I’m guilty of…

...letting Harper watch a “show” on TV while eating breakfast, especially when it’s day 5 of 8 single-parenting while Jeremy is out of town. Ok, I lie.  When it’s day 2-8 of 8 single-parenting.

...letting Harper stay up waaaay too late, just so I can get more time with her. I’m a selfish-working mom.

...wishing I could live in comfy clothes, play with friends or no one but Harper for days, maybe even a week at a time. And, wishing I could take a nap every day.

...not answering the phone, because I don't feel like using another ounce of energy to talk to anyone. Telling Jeremy I am too tired to “talk” when I walk in the door from work.  My poor, work-from-home/adult interaction deprived husband.  Sigh…

...fighting with Jeremy who will run to the store for any last minute needed items, just to have a moment to myself.

...giving Harper PB&J for lunch. And dinner. And Harper loves it.

...bribing Harper with a bike ride, park or pool outing, just so she won’t fuss while getting dressed. 

…HATING that she’s learned how to fuss, this Summer.  I fully blame a certain cousin…

...being jealous of the "hobbies" my husband indulges in while I spend time with Harper.  I feel way too guilty to take MORE time away from Harper than I already do for work.

...(on that note)not nearly spending enough time taking care of myself, like I should. Gym time, doctor, dentist, haircuts, waxes… all have been put on the back burner.  Sorry friends, family and anyone I ever see.  Ever.

...feeling guilty about everything I do as a mom. Feeling like I’m not the most put-together, green/eco-friendly, cost-conscious, smiley Mom.  Then, I am reminded “not to feel like any other mom is ‘shaking her avocado at me’”.

...skipping a meal because I just have the energy to make something and I’ve already made Harper her dinner.

...feeling like there will never be enough money to cover the bills, the needed upkeep and/or repairs let alone “fun” stuff like visiting friends, family and simply taking a vacation. Or, going out to eat.

...really not liking what my body is like post-baby.  Wishing repeatedly Harper had come Dec 31, 2011 because I wouldn’t have stretch marks.

...fantasizing about my dream home! Almost every minute of every day.  Ok, ANY new home.

...not being thankful and grateful enough for what we do have. Our house. Our beautiful baby.  Jobs. Family.

...not trusting God enough.

...not praying enough.

...wanting my house to always be clean and perfect, or at least seem that way. Not cleaning or keeping up with my house.

...getting mad at Sasha because she is so dirty! I could have a much cleaner house if the darn dog  didn’t shed so much!!

...leaving wet laundry in the washing machine too long and then having to re-wash it. And re-wash it.

...not having enough patience. Kindness. Trust.

One Year, Two Months

·         You are a traveling queen!  You and Mama took our first trip by ourselves.  We went to see Auntie Jessie and Aubrey in California.  You did awesome on our trip there.  Made friends and chatted with everyone on the plane.  You proceeded to have a stomach bug for the next three days thankgoodness our trip was 10 days long, or it would have been a bust! You and Aubrey were ecstatic and became fast BFF’s!  you would instantly ask for each other when you woke in the morning or after nap.  If you were sleeping opposite nap schedules, you would ask for each other the entire naptime.  You finally mastered walking!  Daddy was so sad to miss our trip it didn’t work out with his work schedule.  We went to Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, went to Coronado Island several times, visited the Navy bases, Seaport Village and Auntie Jess finished her time in the Navy! Aubrey cried for you for days after we left.  You asked for her for days.  You passed out cold on our flight back but woke when we got home and told Daddy alllll about Aubrey and showed off your perfected walking skills!  J

·         Auntie Naomi and Espi came to visit for a weekend during our trip.  You were shy about Naomi but took to Espi right away (again).  Randomly after they’d been down for a day, you started saying, “Yaya?” which is what you called Naomi over Christmas.  It was like you remembered her finally!  Tooooo cute.  It made Naomi’s day. 

