Pip's 3 Month Pictures

Gillian Dyan Photography did it again! She captured amazing pictures of my sweet little Piper! Piper has a personality all of her own.  She is a serious but a very happy baby.  She made Gill work hard for a smile but when she smiles she lights the room up!

 

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3 Months

 

My sweet little Piper you are now 3 months old.  You are changing so quickly.  Daddy and I are learning more about your personality everyday.  You are an observer and have a very serious side to you.  You make Mommy and Daddy work very hard for a smile or coo, but when you deliver all the silliness was well worth it.  Daddy and I finally have a routine that seems to work well.  In the morning I get you ready for daycare and Daddy takes you to Cindy's (Mommy always calls Daddy to check and see how drop off went).  After you leave for daycare Mommy gets ready for the day and heads to work.  Around 10:30 I call Cindy to check on you and again in late afternoon.  Cindy is great with you and keeps Mommy very informed about your day.  After work I head to daycare to pick you up.  I usually chat with Cindy for a bit and then we head home to walk Max.  You hang out in your swing while Mommy makes dinner and we chat and sing songs, then Daddy comes home.  After dinner we all go for a walk and then you and I head upstairs for your bedtime feeding, book reading, & rocking.  The evenings seems to go by so quickly.  I try to spend as much time with you as possible and save my to do list until you go to bed.   Daddy and I are enjoying watching you grow and change. We are blessed to have you as our daughter!

 

 

Weight: 11.9 lbs - 50% percentile

Length 23.35 inches - 50% percentile

Size: You are wearing 3 month clothes and size 1 diapers

Feeding Schedule: You like to nurse every 2.5-3 hours.  At daycare you are still struggling with the bottle.  You prefer your milk straight from the tap.      

Sleeping Schedule: We usually go upstairs between 7:00pm-7:30pm and you nurse while we rock.   You still wake up 2-3 times each night to eat.

Likes: You still love to be swaddled, baths, being rocked, going for walks, your soft pink bunny, Soothie pacifiers, watching Max run around, and sitting up.

Dislikes: Tummy time, Max barking, and loud noises.   

Events: This month you went to your first college soccer game IU vs Mexico.  We all enjoyed the Fort Wayne Air Show.  We celebrated Alivia's 9th birthday at the park with the whole Sparks family.  We went to a Labor Day cookout at the Harkless house and you started Mommy and Me music classes!

Daddy's Girl

We have a Daddy's girl in the making! Piper is smitten by her Daddy and Daddy is already wrapped around her finger.  She loves when her Daddy talks, sings, and reads to her.  They are a match made in heaven!  I don't think Eric will ever be able to say NO to his little mini me (but don't worry mama will say NO)!This is one of the most important she will ever have and I feel blessed that I married a man that understands his role as a Father. Eric is the first man she will ever love and the first man to love her. It brings me so much joy to watch their relationship grow and blossom. 

2 Months

My sweet little Piper you are now 2 months old.  The time is passing so quickly and you are changing daily.  My maternity leave is now over and I am heading back to work.  My heart feels torn, I don't want to leave you but I believe in my work and feel passionate about what I do and the people I help. You can not start daycare until you are 12 weeks old so your Aunt Kristi is taking care of you for the next 3 weeks.  My first day back to was hard but I knew you were being well cared for and loved.  Daddy and I are madly in love with you and feel so blessed to be your parents.

Weight: 10.12 lbs - 50% percentile

Length 22.5 inches - 50% percentile

Size: You are now wearing 0-3 month clothes and size 1 diapers

Feeding Schedule: During the day you eat every 2-3 hrs and at night every 3-4 hrs. You are still a great nurser.  Aunt Kristi is very patient with you while you are eating, she knows you prefer to nurse.  Hopefully by the time daycare starts you will be more accepting of the bottle.

Sleeping Schedule: We usually go upstairs between 8:30pm-9:00pm and you nurse at 9:30 pm and then we start our night feeding schedule. This week you have had a hard time sleeping.

Likes: You still love to be swaddled very tightly. You enjoy baths. You liked to be rocked. You are starting to like walks in your stroller around the pond.

Dislikes: You do not like tummy time.  Last week you rolled over 2 times during tummy time.   

Events: This month we went to Indy and attended your first baseball game.  We all stayed the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa Strobel  in Indy.  You went to your cousin Kinsey and Addison's birthday party.  You watched your first fireworks and slept through most of them.  We had a special play date at great Grandma Sparks house with Aunt Jean, Aunt Lisa, Leslie, Allison, Luke, Micah, and Bevin.

