Friday, November 29, 2013

Thankfulness

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Janis's family in Barry, Illinois.  We left around 8:45 and got to Mark and Lisa's house around 12:00.  She had it beautifully decorated and the food already smelled wonderful. Since the kids slept most of the way, they were ready to play when we arrived.  Lunch was delicious, and we had a wonderful visit with Emily and JB, Chris, Aunt Vicki, Grandma Mary, Jim and Janis, Adam, and Mark and Lisa.  After lunch, we played a game with pictures you had to make a caption for and then select the best one. (I can't remember the name.)  Here are some pics from our fun day!  A special thanks to Lisa for hosting such a lovely time!
This little turkey loves her daddy!

What a beautiful table!

Favors decorated the table, too!


Lisa had a special seat for Beckett and Harper, complete with their own plates and silverware. :)

With Miss Emily!

Playtime!

Beckett was hanging out with some of the guys after dinner

Emily took some Christmas pictures for us, so Miss Harpy dressed up.  She loves Mee Maw!

Beckett and Aunt Vicki discussing, "What does the fox say?"

Pictures are growing increasingly difficult...

Thankful for Daddy!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Cisco Center Thanksgiving!

Every year since 1997, my grandma's side of the family has gathered at Cisco Center for Thanksgiving.  This meal brings her sisters' (Mart, Maggie, Gertrude, Edith) and brother's (Ivan) families together. Each of her siblings had families, which is my mom's generation.  Then, my generation all have families, and some of our kids are starting to get to the age of getting married.  Every year, we gather in a large circle, count off, and then Great Uncle Dave prays. Then, we eat the most delicious meal and have such wonderful conversations with family we see only this one time every year. It is such a wonderful tradition, and a weekend I look forward to sharing with my mom each year.

Prior to 1997, the family gathered at Great Aunt Barb's house for this same tradition. She collected salt and pepper shakers and had more than I have ever seen or any of us could count.  The family gathered there from 1973 to 1997, when Aunt Barb passed away. Prior to that, the celebration was always held at my mom's grandparents' home, until her Grandpa passed away in 1973.  That house is actually where my Uncle Rick (Mom's brother) and Aunt Dianne live now.  (Their daughter and my cousin, Natalie, is who the Pop! shower was for in an eariler post.)

This year was another special experience, especially when Beckett ran up to Grandma and exclaimed, "GG!" With his arms open, he jumped into her lap and gave her the biggest, brightest smile.  That is a special memory, and a reason this celebration means so much.  I also got to catch up with my cousin, Tammy, who was my best friend growing up.  She is so happy and doing so well - she owns her own business in Mahomet (which sounds glamorous but is a lot of hard work!) and has recently found a very special person to share her life with.  (Their first date was on Harper's birthday, so I'll always remember that!)

Here are a few pics from the day:
Uncle Jay came to go hunting with Daddy, and Harp loved his beard!

Little Turkeys - Love. :)

Tam and Harp

MMMMMMM!


"I want to go see GG, Mommy!"  My heart is happy.
The gym is one of the great parts of renting this space because the kids can play. This is the first year I've had a kid who can play. Sniff, sniff.


Friday, November 22, 2013

8th Months!

We are so in love with this little eight month old doll!
Making her holiday debut in her first ever Christmas dress.  All the Trimmings, Matilda Jane Plat.



At eight months, Harper is getting more fun every day!  Her little personality is starting to develop and here is what we've noticed:
-She wakes up so happy every morning.  She smiles, coos, flaps her arms, and kicks her legs in excitement to see you.
-She really knows people now.  I told Shonn she makes me feel so special because everytime she sees one of us, she smiles and kicks!
-She does not like to be left alone.  At.  All.  She will play really nicely as long as someone is sitting near her or with her, and she most prefers to sit on your lap or be held as you go about your daily routine.
-She loves to be cuddled...until she doesn't.  She wants to be held and loves to see what is going on, but if we are on the couch, she would prefer to sit up than to be cradled like a baby.  She will arch her back to let me know "that's not happening, momma!"  It's one of the first ways she's moving out of the baby phase.
-She fights sleep.  This little gumdrop is going to be a spicy one.  She does not want to miss what's going on and will fuss as soon as she feels herself drifting off.  If, however, she doesn't see anyone as she's falling to sleep, she will nap.  But the second she notices someone in sight, she is going to let you know she is NOT happy about the whole sleeping thing.


Here is what is happening physically with Ms. Harper Jane:
-She sits up very well.
-She can bear weight on her legs, but she's like a wibbly-wobbly doll and has to be held while doing it.
-She has two teeth (so cute!) and seems to have more on the way because she is chewing on everything.
-Her fine motor skills are excellent; I'm amazed at the small things she can pick up and manipulate.  Beckett isn't thrilled about this development, since it often has something to do with his toys.
-She isn't crawling; more like face-planting.
-She runs her tongue along her gums and sticks it out a lot!

Cognitively, I've noticed:
-She responds to her name by looking at you.
-She tries to clap and loves it when someone claps for her.
-She makes a variety of facial expressions and laughs and smiles frequently.
-She can put together vowels and consonant sounds while babbling, but doesn't associate them with objects yet. (dadadadadada; buhbuhbuhbuh; mummummm)
-She is happy most of the time!
-She watches your mouth move very closely when you talk to her.
-She prefers to hold the book while you read. This could be a sign about her personality...-She is curious and wants to explore everything.  (Including Beckett's hair and ears, which she likes to pull toward her mouth...)  Beckett is incredibly patient and sweet to her.

That smile!

The most ridiculous bow in the world. And she loves it.

Bundled up for a chilly day.








Flapping!



Sweet sleeping doll.


Playing with a mini Lexi.

Ready for the holidays!

Booster Shot? No Problem!

Harp had to get a booster shot for her flu vaccine today. She hardly cried and was as happy as could be less than a minute later! She weighs 17 pounds.
I had to add this story... Harpy has started this thing where she will cough to get a reaction.  I believe it's because every time she actually coughed, we would all comment, "Oh! What a bad cough! Poor little thing!" She learned it was a good attention-getting strategy, so now it's become a little game we play. It's super cute, IMO.  Anyway, today at the doctor's office when we checked in, I took her out of her pumpkin seat and the receptionists came over and started cooing at her and saying how cute she was.  Soon, they stopped and returned to working at their computers. At a perfectly quiet moment, Harp coughs. They all stopped what they were doing and commented, "Oh my! What a bad little cough!"  Then she smiled. HAHAHA! It was hilarious and a sign of trouble to come, for sure. :)
No bow! 
(Here she is with her bow from today.)


I Made a V!

Beckett just told me, "I made a V and put a line through it!"  Yes, honey, you sure did! 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Harper's Bazaar


After some friends asked me aboutHarp's  room, I realized I never posted about it! Here are some pics. :) 
Alice in Wonderland quote. Love it. 

The same artist did letters for Pottery Barn. She's amazing and you can find her stuff on etsy. Her shop is Katie Daisy. 
Bathroom and closet doors included. 
Changing table wall. I made the ribbon mobile and lamp shade and painted the flower:
You are my sunshine and bookshelf wall. I wrote a post about making the sunshine quote and also one about the bookshelves Shonn and his Grandpa built. 
Dresser and window treatments I wrote about previously:
Bathroom views:
I made the matching pennants:
Harper Hild - one of two bow walls. :) 
I'm happy with how it turned out, although there are still a few little things I want to adjust and change. It's happy, sunny, and super-girly!