Sunday, February 27, 2011

As of today...

we are on vacation!  There may be updates during our time down here, but I make no promises as our days are going to be busy!  But I'll definitely be back next Monday with an update!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

A First

I've been trying to introduce Harper to a variety of real foods (i.e. non-jar baby food).  I'm not big on lunch myself, unless I meet up with someone somewhere, so I've been at a loss at home for something as good as it is nutritious. And while some may debate the nutritiousness of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, let's skip over that, shall we? (Though for the record, everything in this sandwich is either all natural or organic).  Let's also skip over the fact that making this simple, tasty little sandwich didn't occur to me until yesterday.  Hmm.  So, here you have it:  Harper's first PB&J sandwich (monumental I tell you!)




 I'd say it was a hit, no?

Friday, February 18, 2011

Addicting

My new yarn swift hasn't arrived yet, but I got a little antsy yesterday.  One of the things I bought was this yummy, buttery colored yarn
 and as fate would have it, this book was waiting by the front door for me when I got home.  Serious fate, I tell you.  Not only that, but Harper wanted to nap right then.  So what did I do instead of washing a pile of dishes or folding laundry?  I started working on a project.  Of course.  Once I started, I couldn't stop!  When Wade came home I handed Harper off to him and retreated to the bedroom for an hour and a half (thank you love!).  I brought it to my parents and to bed.  I felt like a kid at Christmas.  I woke up at 6:30 this morning and starting working on it.  Then only reason I have stopped so far this morning is to write this post.  I have a million things to do, but all I crave is to sit on this couch with my girl and knit.  At least that's what I'm doing this morning
Don't mind what I'm wearing.  I'm still in my sleeping clothes!
 Happy Friday to you all and have a spectacular weekend!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Pretend Spring

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, it was about 60 degrees here yesterday.  A truly beautiful day.  While we were home I opened the windows and the back door to air out the house and let the sweet breeze blow through.  It was a welcome freshness!  We only have one baby gate up in the house, set up in an area so that Harper can't get to the stairs, but I put it in the back doorway so she couldn't get out and the dogs couldn't get in (they needed to release some energy outside!)  I think I have mentioned before that Harper LOVES dogs, especially our English bulldog Charlie.  So her whole time while we were at home yesterday was spent standing at the baby gate watching them play outside.




Today is supposed to be another nice, slightly warm day despite winds and possible rain later.  So we're off to enjoy it once again!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Right Now Wednesday

It's almost 60 degrees here today.  Harper and I are off to the park, lunch, grocery shopping, and music class.  I'll leave you with some silly pictures from yesterday:)  Happy Wednesday!




Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Slow Day

Today I must study for a test.  This can only be achieved while Harper is napping.  Therefore, we will be doing a lot of playing, reading, cuddling, and possibly going outside (another semi-warm, sunny day is in the forecast!) for the rest of our day.  That is not to say that I'm going to try and wear her out as much as I can, but rather since I have no other obligations today (other than studying), we're going to take it slow.  Today I'm going to enjoy and cherish each and every moment with her.  It's what I try to do everyday, but some days are more hectic than others.  I know you know what I mean :)  It's easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the everyday.  It's difficult to remember to breathe, take it slow, and relish the tender moments that are so fleeting.  When I look at this sweet face

 my heart feels full.  Yes.  Today will be a slow day with my girl.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

Every 3 months or so we take Harper to get her pictures taken.  And everytime we go she's in a not-so-happy mood, which means we get less than stellar pictures.  Mostly they turn out like this:
 Or this:
 We took her on Saturday to get her (late) 9 month pictures taken.  She was perfectly fine all morning, but got woken up early from her nap.  It was all downhill from there. I think we might have gotten two smiles out of her.  But there are a few good pictures that the photographer (and I use that term loosely) got:







 I think we might skip her one-year pictures and just do family ones.  The whole time she wanted to be held and I would be able to do this during a family photo shoot.  It was a tiring experience, to say the least!

Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Corners from my home

I'm bursting at the seams just waiting for spring to get here.  I've been trying to add color all over our house since this spring fever of mine hit.  Also, adding flowers. Everywhere. It's nice to walk by one of my favorite pieces of furniture in the house and see it livened up by a little bit of "spring" in it.

Wishing all of you a very spring-y weekend!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Future Book Nerd

Harper and I ventured out into the frigid Indiana tundra yesterday.  We lunched with Grammie (Hi Mom!) and then headed to Joann Fabrics so I could, umm well, spend some money.  I have several craft projects in mind, along with several I have already started, which is why Wade told me he was taking Harper for a couple of hours (day and time of my choosing) for me to do whatever I want.  HA! Can you believe it?  I have decided to use my free-time to either A.) work on these projects or B.) go get my FAVORITE iced coffee drink and then peruse the local yarn and book store down the street from the coffee shop.  I can't make up my mind!


So, back to our day.  I dragged poor little Harper all over the fabric store looking for the perfect fabrics, yarns, felts, and a hot glue gun.  (And decided to take 3 classes they offer: knitting, sewing, and quilting).  From there we ventured to the library where Harper got her first library card! 


And checked out her first library books!

I think I was more excited about this than her, no?  She liked the games and yellow rocking kangaroo (that's been there since I was little, mind you.  Time for a renovation?  I think so).

I also signed Harper up for story time once a week and the Mother Goose reading group on Friday.  What can I say?  I was all about signing up for classes yesterday!



And finally we went to Kindermusik (which, I'm sorry to say, I don't have pictures of.  There's never an opportunity because we're constantly moving!).  Harper was thoroughly exhausted by then end of the evening and so was I!  I have to say that we had a very productive day!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

About Last Night

Last night, Harper was a wee bit hyper.

She was up and down, back and forth between me and Wade, and crawling all over the house.


Wade and I were tired.  Harper was not.  We went to bed anyway.


Harper rolled around the bed, almost knocked a picture off the wall,and literally bounced off the walls.


So we turned off the lights.  Harper laid down, curled up next to me, and fell asleep holding my hand.


Be still my heart.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Decoding Harper Speak

(I wanted to thank everyone who has recently talked to me or messaged me to let me know they read this little blog and that they like it!  I really appreciate feedback like that.  I honestly believed that no one, save for a few family members, read it, but I guess that's not the case at all!  It's comments like those that keep me going so THANK YOU ALL!)
 
My mom and I were having a conversation this morning that went something like this:
Me: "So I read somewhere that if your older baby wants to nurse ALL.THE.TIME. especially at night, they might just be thirsty.  Do you think this would work for Harper?"
Mom: "I think she is thirsty because she tells me when she sees a drink and then she drinks a ton so guess have a sippy ready for her at all times."
Me: Well, I guess she has been telling us when she wants a drink.  She just came up to me and said "duh duh" and I gave her water and that's what she wanted!  I think when she wants milk she says "kuh kuh."
Mom: "Yep. I think she's been telling us but we didn't know what she wanted."

So all of this time that she's been saying she wants a drink, I just force her to drink milk.  (Well, I say force but she rarely refuses to nurse).   Even in an earlier post I thought "tuh" meant milk.  I was wrong :0(  She has been saying more and more "words" lately, which I also mentioned in that post.  I honestly didn't know that babies starting talking this soon so I'm amazed (and no I don't think she's a genius child or anything.  Just brilliant!  HA!)  I guess the moral of this story is I need to brush up on my baby-word-decoding skills so I'm not neglecting my child's needs! :0)

Am I the only momma out there that has had this happen to them?  Please tell me I'm not alone!

P.S. For anyone wondering, I'm not trying to wean Harper, but she nurses constantly.  She does probably every 2-4 hours during the day.  At night it varies, but lately it's been every 1-3 hours.  I would like it if maybe I could have a little more sleep some nights! (That's not selfish right?!)