Uncle Mike and Aunt Kristi Visit

Last weekend we had a little surprise visit from Uncle Mike and Aunt Kristi. Last minute they decided to come visit and I was really excited. We haven't seen them since the wedding, so It was great to have a day to spend some time together. They drove up late Thursday night after work so that we could all hang out on Friday. Since I work Sat/Sun we are adjusting and finding ways to see family. Anyways, when I found out they were coming I started googling things to do in town with Harper. It was so hot outside that we had to do something inside with Harper. So I finally decided on the Children's Museum at Fairpark. So early Friday morning we headed out for some family fun. First was a stop at the best breakfast taco joint in town. YUM !! Everyone loved Chiloso :) Then we drove to Fairpark and got our tickets. The children's museum turned out to be so fun. I think we had more fun that Harper. After the museum we decided to walk over to the aquarium. It was our first time to go and we had so much fun. We all fed the stingrays and Harper touched a Rock Lobster. Well we all fed the stingrays except me. NO WAY.. They gross me out for some reason. Then we walked over to the OLD MILL INN to have lunch. After lunch we ended up driving back to Rockwall and then headed out to the park. Michael got an electric boat as a wedding gift and we took it out to play. It was actually kind of fun, although I was terrified we were going to wreck it. Last we came home and I cooked a dinner and then put Harper to bed. We all talked for a while before bedtime. I love days like this. I wish we were able to do it more often. The older I get the more I love spending time with family doing fun stuff. I worked the rest of the weekend but MiMi and Kristi took Harper shopping on Saturday and Mike and Brad played golf. I was so sad for everyone to leave Sunday but hopefully we can get together again soon. So here are a few pictures from the weekend.

First Pony tail...

I was giving Harper a bath the other night and as I went to comb her hair I realized we have quite a bit of hair on the back. So what else do you do than try a pony tail.. We currently have the mullet still so her hair is only long enough in the back. But one day soon we will actually have a pony tail. Until then here is a little sneak peek of whats to come.

Adventure in Cloth Diapers

We started a new adventure this week. Not sure we picked the best week to start it considering Harper has been sick and on antibiotics but so far we have handled it well. I decided to try to use cloth diapers. When Harper was a baby it never really crossed my mind . Over the past year I have heard of people using them and always wondered how I would feel about using them. So I decided this past week to go out on a limb and give it a try. Honestly I know alot of people will be shocked but I could think of a many reasons why I am trying them. First of all it saves money , which is always good. I could think of many fun things to do with the money we would save. Also it's so much better for the environment. There are many reasons but really I have no expectations for the trial. If we like it we will do it and if not we will move on. I may even do it when we are home and then use disposable on the road. So far it has been about a week and we are doing great. I only have 6 so I cannot use them full time but I am finding out that it really is not a big deal. The only thing I am finding to be difficult is getting them completely clean with a number 2.. Sorry it sounds gross but if any one out there has any ideas I would love to hear suggestions. I ordered biodegradable liners to try which I think will fix that problem but I guess we will find out soon. I will say I have ordered two other brands to trial and I can't wait to get them and see what I think. Lastly, I just wanted to say that Harper looks absolutely adorable running around the house in a cloth diaper. Something about that little hiney in a cloth diaper that makes me melt. So I promise to keep you posted for all those people who are wondering what I am going to think. So I thought I would post a picture of Harper in her FUZZY BUNZ cloth diaper. We have multiple colors but the one I had on her was blue. I probably should have put a bow on her but who says girls cant wear BLUE...

Father's Day 2011

It is Harper's second Father's Day!

I wasn't expecting to be off today but the week started out with Harper being ill and then ending with me being ill. The first of many times that Harper will get sick and then passes it around the house:). I took Harper to the doctor Monday and her doctor was out of town so we saw another. He said she had a virus and she had been running a fever all weekend so that wasn't a surprise. He said if she still had one on Tuesday to bring her back in, and so the next day we ended up back at the doctor. Dr. B saw her the following day and found an ear infection so we finally started antibiotics. Harper started to look better the following day but on Friday I started to run a fever and felt terrible. I ended up going in to Care Now and she said I had a virus and pharyngitis. So now I am on antibiotics too and starting to feel better slowly. It has been so long since I have been sick that I forgot how miserable you can feel. But on the upside we ended up spending father's day together. We had already celebrated because I thought I wouldn't be here. We gave daddy a pair of wireless headphones for the T.V. so he could watch late night sports center. Harper had him a surprise and so daddy opened it that morning. We had the cutest shirt made that said " My daddy Rocks" with a drum set on it. So most of the day we just relaxed as I am still sick but we did go to the Hill's house to eat burgers and open gifts. Overall it was an awesome laid back day. Another father's day has come and gone now and even though we didn't do anything significant we had a great unexpected day to spend together. WE LOVE YOU DADDY and you are the greatest DADDY ever.

5 Things Harper loves about her daddy.

1. She loves when he goes to get her in the morning. She is always so happy to see him.

2. She loves when he chases her around.

3. She loves when he gets home from work in the evenings. She runs up to the gate and giggles so loud like its been so long.