·         Once again you were quite obsessed with the ocean and cried when we had to finish swimming.  You and Espi played in the sand, splashed in the waves, chased the birds a new obsession? walked the beach and ate too much sand.  You are a girl after your Mama’s heart – water, outdoors and sun!  Too bad You’re as pasty as your father?  Might you grow out of that?  Let’s hope!

·         We went to stay at the Lake Superior Barn –AH-maz-Zing!  You played and played with Nana, Papa, Gracie and your cousins.  You took a trip around the trails on Mama’s back while cross country skiing.  It was a trip Mama and Daddy will never forget.  We were truly blessed by this weekend getaway.

·         You were sick for a month.  It was the worst month for being sick off and on.  Mama is exhausted from too many sleepless nights and travels.  Finally, I took you to the Doctor.  They did a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia, lung problems, RSV, etc… it was one of the worst moments of my life.  You screamed bloody murder, while being strapped into this contortion-like contraption and Mama held your hands. I had tears streaming down my cheeks.  I pray you we never go through that again.  You are finally better.  Spring BETTER arrive in MN soon as we are FAR over flu and cold season around here.

·         Aubrey and Auntie Jessie came to visit – you and Aubrey remembered each other and were ecstatic to play together.  The weather was decent and you didn’t freeze too terribly.  We visited to MN Zoo, went to MOA and spent a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa. 

·         Easter!  We celebrated with baskets hidden around the house. You and Aubrey were quite excited to find them and play with your treats from Grandma and Grandpa. 

·         Three words: only.child.syndrom.  Oh baby girl, someday if and when we have more children you will go through a BIG change.  You firmly established your place in our hearts, home and life.  It will be quite the shock of someone else taking up any of our time.

·         You are constantly jealous of Mama and Daddy’s time and affection.  If we kiss or hug, you are jealous of our interaction. 

I am so thankful for you, Harper Kendall.  I prayed for a child to love and care for, but I didn’t know it would be a love this strong.  I didn’t know what motherhood would entail and it is far greater than I imagined.  I know you were planned for me and Daddy.  God knew what He was doing when He made you ours.  You are a diamond in our rough world,  in our imperfect family and home.  You are the best spot in my life.  I call you healthy, whole, wise and happy.

We believe:

You ARE smart.

You ARE beautiful.

You ARE important.

You ARE special.

One Year, One Month

·         You cruise everywhere and have finally begun to walk!  You decided at your Birthday party that you would take your “official” steps as a one-year-old.  You rocked it out as WonderWoman and Hanky was Thor. 

·         We had our first time apart, you and I.  Mama took a Girls’ Trip to Phoenix, AZ and desperately missed you the whole much of the time.  It was sooo good to be home and give you kisses and snuggles.  You and Daddy greeted me at the airport – you were all smiles for me.  It was good to be missed.

·         You’ve decided you are more than advanced.  You are now up to 35 words and 30 signs! Woah!  Mama is impressed.  You are too smart for your own good.

·         Bath time is still a favorite.  You would play in the bath all day long.  You will shiver and freeze your tooshy off but you still insist on being in the cold water and are sad to get out.

·         “Quack, quack, quack – bang!” Daddy decided you should learn “what ducks really say”.  Oh, my poor child – I sure hope kindergarten isn’t hard due to your father’s antics.  ;)  you love to say “quack” but thankfully haven’t attempted nor mastered “bang!”.

·         You and Gracie share an amazing bond.  If she’s around you would prefer her to anyone else.  If she’s taken her attention off you, even for a moment, you call out to her.  Its adorable!  She is really good with you and loves to take care of you.

·         You and Henry are the best of friends and the worst of siblings… you have officially entered toddler stage where you have moments of love and others of hate.  J You are mastering fighting back!  He used to only beat you up, but now you’ve taken to fighting back!  Your father is proud. 

I am so thankful for you, Harper Kendall.   You challenge who I am, remind me who I should be and teach Daddy and I to love stronger, truer and more faithfully.  You bring a light to our lives that we didn’t know was missing.  You keep me on my toes and light our house with laughter.  I believe you are called for great things and will be a woman after God’s heart.  I appreciate your strength and boldness – I know God has given you both for the future.  I call you are healthy, whole, wise and happy.

