when she's in her face, she's either kissing her or telling her sweet toddler nothings!  You can tell how much she has taken with Stella.  It is going to be a really beautiful relationship and I'm looking forward to watching them grow together!

Likes: Being held, EATING, sucking on her hands, riding in the car, taking a bath, putting her warm jammies on at the end of the day, seeing her daddy walk in the door from work, playing with sissy when she's not poking or prodding her, sitting up, playing with her soft rattle, pressing buttons/playing in her exercauser and being tickled. 

Dislikes: Being hungry, tired, laying flat on her back (other than bed time), tummy time and when Lottie whines, cries, fusses in front of her.  It sets her off.