Hannah - 2 years

Hannah had her 2 year check-up today.  She had a great check-up!  She weighed 28 lbs and 3 oz and she's in the 68th percentile for her weight.  She is 34.5 inches long and is in the 65th percentile for her height.  At the 2 year check-up they sometimes make height predictions and the doctor said Hannah's on track to be 5'8"+.  Here are a few fun facts that I just love about our Hannah these days...

-She calls her sisters Emmy and Care.  

-She knows all her animal sounds.

-Isn't a big fan of milk.  Will drink some, but has to be encouraged.  

-She's really good a feeding herself.  

-She often uses her left hand (I would still say she uses her right hand more often) while feeding herself, but she's really very good using both hands.  

-She loves to read books (herself and be read to)

-Hannah's a good little kicker.  Daddy thinks she's going to be a soccer player!:)  

-She sleeps with her blanket (made by Uncle Stan), monkey (given by Aunt Carrie), doggie (given by Nea Nea) and her beloved bunny.

-She sleeps about 11 1/2 hours at night and takes a nap every afternoon from about 2 to 3:30 or so.  

-She loves to sing her ABC's, Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Twinkle, and Barney's I love you, you love me song.  We often  hear her singing one of these songs in her crib when she's having trouble falling asleep.  

-She's scared of bubble bath in the bathtub, but loves blowing bubbles outside.  

-She loves to swing and ride in her wagon.  

-Hannah loves boots and high heels.  She really just likes shoes in general, but these are her favorites.  She will almost always be found with a pair of shoes on.  Emily's shoes are her favorite because she can slide them on by herself without any help.  

-She's cuddly and independent.  She'll want to be held one minute and the next she's want to do it (whatever "it" is) herself.  

-She loves to play dress up and for me to put her hair up in a pony tail "like Emmy's."  

-She recently colored us a picture on the playroom wall.  Don't worry (much like I would have done for my sister who was 19 months younger than me), Emily reported the incident.:)  

-Some of her favorite phrases these days are "I do it!!", "I did it!!" and "Where Daddy is?!"  

-She's a Daddy's girl.  I'm talking L.O.V.E.S. her Daddy.  In the last month or so we've noticed that Hannah has gone from loving to spend time with her Daddy to if-Daddy-is-in-the-house-nobody-else-will-do!!!  She wants him to hold her when she wakes up from her nap, get her down from her chair after finishing meals, hold her if she falls.  She often says "My Daddy!!" when he's holding her as if Em is going to take him away.:)  We've decided that her insistence on Bert probably has something to do with her adjusting to Claire being here.  I'm holding Claire a lot between feeding her and just soothing her. Anyway, who can blame her?  I love her Daddy too!!:)  

-She's started taking a real interest in cooking.  She's always pushing a chair over to he counter and saying "Hannah help."  

-She's quick to say bless you, thank you and please without being prompted.  

-When she's mad about something she will put a strong emphasis on each word with a pause between each word.  She still does it in her little toddler voice and I can't help but smile.  

-Hannah's really starting to play (and argue) with Emily.  I love seeing them play together.  

-She loves pickles, goldfish, cookies, broccoli, ham and cheese sandwich's, any kind of fruit, etc.

-Hannah especially needs a certain amount of holding time when she first wakes up in the morning or after her nap.  A few mornings ago I got Hannah out of her crib and handed her her milk and then immediately needed to start feeding Claire.  This plan wasn't okay with Hannah.  She proceeded to fall on the floor and cry/scream/wail for the entire feeding.  After I finished I put Claire on her playmat and picked up Hannah for some cuddle/rocking time.  She immediately calmed down and snuggled up to me.  After we had rocked for a few minutes we had this conversation.  

Me: Are you happy now? (not sarcastic, just a question)

H: Smiled and said "Yeah"

Me:  Why are  you happy?

H: Ba-cause

Me: Because why?  

H:  I hugging

Sweet girl.  I'll hug you forever.  

-It takes her a little while to warm up to new situations and people.  I've heard many people say that "she's a serious little thing".  If you saw her at home you wouldn't think that, but in public she often comes across like that.

-She's a thinker.  You can almost just see her little mind at work and I just can't wait until she can articulate even better exactly what she's thinking.  

-Her nicknames are Hannah Beth, Hannah Banana, Hannah Bo-Banna...we probably call her Hannah Beth most often.  

-Loves to color and dance. 

-Hannah hadn't asked to hold Claire since a couple days after we were home from the hospital (about 4 weeks).  Then one day she ran across the living room to me (I was holding C in my lap) and said ....

H:  I hold that!  (and wrapped her arms around Claire)

Me:  You want to hold Claire?

H:  Yeah.

Me:  Well, go sit down and I'll bring her to you.

I put Claire in her arms and she immediately started singing "Jesus Loves Me" to her and then gave her a kiss on the top of her head.  She really is such a sweet big sister!

