Harms Family News

I have two children, and most of the people who read this blog know them. One is petite, and one is not. That is why they are often mistaken for twins. The younger one is as tall as the older one, and unless someone has an unexpected growth spurt, she will be taller within a year or so. They are both healthy and at a good weight for themselves. I have asked the doctor about this. I have wondered about childhood obesity with my “big” child and failure to thrive with my “small” child, but they are both on their personal growth curves and have been for a while. He is happy with their growth. So, lately, I have been thinking about this. The younger child is always exclaimed over, “She can’t be three, she’s so big for three!” “Wow, she’s a big girl!” “Oh I thought she was five!” I wonder, do these comments sink in? We do not use the word “fat” in our house, even though I definitely could fall into that category. We talk about exercise and healthy food. We try to encourage h...

Last night the girls made up a basketball game. N would pass the ball to M across the living room, then M would dribble it to the front door and "shoot" it at the wall. I thought I heard N yell "Hoop it, hoop it M!" so I peeked my head in the room. Sure enough, N was cheering her sister on: "Dribble it, dribble it, now throw it. HOOP IT M! HOOP IT! Yeah! You hooped it!" This, of course, meant "shoot it." as in "shoot a basket." I was cracking up! Then this morning she tossed her jammies up on her top bunk, "Mommy, I love to hoop it!" You just keep hooping it sweet girl, and loving your life and your sister!

How far along? 31 weeks Maternity clothes? Yep. Sleep: Slept through the night two days in a row this week!!! Best moment this week: Finding out that my doctor still thinks we will go to term, just with lots of extra monitoring. Movement: Slowing down a little, but any time I get worried I can get her to move :) Milestones: On my babycenter week-by-week email I got notice that she should be about 3.3 pounds this week. She was 3.5 at my ultrasound three weeks ago. We grow 'em big! We also have a NAME! Gender: Girl Labor Signs: Nope. A few Braxton Hicks but they are going away. What I miss: My house not being a construction zone. Tim is working hard and doing a great job, but this flooring is taking longer than we thought it would! What I am looking forward to: Finishing this pregnancy. Weekly Wisdom: It's ok to relax sometimes. In fact, if you don't, your doctor may just prescribe it ;) Complications Update : Ok, so, my 24-hour test came back with proteins. T...

Miss M is excited about becoming a big sister. Here are a few quotes. "Mommy, da baby will cry, and I will give her a nuk nuk, a kiss, and a drink in her bottle. Then she not cry." "Mommy, the doctor gonna cut your belly like this (hand running across belly), take da baby out, then stick your belly back on. You gonna have an owie." (this after I explained how the baby comes out after she asked some fairly detailed questions. I explained both types of birth but this one is definitely easier for her to grasp at 3.)

How far along? 30 weeks. For some reason, this feels like a milestone. Maternity clothes? Yep. Sleep: So tired. Enough said. Best moment this week: At church Sunday the baby was moving so I took M's hand and put it on my tummy. Her face was so sweet. She got this look of wonder in her eyes and just smiled so big. I love that. Movement: Still very active. Milestones: passed the glucose test! Gender: Girl Labor Signs: Nope What I miss: My energy. Do you know where it went? What I am looking forward to: Not much. We are getting to have lots and lots of testing weekly from here on out. Oh boy! Weekly Wisdom: My children do not like me to cry. It makes them cry. Complications Update : Today my bp was up at my appointment, and I have had some higher readings this week. I can get them down if I sit for a while, but my life does not involve a lot of sitting. I have also been swelling some at night. SO my doctor is starting more aggressive testing. I have another 24-hour test to...

It wasn’t really a bad day. Just one of those days I question my decision to become a parent, and especially to become a mom of three. And one of those days that solidified my desire to be the mom of ONLY three. First, let’s set the stage. It all started with the time change. Now, my kiddos are older, and they have taken time changes in stride before. Not this time. This one has thrown them for a loop and they are just, shall we say, off. It doesn’t help that the great bunk bed transition has made for a little less sleep all around. They are adjusting beautifully to sharing a room, though. Add in a Monday. Mondays are hard. Sundays are busy, and we are tired on Mondays. This Mom-of-the-Year scheduled a checkup on a Monday. During quiet/nap time. Mistake #1. So, we pick up big sis from school and she is in a mood. Daddy warned us that she was tired when he dropped her off, and this was not a bit changed. After warning after warning that she will be laying down bef...

Five years ago tomorrow, I became a mother. Miss N arrived six weeks early and spent the first 13 days of her life in the NICU. I was a new mom who was unsure of everything, and she had the privilege of being my "guinea pig." In many ways she still is. :) She has grown into a smart, sassy, sensitive child who I love more than life itself. Thank you for introducing me to motherhood, sweet girl, and for growing into a sweet youngster. Natalie: One Year Old Natalie: Two Years Old Natalie: Three Years Old Natalie: Four Years Old! Natalie: Five years old! Natalie: Almost six years old At six, she is very grown up all of a sudden. She is questioning things and less willing to accept my answer as fact. It is challenging and exciting to see her become even more her own person with her own ideas. Here are some accomplishments over the last year: Starting kindergarten Becoming friends with her sister Learning to add Riding a bike (albeit with training wheels) Learning to ride a pony ...

Well, we are nearing the 3rd trimester. I think it is next week. The further along we go, the happier I am to still be pregnant and really fairly uncomplicatedly so. Here's the update for this week: How far along? 29 weeks Maternity clothes? Yep. Sleep: not so good this week due to a reaction to all of the dust in the air from our NEW FLOORING!!!!! Best moment this week: Taking my MIL and mom to the ultrasound. The tech was able to work with us to get some face shots even though baby is plastered up against my side. She is measuring in the 75th percentile at 3 lbs, 5 oz., which is ahead of target for her. The main concern with the high bp on the baby's end is her not growing, so she is growing well and that makes me happy. Movement: Still very active. At my last OB appointment they couldn't get the heart rate because she was moving so much (I blame the drink from the glucose test. . . Milestones: Not sure Gender: Girl Labor Signs: Nope What I miss: Not thinking about...

Tonight the baby had the hiccups and I was letting Miss M feel it. I wish I could have videoed her response. First, when she felt one her eyes got huge and she said, "I feeled it!" Then she felt some more and she said, "She has the hicumups. Like me. I get the hicumups too." Then, she got this very worried look on her face. "Is her getting sick?" I assured her the baby was fine and hiccups were good for babies, then she gave me a huge, excited hug. She is going to be a great big sister.