4. She loves bath time with daddy. He always knows what to do to make it so fun.

5. She loves to say DADA. It is the word she says the most around the house. She will point to a picture of her daddy and say DADA a million times.

We could go on for a long time , because Harper adores her daddy. We actually just received our sneak peek for Harper's 12 month photo shoot with Erica and my favorite picture is one of Brad and Harper. You can see how much he loves his girl in the picture. So here are a few pictures from Father's day and two sneak peeks of Harper with her daddy. Hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day..

12 Months

Now that your party is done and the presents are put together. We are having so much fun with you. This month you have officially turned into a toddler. Even though you have been walking for a while now, I feel like you are now a toddler since you have turned ONE. We got up this morning and took you to your one year checkup with Dr. B and here are your 12 month stats.

Weight 18 lbs ( 8 Th %)
Height 28 in (20 Th %)

You are such a tiny girl but are growing good on your growth curve so Dr. B had no concerns. You eat good but are just on the move so much. I guess you burn alot of calories. You are so independent these days. We chase you around all day! It seems like you explore everything. I am constantly watching your every move because you love to get into things.You are so quick on your feet. When you look up and see me coming you speed up. You are still so funny. Tonight at the dinner table you were having a whole conversation with your self and mimi and I were cracking up.
Your vocabulary is great. You are so smart and pick up on words quick. Your updated list of words:
Mama
Dada
Mimi
Papa
Dog
Doggie
Bye bye
Ball
Fish- ISH
Weeeeeee
Uh oh

Favorite foods
chicken
cheese
biscuits
potatoes
mac n cheese
carrots
garlic bread- just like her mimi
goldfish
animal crackers
and I could go on for a while...

You are sleeping so good. Usually down around 8-8:30 and up at 7 every morning. Your new thing is that you have become a climber. It scares me so much. We have caught you going up stairs at Cici's house and climbing on your play stroller multiple times. I hope you do not start this in your bed. I will freak out. I want you to be safe in your crib. But I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you figure out how to climb out.We started swimming with you and you are such a Diva. You hate cold water , so we have to heat up the hot tub just a little at Cici and Papa's house for you to get in and then you love it. You love other children. You are in such awe of them. I am going to put you into a Mother's Day Out program but not until you are 18 months old. You now dance when we ask you to and it is so cute. You are doing so much these days it is so hard to keep up. I'm finding new ways each day to entertain you and keep you busy. After your party we have been playing with so many new toys. Right now I would say your favorite toy is the Cozy Coupe. We got you a little trailer and you fill it up and climb in and out our your car. Well, I cannot wait to see what the next few months bring. We love you so much and look forward to doing some fun things this summer. Happy 12 Months baby girl. This month no crazy dress up pictures but just some of my favorites of us just having some fun.

First Splash Park visit with Landon!



Cozy coupe fun!



One year doctor's appointment!



Post birthday party nap with mom!

Harper's First Birthday Party

On Saturday we celebrated Harper's first birthday party. What a special day it was. It's weird that the day has already come and gone so quickly. Seems like we have been preparing for months and it's already over. The party was perfect and went so good. All the tiny details I added for Harper she will not remember , but I just wanted to make it special for her and I will never forget this day. We had adorable cupcakes! Vanilla, chocolate and lemon with little fondant flowers or 1's on them.

Her smash cake turned out to be so cute to. I think so cute that Harper was so gentle with it. She turned out to be quite the Diva and did not smash it at all. It made for an easy clean up. I will say she loved it for sure. Brendal added a white chocolate 1 mold on the top and that was her favorite part.


She had the perfect birthday hat and bloomers. The hat didn't last long, but she sure was cute in it for a few seconds...:)



Of course a mommy and daddy moment!

The Happy Birthday song and one fired up candle. All while holding my daddy's hand.

A little sharing. Harper is the sweetest girl ever!! :)

Opening presents from all of our awesome friends and family. Harper got some really fun stuff like a backpack, cozy coupe,trike,water table,first baby doll, sandbox, swing/slide set, tea set, potsy, dinner place mat, food tray,clothes, curious George dvd, doll and book, veggietales movie,outdoor pool and toys, CD player and bow holder. Man someone is spoiled!!





And to say " Thank You" , we had a candy table with every candy that was made egg shaped or bird related. We even had haystacks made by Cici with jellybeans for eggs in them.




And all over the house were special things made just for Harper. One of my favorite things was a banner I made that had Harper's 12 month pictures . I can not believe how much she has changed in 12 months. And also a slideshow that Mimi made that played in the background with tons of pictures of Harper over the last year. We also had pink lemonade and strawberry milk for the kids. And we had faquitas with all the trimmings.



The day was so special and without all of our friends and family it would not have been the same. Special thanks to Mimi for all her help in preparing. She is such a great mother and grandma. We love all of these people in our lives.







Thank you to everyone who was able to be a part of Harper's first birthday. Happy Birthday Sweet Harper and we look forward to planning your next birthday.