Happy Birthday sweet Hannah Beth!  You are a blessing to everyone that meets you.  You're sweet, fun, feisty and kind, and you have no problem standing up for yourself if your big sister starts getting a little too bossy.  You're growing and learning new things each day, and it is so much fun to watch.  One of my favorite things right now is hearing you speaking in complete sentences...it's amazing...it seems just yesterday you were my baby!  You are beautiful inside and out and I am so so so thankful to be your Mommy!

Hannah's Birthday Dinner

This year I decided to do something low key for Hannah's birthday.  With a 5 week old I just wasn't up for anything too elaborate, and Hannah didn't seem to mind.:)  We decided to have a birthday dinner/party for her with just family on her actual birthday, February 14th.  Grandmama and Pawpaw couldn't make the trip up because of work, but Mimi, Papa and Uncle Stanley came over for the festivities.  It was a fun night of celebrating our girl!!  

I know I'm biased, but isn't she just adorable!?  

The whole day if you asked her how old she was she would say "4!"  Emily's been talking about turning four for an entire year so she might have actually thought she was turning four at first, but as the day went on she would get a big smile on her face when we asked her how old she was and then say....4?!  She knew it was making us laugh, so she just kept saying it.  She really is a jokester.  Cutie!  

We had a yummy dinner of stuffed shells, etc....we all enjoyed it!!  

Then it was time for cake.  We got her an Elmo cake this year...she was excited!  

Emily blew out Hannah's candle before I could stop her.  I was in the middle of telling her to wait in the picture below.:)  Em was pretty excited about all the birthday festivities too.  

The picture below made me laugh because Emily was looking at her Daddy with an "I've been caught" look. Hannah didn't really mind the help this year.  Next year will probably be a different story.   

Family picture.  Hannah was sneaking a bite of icing while we were busy posing for the picture....smart girl!  

The cake may have been from Publix, but it was a hit, as you can tell from the next few pictures....

Opening presents time.  Again, what would Hannah do without her big sister?! :)  

Hannah got a tricycle from Mimi and Papa this year and this was her reaction when she saw it!  So excited!!  

Mimi, Papa and all three girls.  My mom was responsible for positioning everyone for the picture.  I told her she could get a side job.:)  

Uncle Stanley drove in all the way from Atlanta just to celebrate his niece.  He's such a great uncle!  

Happy Birthday, Hannah-Bo-Banna!  You bring so much joy and laughter and love into our home.  We love, love, love you!!  

PS:  Hannah's 2 year old post to come...

Pink Robe Picture

So I've taken this picture with all three girls.  Same robe. Same blanket. Same time (6 weeks).  

I have a cute 3-part-frame in my bathroom that holds all three of these sweet pictures.  It makes me smile every time I see it.  

Emily Jean Watts

Hannah Elizabeth Watts

Claire Kaylin Watts

I think they look alike!:)  

Wordless Wednesday: Claire

Snow Days

So a lot of the Southeast got snow or ice last week.  Greenville was projected to possibly get close to a foot of snow.  Wow!  That's a lot of snow for this girl from Toccoa. I was looking forward to fun family time with my hubby and three girls, but I was a little concerned about the possibility of us losing power.  Every time we turned on the news they were talking about how they were expecting many many outages in the area.  Well we had a 5 week old at the time and the idea of losing power and keeping her warm enough had me a little concerned.  Thankfully, we kept our power and enjoyed the beautiful snow...win, win!   I think we ended up getting about 7 inches or so...

I grew up with my mom making snow ice cream for us every time it snowed, but I had never made it myself.  Since ice cream (any ice cream....DQ, store bought, homemade, snow ice cream...I'm not picky)just so happens to be my favorite food I decided that I should stock our freezer with the yummy stuff! Bert was pretty excited about it too!

As Bert, Emily and Hannah were walking out of the house to go build their snowman I tried to hand him one of my cute scarf and hat sets. He just looked at me and said "Steph, the snowman's a boy." Ha...that didn't cross my mind, but I supposed since he's surrounded by girls every day of every year we can let the snowman be a boy!:)  He said that the snowman was wearing a Braves hat in honor of pitchers and catchers reporting that day...Go Braves!  

Emily had so much fun building the snowman with Daddy!  Hannah kept falling (the snow was a little deep for her) and then couldn't get back up without help and the whole situation made her furious.:)  She ended up coming in with Mommy and Claire...sweet girl!  

It was a fun few days of snow!  While we enjoyed the snow, I feel like it's worth repeating....come on Spring!!  

Train

Emily and Hannah are playing together so well these days.  I mean really playing together, not beside each other.  The other night Bert and I were talking in the living room and the girls kept bringing things from their playroom into the kitchen.  We probably should have stopped the dragging of toys around the house, but we were talking and they were happy, so we were happy.  Anyway, Bert got up to check out what was going on and this is what he found.  They had built a train together.  So sweet!  

