Case Closed

Howdy Y'all!

Tomorrow is little Emma's first birthday.  She was known to me as Kinley - and she was our sweet girl for 3 days until her birth mom changed her mind.  We, of course, got a lot of closure when we adopted our wonderful daughter, Harper.

I have always wondered what happened to Sarah and Emma and I wanted to know if they were happy so today, I emailed Sarah to say Happy Birthday to Emma.  I also included a picture of Harper because I wanted to reassure her that Tony and I were very happy with life and things worked out exactly perfectly.  I really didn't expect a response from her, but to my surprise, I got an email from her about an hour later.

Here is a picture of Emma (not the best quality, but all I have...obviously) - she has those cute cheeks just like Harper!

She was glad to hear from us and she said that she had been thinking about emailing us as well.  Sarah sounds like she is happy with her life and I am so glad to here that.  Emma had a rough start to life - Sarah informed me that she ended up in NICU on her 9th day and that she almost died.  I am so thankful so many of you were praying for her around that time because God does work miracles.  Emma was only weighing in at 3 lbs, 5 oz at day 9 and she had to have a feeding tube until she was 5 months old.  Today, at 364 days old, she is completely healthy and so cute.

I feel like the case is closed here since I have heard back from Sarah - and the small weight that was still left on my heart has been lifted.

And, here are some pics that I took on Sunday of my little Harper...I really don't think she can be any cuter.

Toodles!

Whoo, Whoo is 8 Months Old?

Howdy Y'all!

Happy 8 Months Old to my sweet baby girl Harper!

I can't believe that Harper is 2/3 of a year old!  Time is just flying on by!

I took Harper to the doctor for the first time outside of a well child visit about 10 days ago and she weighed in at a whopping 20 lbs, 6 oz!  She was also 27.5 inches long.  She came away from the doctors office with an ear infection in each ear and a cold.  Poor baby!

Harper is wearing 6-9 month clothes and some 12 month clothes.  We have so many outfits in 12 months that I really want her to wear, but I feel like the neck is just a bit too big.  And, I can't figure out if Harper has short arms or if some of her clothes just have super long arms because we always have to roll up (I actually roll under) her sleeves.

She is wearing size 3 diapers and I am just hoping we can make it through this last jumbo box of diapers that we have from Sam's Club before we have to move up to a size 4.  I feel like our time in size 3 diapers is nearing the end.

Harper loves to clap and I just think it is adorable.  (Of course, I might think everything she does is adorable!)

Harper has really found her voice this month and of course (like most babies), her first word is Da-Da.  She says it all day long.

She experienced her first snow and she loved it.  She was kind of in a foul mood that morning and she really perked up when the snowflakes hit her face.

We finally found a food that Harper doesn't like...avocado.  I can't believe it...how could someone hate avocado?  They are so tasty!  But, we also found out she loves frozen yogurt.  She hasn't had much of it, but she certainly wanted more once she got a taste.

She got her first taste of juice (very watered down) and she drank it from a sippy cup!  She is such a big girl!

Harper still loves playing with her cousins and enjoyed her time with them this weekend in Texas.

And, bath time is still probably her favorite time of the day!  She loves it...it can turn a grumpy Harper into VERY happy Harper!

We only have 4 months left until Harper is 1...and am I crazy because I have already ordered her birthday cake???

Toodles!

Feed the Goats, Tuppence a Day

Howdy Y'all!

Harper is having a great time in Texas...just in the last 26 hours or so, she has seen too many people to mention.

We started the day at my sister's school reading to her 1st graders and it was a blast!  I read a book about Froggy and his T-Ball game and my sister told them I played softball.  At the end of the book, her class asked me questions (because they are learning about what makes a question) and one of her kids asked me "Were you any good?"  Those kids were a handful and just so much fun.

Harper spent the rest of the day playing with her cousin, her Nana and Grandmother and her Mommy.  Fun Day!

We ended the day across the street from my parents house...feeding the birds goats, tuppence a bag.  There are some sweet little baby goats...and some mean old billy goats, but it was still fun.  I even got a cute picture of Harper feeding them.

We are off to the great metropolis of Eagle Lake, Texas tomorrow for a 1st birthday party for a sweet, sweet girl...Kenley Madden Vasek, my college roommate's (and one of my very favorite people) daughter.   And, you know what makes the drive completely worth it...we go by a Bucee's!!!!!!!!  Beaver Nuggets, here we come.  ha!

Toodles!

Dolly Rocks!

Howdy Y'all!

