Big Apple Visitors

I thought it would be fun to chronicle all the friends and family that come to visit us while we are here in New York City! Here is everyone so far.

Stacey Blackwell

November 2012

 An oldie but goodie. :)  Stacey was here for a work conference and stopped by for a visit!  She was our very first visitor!

Rick and Donna Work and John and Donna Wilbanks

November 2012

Two sweet couples that were involved in our class at The Hills.  They were kind enough to take us out to dinner!  We then went to church with them the next Sunday at Everyday Christian.

Amy Tyler

December 2012

Amy (Brett's cousin) was in NYC with her friend and took Piper and I out to lunch!

Zack and Heather Thomas

December 2012

They came to NYC on a vacation and stopped by to say hi.  My mom babysits for their little girl and Zack's sister is my great friend Erica.

Mark & Tara Rich, and baby Madelyn

 January 2013

Special, sweet friends from TX.  Mark had work meetings in NYC so Tara and Madelyn came along and we hung out- in the apartment since it was FREEZING outside!  (Madelyn and Piper are only 3 weeks apart)

Mom & Dad

February 2013

Came for several days! 

Billy & Paula

 March 2013

Also came for several days!

Anna Bukiel

March 2013

A foreign exchange student from Poland on her spring break!

Rinn Dow

March 2013

She came to visit for my "baby shower hostess" substitute gift (per my request)

There are several more still to come and we can't wait!!

6 Months

Even though Piper is closer to 7 months at this point, I still wanted to post so we can keep up with her changes!  Thanks for being patient with me!

6 month stats:

Weight: 16 lbs. 13 oz (75th percentile)

Height: 25 1/2 inches (50th percentile)

-You can sit up for short periods of time all by yourself but we still like to keep the boppy or pillows behind you.

-You are cutting your top teeth (well just tooth).

-You absolutely love bath time and like to kick your legs in the water.

-You are squealing and giggling all the time.

-We started you on solid foods and you love all of them so far. You started with sweet potatoes. (Much to my surprise they were purple on the inside!  They are a new breed, and totally safe, we think).

-You love to reach out and grab toys and pull them towards you when you are sitting up.

-You are napping 3 times a day and still mostly sleeping through the night but I think you have some serious teeth coming through because you have been waking up several nights in a row.

-You love to laugh and talk to other little kids.  This is so cute to watch!

-You love to look in the mirror at yourself.

-You absolutely love all stuffed animals.  You smile and laugh at them especially when we make them talk.

5 Months

Our Piper girl is 5 months old.  Oh how time has flown by around here!  We are loving every minute with her.

 I love this picture!

-One of the things we love the most is getting you up from your crib.  You push up on your hands and smile really big and kick your legs when you see us.  You almost always wake up happy and it is such a joy to go and get you.
-You have 2 bottom teeth that came in several weeks ago.
-You are still doing a great job sleeping about 11-12 hours each night.
-You are grabbing at everything.
-Everything you grab goes into your mouth.
-You love your jump n play toy.  You talk and squeal and laugh when you are in it.
-You are starting to imitate sounds we make to you.  Sometimes you even fake laugh.
-You can almost sit up on your own.  You can sit for a few seconds in the tripod style.
-You are still so smiley and you like to laugh a lot too.
-You will smile at people you know all day but you no longer smile at strangers on the subway or bus.
-You are still in 3-6 month clothes but the tops are starting to be too short.
-You act very serious when we go out in the cold weather.  Not too much smiling- it's all business.

Happy Girl

We sure do have one happy little girl!

2 Teeth!

Piper was really fussy on Monday last week and on Tuesday I found out why.  When I rubbed my finger across her bottom gums I felt the tips of 2 teeth.  I tried really hard to get some pictures and finally I was successful!  I can't believe she is only four and half months and she has teeth!

Just a flesh wound

Warning: This post contains graphic images that may or may not contain blood.  Read at your own risk

The first Monday we were back in New York after Christmas vacation I experienced my first minor emergency.  It was about 9:15am and Brett had left around 9 for his first day back at work after two weeks off.  I was just getting around to fixing myself breakfast and was slicing into a bagel.  I suddenly realized that I had sliced a little too haphazardly and cut into the top of my left ring finger, pretty deeply I might add.  I ran to the sink to wash off the blood (that would not stop pouring out) and to catch my breath from the pain.  I knew I probably needed stitches but was unsure what my next move should be.  Brett was surely on the subway, without a cell phone signal and there was no way I was going to have him come home after being off for so long.  My one friend in the city who lives a block away happened to have a doctors appointment that morning so I could not call her either.  Piper offered no suggestions as she happily smiled from her playmat in the living room.  I decided to call my friend Sally and she suggested I find the closest urgent care and go there.  So, I wrapped up my finger as best I could with some stray gauze and packing tape, threw on clothes and loaded up Piper in the Moby and off we went.  It was only 4 blocks and 1 avenue away so we just walked.  The staff there was really nice and they were able to see me right away.  Luckily, the doctor said I could have Dermabond instead of stitches since the cut was on my fingertip.  So, I was proud of myself for surviving my first minor emergency in New York by myself and not freaking out.  Although now my loving husband is afraid to leave me alone with sharp objects. :)

My makeshift bandage.  Just a little blood.

Piper slept during the "repair"

After the Dermabond- much better!

Re- bandaged and no more bleeding.

4 Months

Is it really true?  Can our sweet Piper girl be 4 months already?  Well according to the calendar, she turned 4 months over a week ago on January 7th.  We think she is pretty fantastic and are loving every minute with her!  Pictures and milestones below.

 4 month stats:

Weight: 15 pounds (75th percentile)

Length: 25 inches (75th percentile)

Head:16 inches (50th percentile)

-You are now rolling over, officially, from front to back and sometimes I find you on your back playing after your nap.
-You have the sweetest laugh that we get to hear several times a day.  We think it's one of the best sounds in the world.
-You are sqealing and babbling more and more.
-You like to join us at the table in your highchair so you can check out what we are eating.
-Your love to sit in your jumperoo/activity toy and talk to the toys.
-Your facial expressions are developing more and more and we can clearly see some of your emotions.
-You did great with your 4 month shots- just cried for a few minutes.
-You are really reaching out and grabbing things and love to put things in your mouth.
-You love to lay on your changing table and kick your legs and talk.
-You are really loving your baths lately and like to kick the water.
-You are a really good sleeper and you even slept for 12 hours last night!
-You still like to ride/sleep in the Moby but you might be getting a little heavy for your mama.
-You smile all the time.  Really all the time.  You smile at anyone-even on the subway where you're not supposed to look at anyone.:)
-You still suck your thumb and I think that's why you sleep so great at night!