Ok Mom...No more pictures

Best Friends

Good friends can be hard to come by.  Growing up I went to 18 different schools.  I quickly learned to make friends but to never get to close so when I moved it did not hurt to leave them.  In high school I had my first best friend.  Janell and I met in gym class first semester our freshman year.  We had little in common but had an instant connection.  I let my guard down with Janell, I felt safe with her.  We continued our friendship into college.  Our friendship was meant to last a lifetime.  Then one day I got a phone call that would change my life forever; Janell was killed in a drinking and driving accident.  I was devastated.  Losing a best friend is so painful.  At Janell's funeral they read some of her journal entries.  One of her entries was about the Garth Brooks song "The Dance".  She explained how it was more important to love and get hurt than to never love at all.  These words were very helpful as I went through the grieving process and still speak to me today. 

I will always treasure the friendship Janell and I shared. 

After Janell's death I was a little guarded about friendship. I did not want to be hurt again. In the back of my head I always remembered Janell's journal entry. I felt like that entry was her speaking right to me.  

Over 5 years ago I met Kristi. The back story is my husband Eric and her husband Adam grew up together. Once Adam and Kristi were engaged they bought a house in Huntington 2 blocks from our apartment. Adam and Kristi invited us over for a cookout and the rest is history. We hit it off right away. Kristi and I could and would chat for hours. Over time I started to trust Kristi and our friendship was taken to another level. It is so nice to have someone I can always count on and that is always there cheering me along.  No one will ever replace Janell but it is nice to have a best friend again. 

Our little girls were born one year and one day apart.

Friendship is truly a gift from God.

One Month

My sweet little Piper you are now one month old.  

You are growing and changing daily. 

You have changed our lives for the better.  I could not imagine my life without you. 2 years ago I never thought I would be sitting here on our couch with you on my chest writing  a blog post about my sweet little girl, who is now 1 month old.  We struggled for 17 months to conceive you and with the help of the Lord and the doctors our prayers were answered.  We were so thrilled to be expecting but our excitement soon turned into fear due to health concerns.  Throughout my pregnancy we prayed along with many others for a healthy full term baby, again God answered our prayers.  You are truly a blessing in our lives and we love you more than words can express. 

Weight: 8.9 lbs - 50% percentile

Length 21.5 inches - 75% percentile

Size: You are still wearing newborn clothes & diapers

Feeding Schedule: During the day you eat every 1.5-2.5 hrs and at night every 3-4.5 hrs. You are still a great nurser. We have started to introduce bottles so you are prepared to go to daycare next month. You are not a big fan of the bottle yet and you do not like pacifiers either.

Sleeping Schedule: We usually go upstairs between 8:30pm-9:30pm and you nurse at 10:00 pm and then we start our night feeding schedule. 

Likes: You love to be swaddled very tightly.  You enjoy baths.  You liked to be rocked.

Dislikes: You do not like it when Max barks. You do not like your car seat. 

Events: In your first month of your life we have been very busy! We celebrated Annabelle's first birthday and Father's Day.  You attended church 3 times.  We went to 2 parades (Huntington & Warren).  You spent time with both set of grandparents and all of your aunts and uncles.  We have spent several evenings with your

God Parents (Aunt Kristi and Uncle Adam). 

First Father's Day

On June 17th (which was Piper's original due date) we celebrated Eric's first Father's Day. 

During my pregnancy Eric would express his concerns about being a parent.  I always reassured him that he will be fine and he always supported me with my concerns.  Once Piper was born Eric had no choice but to jump right in.  Since I had a c-section, I was unable to get around for the first 3 days. Eric changed his first diaper the day Piper was born and to his surprise he did great.  I was not surprised at all, I had faith that he was capable of taking care of her.  During those first days Eric would change her diapers, give her to me to nurse, then he would rock and burp her. Sometimes the best training is just being thrown right into the situation. 

I love watching Eric hold Piper, you can see the love and bond they share already. 

Growing up Father's Day was also a depressing day for me.  It was a reminder that I did not have a Father. At the age of 13, I was placed with new foster parents who later adopted me.  At 13 I celebrated my first Father's Day.  I will never forget that day.  My sister Jennifer and I helped our Mom make a huge lunch with all our Dad's favorite foods.  I look forward to watching Eric and Piper's relationship develop and I love knowing that Father's Day will be a day for celebration for my little Piper and her Daddy!

She already has him wrapped around her little finger (just as she should)!