School is in Session!

‘Harman home daycare’ has been under way for a month now and I would like to announce that we have all survived and are adjusting to the many changes. Some days are more challenging than others, just like being a parent of 2 little ones, but overall things are going well. To give you a taste of what a typical day looks like with a 2 year old (Brett), 11 month old (Grace), 8 month old (Bailey) and a 3 month old (Colin)…
Average – 16-18 diapers at least!
13 cups or bottles
6 meals
8-9 naps (unfortunately none taken by me)
2 Storytimes...the goal anyway(they currently all LOVE Brown Bear, Brown Bear)
Typically multiple changes of clothes (I actually fit in this one, there is usually spit up or some other ‘liquid’ on me for one reason or another)
And 2 very large needed cups of coffee...I never thought I would say that.
I was thinking other day of how many options we need or have to accommodate or ‘secure’ all of these peanuts and to shed light we have: 2 beds, 3 pack n’plays, 2 high chairs, 2 booster seats, a swing/bouncer, jumperoo, bumbo seat, 2 single strollers, 1 double stroller, 1 radio flyer…oh and the newest addition, the QUAD stroller. Yes, that is an actual stroller MADE to strap in and push 4 children at one time. It is a beast. And a necessary, blessed contraption at that. It is a used stroller and it is extremely heavy to maneuver but it is SO nice to be able to get out of the house, even if it is for a little while. Really, in consideration of our schedule (meals and naps) the most opportune time to get out of the house is b/w 8-9 am. And that’s kind of it. So I have been making a huge effort to do so and take advantage of the fresh air. The first day that we got out of the house (after 20 min of preparing and getting all 4 strapped in) the kids literally went silent for 5-10 minutes. It was amazing.
For Brett and Bailey updates…
Brett has been doing great with all the changes, he has had to grow up a lot and help me with the other ones. Sometimes he’s cool with this…other times, he resists, in a way that 2 year olds do. We’ve actually had to change his typical time-out routine since it was too close to other kids sleeping and I didn’t want his screaming to upset anyone. If he misbehaves now, we ‘take a break’ and this is done in the room with me. He has to count to 10 so that I can hear him, take 2 deep breaths, tell me why he needed a break and then apologize to me and typically his sister for whatever he did. I’ve been really impressed how well this has worked and has been incredibly easier than his original time out.
Bailey is growing up way too fast now. I really think by watching 2 kids older than her, she has taken it upon herself be like them. She will NOT be left behind. As soon as Grace started here, Bailey has been determined to do whatever she is dong. She is crawling, belly off the floor. She is standing. She is pulling up on toys/furniture. She is climbing on/over anything she can find. And she has the funniest little personality coming out. We started with some finger foods (Cheerios, bread, etc) and now most times, she refuses to eat pureed baby food (much to my disappointment since I just made a bunch more). Bailey yells, laughs, gets worked up with the other kids and can even be a little sassy if she is in the mood for it. She cheers and claps when one of the other kids comes back after a nap. She also has become the biggest cuddler, loves to give kisses and hugs and has become a ‘little mama’ to the baby we are watching. Whenever Colin is around, Bailey has to crawl over to check on him, hold his hand and occasionally take his binky and blanket to snuggle with (we are working on the last 2).
Brett’s funny sayings…
Every train stop on the way to Auntie Zora’s house yelling…’Zooooorrrra, where ARE you?’
‘Choochoo loud…baby (Bailey) scared. Uh oh, choochoo say sorry.’
When the batteries were out in his toy ‘OH NO MOMMY, don’t work! Call 911!’
‘See you tomorrow…after night night.’
When Colin came in, ‘Hi there buddy’
When he pinched me, ‘Hurt Mommy’s arm…’ (put a cracker in my mouth) ‘here, feel better’
Rob threw a football at Brett when Brett was not looking ‘Not nice Daddy, not nice’
Told him it was a special morning because we had coffee cake for breakfast, he started singing happy birthday to you. Realized he’s never had cake without it being for someone’s birthday.
Brett also has picked up singing…ABC’s, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Itsy Bitsy Spider and what seems to be his favorite…Row Row Row your boat. Literally 5-6x a day, I’ll catch him mid-song…’Merrily, merrily merrily, merrily, life bum bum bum DREAM!’
Brett had a blast going to one of Rob's wrestling events, he ran around and threw himself on the mat yelling 'WRESTLE WRESTLE'. I actually heard him yesterday when I was in the kitchen saying 'Wrestle Babies' (Me) "BRETT, NO!"
We've been trying to get ready for Halloween and talking to Brett about what he wants to dress up as. We have a catalog and he was pretty set and determined on a firefighter. But just in the last couple of days, he's told me he wants to dress up like daddy. Rob's response...I mean, why wouldn't we let him be what he wants?!?

