A Quick Note...

Harper stood ALL BY HERSELF this evening.  It just happened and lasted mere seconds, but it happened.  Of course, I have no picture to prove this.  It happened and then it was over.  But I just wanted to say that my not-so-little baby girl stood unassisted today.  I'm deliriously happy and sad at the same time.  Ah, such is being a mother I suppose!

Cuteness Caught on Camera!

I'm posting a video of Harper "singing" along with her Baby Macdonald VHS.  But before we can get to the ridiculous adorableness, a few warnings:

Warning #1: Yes, I am singing in the video.  I apologize.  This was the only way I could get her to sing along, too.

Warning #2:  Yes, it is laundry day.  Sorry about the mess behind Harper.

Warning #3:  As previously stated, we are watching a VHS.  And yes I know it's not 1993, but it was $1 and we only have a VHS player upstairs.  And yes, the tracking is WAY off on the video.  I just can't seem to find the remote to remedy this problem.

Warning #4:  I am not a professional videographer.  And 8 month-old children are notorious for wanting to grab things.  Therefore, if you get motion sickness easily, don't watch this video.  I was more focused on trying to get her to sing, trying not to sing too loudly myself, and keep her from grabbing the camera that the footage gets a little shaky at times.  Again, I apologize.

I think that's it.  If after all those warnings you still wish to watch, well, here's your cookie:

So, there you have the ovary crushing cuteness of the day.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

8 Months

Sweet Baby Harper,
    This past month has been a flurry of activity.  Here's just some of what has happened:
*You started crawling and I don't think you have stopped since.
*Your first Halloween.
*Your first Thanksgiving.
*As of three days ago you started waving hello/goodbye.  Or signing for milk.  Or motioning at things you want/like.  Either way, it's RIDICULOUSLY adorable. 
*You have started pulling yourself up on things and walking around furniture/people.
*You're getting your top four teeth, though only one has managed to push through the gum.  Poor thing.
*We picked out your first Christmas tree (and our first live tree as a family, too).
*You discovered tantrums.  Not cool.  But we're handling it as calmly as we can.

Big cheeser.  Waiting for her Thanksgiving food.

This is an incredibly fun age, let me tell you.  You smile almost constantly.  You're always giggling or "talking" no matter what you're doing.  You've started clapping your hands, but only when you get really excited.  You play now, which is so sweet.  You hold books and "read."  You play with baby dolls or blocks or house decorations, crinkle up your nose, and talk a string of vowels.  So.  CUTE.
You've also started trying to put on things.  Shirts.  Pants.  Blankets.  Daddy's (clean) boxers.  You pull these items up to your head and try with all your might to get them to go on.  I'm impressed.
This is the first month that you've paid attention to anything on the television.  Granted, that's mostly because I don't watch television during the day.  Mostly we listen to music.  But I got this Baby Einstein VHS at the library booksale for $1 and thought what the heck?  I don't think these type of movies will make you a genius.  They do, however, grab your attention for at least a minute at a time, long enough for me to use the bathroom or start a chore or do something before you see that I'm not near you.
Oh, and about separation.  You're okay if there's someone else in the room, but if it's just you and me, well, you have to be RIGHT. THERE. with me.  Which is fine.  I love that you want me all the time.  Unless I happen to break a glass and it shatters all over the kitchen floor (this morning) and I need you to play elsewhere.  Or if I need to shower (you do not like showers, by the way.  Tried that a couple of weeks ago).  You do not like the Pack 'N Play or vibrating seat or bouncy seat or jumparoo or walker.  Really anything that confines you is out of the question.  You're still okay with the wrap so I use that, but I don't like to use it often since you're so mobile now.
You're still nursing about the same amount of times, though you must be a champ because it doesn't take  you very long to gulp down several ounces.  Some nights you never wake up to eat and other nights it's every 2-3 hours.  Which means you're still sleeping right next to me.  I'm thinking of side car-ing your crib to our bed because you're a bit of a bed hog.  Oh, and you crawled right out of bed the other day.  I cried harder than you did.  You were just fine.  More scared than anything.  But I don't want that to happen ever again.  So we have to do something.
Harper, my love, you are the greatest thing to have ever happen to us.  You really complete our life and bring us more happiness and love than we ever thought possible.  There are so many moments where we just look at you and wonder what we did before you.  I know I've never loved so much before.  I've never smiled so much before.  And I know I've never kissed someone as much as I have you!  I can't wait to see what the next month brings for you!

We love you always and forever, with all of our hearts,
Momma and Daddy

Daddy,  Momma, and Harper on Thanksgiving Day at Grammie and Grampie's.

Question of the Day...

Is Harper telling me I need to tone up when she mistakenly latches onto my stomach instead of my boob?

Notice her incisors are coming in.  We affectionately call her "redneck baby"

 

because of her left tooth.

Last Week...

This past week was a bit of a lazy one for us.

We started off last week with some sort of stomach flu.  Momma even had to skip a class (ack!).

We played a lot, read a lot, and Momma discovered she has an addiction to grocery shopping (seriously).

We also did some eating, as you can see.  It was an uneventful week, but definitely one that we needed.  It was certainly a TLC kind of week!  Thankfully, we're doing better around these parts and preparing for Thanksgiving!

Last Days

These are the last days of warm weather and we're trying to make the most of them.  Harper and I spent yesterday enjoying the sun and the warmth and not doing much.  A perfect day for a walk.

Attack of the baby!

Harper is starting to pick up speed.

Even though her crawling is a bit robotic, she's getting pretty good!

I sat down to take pictures of her and as soon as her bottom was on the floor, 

she started propelling herself forward.

And she likes to pull herself up on things 

(otherwise known as trying to give poor Momma a heart attack)

Once up, she feels immensely proud of herself.

Gone is my little, tiny baby.  Before me stands a little person.

So. Adorable.

Let's hope I can keep up with her!