Growing up my room was never short on books - I always had them!  I had a cabinet that held them all and it was stuffed full.  So, of course, Harper has a ton of books.  We started buying books before we even knew she was coming into our lives.  We have also gotten several as gifts from friends and family and my mom even found several of my old books that survived me, my sister and my niece Hailey.  But, now we have another source of books!

Back in November, Harper's daycare gave us paperwork to fill out to join Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.  Dolly Parton and the United Way have teamed up to provide children FREE books - one per month until they turn 5 - that means 50+ free books for Miss Harper over the next several years.  We got our first one in the mail today.  You should google this and see if it is available in your area...it is totally worth your time.

We look forward to reading our new books for years to come!  I have always thought Dolly Parton was just so cute and bubbly, but now I just think she is downright amazing.  Love her!

And, I couldn't resist a few pictures of Harper before I say goodbye.  I think the first one is so cute even if she isn't looking at the camera.  And, the second picture isn't great, but I just think it is so sweet!

Toodles!

New Sparkle!

Howdy Y'all!

On Monday I had to take Harper to get her flu shot booster and I was so impressed with her at the doctor's office.  After they gave her the shot, her face went a little sour, but I put her pacifier in her mouth...and no tears!  She has always cried for her shots and I was so proud of her!  She even left the doctor's office with the biggest smile on her face.  I knew that she needed a treat for her wonderful behavior...

...so today Harper got some new sparkle in the form of some new earrings.  Yes, we got her ears pierced.  She was a trooper!  She cried for about 30-45 seconds and then she was just fine.  There weren't many smiles right after getting them done, but at least there weren't many tears.  We had them done at the mall at Claire's - we had been trying for over a month to get them done at Merle Norman, but their schedule is just ridiculous and they never had anyone working that would pierce a baby's ears.

She was pretty proud of herself when we got home.

Since we were at the mall - and Harper had done so well getting her flu shot this week and getting her ears pierced - we thought that she deserved another treat.  Harper went to Build a Bear for the first time and got her own bear!  Then, the smiles came out!  She just squealed in delight...it was so cute.

Today has been a great day!  We love spending time with this precious girl!

Toodles!

Whoo, Whoo is 7 Months Old?

Howdy Y'all!

My little Harper turned 7 months old on Friday - I just can't believe how fast this first year is going.  I even bought something for her birthday party this week because I feel like if I don't start planning now, it will sneak up on me!

Can you believe just a few months ago she was this small?

Harper is wearing 6/9 month clothes and on occasion, she has worn some 12 month outfits.   This cute little girl still hasn't worn anything twice, but we are getting close to repeating an outfit soon.  I can't even believe that we had so many clothes!  It is crazy!  People were just so generous to us...Harper and I are both spoiled so much.

She is wearing size 3 diapers and I hope we stay in this size for another month or so since we still have lots of size 3 diapers left.

She doesn't have a ton of hair, but what is growing in is almost white.  It is so, so blonde.  Her eyes are still blue most of the time, but they go between green and blue.  My eyes do the same thing so I think it would be cool if she ends up with the same trait as me.

Harper FINALLY master rolling from her stomach to her back this month.  She has been rolling over from her back to her stomach for 4 months, but she hated tummy time so much that she refused to roll back over and she would just cry to be rescued.  Our doctor told us to just let her cry it out and force her to do it...and sure enough, that worked.  Now that she has master both directions, she just rolls everywhere when you put her in the floor.

She is the happiest baby in the morning- just full of smiles and it makes me sad to have to drop her off at daycare when she is such a good mood.

She loves bath time and loves playing with her rubber ducks!

Harper probably eats more fruits and vegetables than I do.  :)  Maybe not fruits...but, quite possibly the vegetables.  She has now had sweet potatoes, green beans, green peas, squash, carrots, apples, oranges and banana.  Next up we will add pears and nectarines in the mix.   I have made all of her food so far and she has loved everything!

She loves all of her new toys from Christmas - she looks adorable playing her piano from her Nana and PawPaw.

Harper loved playing with her cousin Ava - Christmas was the first time that she was old enough to actually play and interact with Ava.  It was so cute to see them together and I can't wait to get them together again.  February can't get here soon enough.

I really can't believe it is going so fast, but I love watching Harper grow.  This has been the best 7 months!

Toodles!

Mommy, Give Me a Minute...I am Busy Reading a Book

Howdy Y'all!

Today Harper was playing in her room while I put away her laundry and I got some of the cutest pictures.  She loves her books!

Hmmm...which book to read?

This page looks interesting!

I wonder what it says.

This is sooo good - I have to get a closer look!

Playing with Mommy is so much fun!

Toodles!