We believe:

You ARE smart.

You ARE beautiful.

You ARE important.

You ARE special.

Car Seat Giveaway

I'm always up for a good deal - in fact, much of what we have for Harper was a really great deal!  My best deal, probably is our Bumble Ride Flyer stroller - all including the bumper bar, car seat adapter bar AND footmuff and liner!  In total, a $518.98 stroller for $100 - brand new!

So, I saw this Diono Radian R120 Car Seat Giveaway online and thought some of my mommy-friends would be interested.  Get yourself registered. 

Twelve Months - I'm ONE!

·         You “officially” have twenty words and twenty-two signs!  Your favorites to say are “Sasha” and “Grandpa” and to sign are “all done”, “bath” and “water”. The doctor says your advanced.  But, we could have told her that.  hehe  At first, Dr. MB didn’t believe us when we said all that you said and did – but you told her Goodbye at one of your last appointments and signed “thank you” and she almost fell out of her chair.  You’re such a brilliant baby.  I attribute that to my genes Daddy staying home with you for the past eight months!

·         You tried to open every present under the Christmas tree and when it was final your turn to open presents it was like… Christmas morning!  J You LIVED to tear apart wrapping paper and toss out tissue from gift bags.  You were almost as thrilled with the wonderful presents everyone gave you.  You are one spoiled blessed babe! 

·         You are now on-the-go!  With your Christmas gifts of a walker and a baby stroller you have taken off!  You also love to put anything in your stroller and walk around, whether it’s your baby doll, a book, the remote or lamby. 

·         You are your Daddy’s daughter!  You make friends everyone, cause heads to turn (no, that’s Mommy’s daughter)., and are ALWAYS moving!  Same as in my tummy, your little fingers and toes are moving at all times.  You toss and turn in your sleep, I cannot understand the position you find comfortable – most often, on your tummy with your bum straight in the air! 

·         You are OBSCESSED with bath time!  You are always going into the bathroom and either yelling or signing for a bath.  You always cry when it’s time to get out.  I can’t get enough of your squishy, wrinkly post baby cuteness.  I kiss you til you’ve had enough.  You now put lotion on your tummy and legs… maybe take a lick or two here and there.  I always tell you it’s yucky but you have to double-check every day.

·         You can clean up!  Oh, Mommy has lived for this day. when we (or Auntie Cari) sing the “clean-up song” you begin to pick up your toys and put them away!  How grown up are you?!

·         Your precious heart has grown into someone caring – the other day I was sitting on the ground playing with you.  You walked over and put your little arms around my neck and loved on me.  Then, you got my attention by leaning around to look me in the eye, followed by the sweetest little pats on my back – I think you were telling me that everything was “alright”, that I should just enjoy my moments with you instead of worrying about keeping up with laundry or cleaning our house.  You’ve also perfected the “nice, nice, nice – NOT nice!” except, you are, “NOT nice, nice, nice, nice…”.  You have taken to biting Henry and then promptly patting his back telling him “Ok, ok, ok…” Watch out girlfriend, that boy is going to be much bigger than you in a mere moment you won’t be able to hold you own against him at that time!  Eeeek!

·         I can’t believe a year ago we were impatiently waiting for you to make your arrival!  My, how the year has changed us and our world.  It is so much better to have you in it.  I constantly remind myself to live IN the moment and forget about what lies ahead.  Enjoy every second I get with you, as it is few and far between.  You are more than anything I could have imagine. 

I am so thankful for you, Harper Kendall.  Motherhood has made me a new woman; someone who looks to be present and not anticipating something else coming up.  I love to live this life with you.  I told your Auntie Mandy the other day, that Motherhood is the most challenging and wearing BUT rewarding title you’ll ever bear. I pray, that Daddy and I can raise you right.  3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”  I pray that you will walk in truth and that we can raise you to know that truth.  I call you are healthy, whole, wise and happy.

We believe:

You ARE smart.

You ARE beautiful.

You ARE important.

You ARE special.