Harman kids + 2!

Labor Day Weekend in Ohio

A lover and a fighter

A wonderful summer comes to an end...

There’s much to update, as my dear husband so kindly reminds me. Ironically, I was ‘encouraged’ to do so while he is off on another man date with Pat. That’s right, I said it. Rob’s on a man date, to a Slayer concert no less. Brett was actually upset that he was not allowed to go. He was chasing them out the door, grabbing his shoes saying “Brett go Uncle Pat Pat’s music!” Meanwhile I’m stuck with a 2 year old for the rest of the night asking to go to a heavy metal concert and confused as to why that would be an inappropriate place for a toddler.
We were blessed with the opportunity to have a kids free weekend for our birthday/anniversary celebration last month. Both Johnson Great Aunts and Grandma Nancy stayed with Brett and Bailey so that Rob and I could enjoy some time with each other. It was great to have a break but couldn’t avoid waking up at 6am like usual. Brett certainly appreciated the extra attention and asked for days where Bobbie and Barbie went.
We had a quick couple days in Ohio. We went down to Cincinnati to see my old college roommates and their new additions (Baby Sawyer Bradshaw and Alexandra Brenkus), then up to MG for a few days with the Wood grandparents. Poor Bailey was sick for the majority of the time, come to find out she had THREE teeth coming in (total count up to 5!) and an ear infection to top it off. She did great considering she had a high fever for days. Sorry I didn't get many pictures of that trip, camera was dead.
Other Harman updates:
Rob is back to school, he started the beginning of Aug….and has been without A.C. in 90+ degree weather…but remains quite positive.
Bailey has ‘graduated’ from her DOC band so she is officially done with it. She looks great.
Brett has a fantastic memory and has no shame selling out his father. (“Brett, what did daddy give you for breakfast?” “cookies” “Oh really?”)
Bailey is officially on the move. She’s not technically crawling since her belly doesn’t come off the ground except for the occasional ‘yoga plank’ but she does scoot with purpose and gets to where she wants to go.
Bailey has a good grip…ask Brett and his poor hair that she pulled out.
I’m attempting to make Bailey’s baby food …we’ve accomplished bananas, avocado, sweet potato, and papaya. Next we’re adding butternut squash, plums, apples and pears. I just made sweet potato and butternut squash pancakes for Brett...who am I?
My 7 month old daughter and my 2 year old son can wear the same diaper size….
We’ll be adding 2 more kids to the Harman house this year…NO, not our own! I’m watching two other little ones. So soon there will be Brett and 3 under 12 months…it’s going to be busy. And that’s a lot of diapers.
Brett made me rewind the morning news 3x so he could see the fire trucks and ambulances on an accident report.
Bailey LOVES music. Now that she’s sitting up, she’ll bounce and dance with anything that is on. She is a particular fan of the ABC’s and Itsy Bitsy Spider.
The terrible 2’s have hit and time outs are typically experienced multiple times a day… but now Brett puts himself in time out. He squeezed Bailey making her cry (his most frequent transgression), he said “Whoops, Brett time out, go sit down” and walked out of the room.
Bailey’s legs got stuck in her crib (please refer back to diaper size)…enough so that I actually had a hard time getting her out. Time for the bumpers!
Rob was trying to get Brett to say “Go Blue”…he responded by yelling “NO, Go Buckeyes!” Happy Mama and Happy Football Season

Summer trips

Thornburg/Harman Visit

We’ve had a lot of fun this summer. Our 2nd annual Thornburg/Harman visit was a blast! Brett Thornbug (4) and Brett Harman (2) were hilarious and exhausted by the end of the weekend. We took all 3 kids on the train downtown to the Children’s museum at Navy Pier. The actual commute was tiring for the adults in 90 degree weather but the Bretts were thrilled to experience a train ride, bus ride AND got to play at the museum. We enjoyed wonderful BBQ food from Smoque. And then the boys had ‘no girls’ breakfast on the McCann yacht. Our Brett was basically hyperventilating from so many transportation opportunities. Dustin and Rob, I’m sure will say their highlight was hearing that without any provocation, the Bretts without talking, grabbed the boxing gloves and holding pads and started ‘practice’ in the morning after breakfast. It went about 3 exchanges and then Harman realized he wasn’t as big as he thought he was. Game over. He also refused to be called “little Brett”. I told him coming down from a nap that he could be ‘little Brett’ and Brett Thornburg could be ‘Big Brett’ so it wouldn’t be so confusing. He immediately argued saying, “no, Big Brett too” pointing to himself. Fair enough. Can't wait for next year's reunion!