I certainly don't want to portray that our house is always peaceful and calm.  All this playing together also brings with it it's fair share of arguing, but the sweet moments of finding them playing together makes all the... "Emily, give that back to your sister," "Hannah, you need to let Emily have a turn," "Girls!!"...more than worth it.  It melts my heart every time I see them playing together.  Thankful!  

Wordless Wednesday

Claire - 1 month

Claire turned 1 month old last Saturday and had her one month check up today!  She got a great report!  She weighed 11lbs, 13oz and was in the 101st percentile for her weight (that's right...off the charts).  She was 22 inches long and in the 78th percentile for her height.  The doctor was so pleased with her weight gain.  Claire only nurses about 8 minutes every three hours (and she only nurses from one side each time).  Our doctor said I obviously have mostly all hindmilk for her to be nursing for such a short time and gaining weight like she is (Hannah did the same thing...only nursed about 8 minutes or so every 3 hours).  Very thankful...I would much rather have her off the charts on this end of the chart than on the other. I love my little cutie pie!!

I had to pack up Claire's newborn clothes last weekend...a little sad.  She tolerates the pacifier and will take it about 50% of the time, but even the 50% of the time that she will take it you have to keep holding it in her mouth a lot of the time.  It does seem to calm her down from time to time, but I definitely wouldn't call her a paci lover yet.  She likes getting her diaper changed and will often calm down during the change and after.  She's also started liking her bath as of about a week ago.  It's much more pleasant to bathe her these days.  

Claire's sleeping about  3 1/2 to 4 hours in a row at night (going about 4-5 hours between feedings).  I now know what people are talking about when they say they have a loud sleeper.  Claire makes lots of noises in her sleep and many of them wake me up, but I still loving having her in the same room as me for now.  

Claire's one month photo...

Emily and Hannah wanted to pile on the chair with her.  Sweet Claire didn't seem to mind.  They're not actually sitting on her even though it does look like it in this picture.:)

I was just about to pick Claire up and I noticed that Hannah and Claire were just staring at each other, so I had to snap a picture.  I hadn't told them to look at each other.  Just checking each other out...

Happy 1 Month!!  We love you, Claire!!

Claire's Newborn Session

Libby Wright, a photographer in Greenville, came over when Claire was 7-days-old to take her newborn pictures.  She came highly recommended and we were so thankful she was able to come over and capture this sweet stage that passes SO quickly!  

With Emily and Hannah, I had pictures taken of both of them when they were 6 weeks old, and while we LOVE those pictures and are so thankful to have them....I've always loved seeing the itty-bitty-newborn pictures of my friends' babies on facebook, so I decided to try to make the newborn session happen with Claire!  It definitely takes a little effort because you're not exactly in a routine, or put-together, or awake when you have a 7-day-old!:)  We had such a great experience with Libby!  She was patient, friendly, and she's so talented!  

Libby snapped a picture of Emily and Hannah before we actually got started and I loved both of them.  

My Emily has such a sweet smile!  These days when I asked Emily to smile for the camera she often gives me a "fake" smile...I'm not sure if she means to or not, but when I see this sweet natural smile it melts my heart!  Love her!  

I love this picture of Hannah too!  She has the most beautiful blue eyes and the longest eye lashes.  I also love seeing her chubby little hands on the door.  So sweet!  

She makes me smile.  

I love her sweet smile!  We've only seen it a handful of times over the last few weeks, but it's so sweet when we do! 

Look at those lips...so sweet!  

Claire was holding on tight to her Daddy's finger...

Sweet little baby feet!  

We often refer to E and H as the "big girls," but I realize that I will blink my eye and Claire will be right there with them.  Emily and Hannah are 22 months apart and Hannah and Claire are 23 months apart. 

We liked this picture!  We all four love our Claire Bear and we're so glad she's here in our arms!  

So Hannah wasn't exactly in the mood for this photo session.  2-year-olds....got to love them.:)  It's amazing to me how many good pictures of Hannah that Libby got because I'm telling you...when we tried to make her stand still, sit still, or smile she FELL A-PART!  I'm not above bribing during a photo session...we offered snacks, games on the ipad, told her she could hold her bunny, etc....the bribes kind of worked.  

Libby wasn't really able to get a good picture of all three girls together b/c Hannah was so fussy, and that was the one thing we were all a little disappointed about, but we knew that the pictures that she got would be great and we were looking forward to seeing them.  

Libby sent me a message a day or so after our session to let me know that she was able to photoshop two pictures together that were very similar and viola .... we have a cute picture with all three girls!  I didn't even know that this was a possibility, but I am soooo excited to have a sweet picture of all three of my girls at this stage when they're almost 4, almost 2 and 7 days.  

The next two pictures are the pictures that she put together to create third picture.  Impressive...I know.   

I'm so glad to have these pictures! I know I'll always look back on these and smile.  Thankful!