Where Oh Where Has My Baby Boy Gone?

Where is the baby that I use to rock to sleep? Where is the baby that use to sit in my lap? Where is the baby that I use to carry to the car? How can it be that he has already turned into a little boy?

For about the past month, "E" is so ready to go outside in the morning that he usually walks out the door by himself and then scoots down the stairs on his bottom. Then, I have to pick him up, carry him to the car and put him in the car. Well, this morning he grew up just a little more. Not only did he go out the door and down the stairs by himself, but he also walked to the car door without me even calling his name, lifted the handle(well, I did help a little), pulled the door open and crawled into his seat. Although I was so proud, my heart sank a little as I realized that he is truly not a baby, anymore.

Oh, how I wish time would slow down just a bit.

Say, "Cheese!"

Okay, so this morning, "E" looked especially cute in his little blue jeans, so I grabbed the camera. He was facing away from me. So, not expecting a reply, I said,"Say, Cheese!" "E" turn toward me, and with the cutest smile and the sweetest voice he lifted his hand to the side and said, "Teese!" Thinking it was a fluke, I repeated my request and he said, "Teese!"

My heart just melted!

Happy 1st Birthday, Baby Boy!

"E" had a wonderful birthday this past Saturday. "E" and I spent the day shopping with Nana and Mamaw. He had so much fun. He decided that he really did not want to ride in his stroller. Instead, he had to walk behind the stroller and push it himself. He had a blast and let everyone know that he was having fun by talking and singing through the store as loudly as he could.

That evening, Russ and I decided to go ahead and give him his present from us. As you can see, he absolutely loves it.

That evening, we spent the night with Grandpa and Nana. When "E" got up on Sunday morning, Grandpa and Nana gave him an electric car. It is the cutest thing.


Finally, on Sunday afternoon, we had "E's" first birthday party. We had such a good time celebrating "E". He has brought so much joy to our life and I could not imagine life without him. Here are a few pictures from his party.



Just a few things about "E" at 12 months. He is 22lbs. 4 oz., 29 3/4 inches, and his head circumference is 48 3/4 cm. He is basically 50th percentile in height and weight and over 95th in head. He walks everywhere. He can say Mama, Dada, book, Jack, Catch and bull. He can sign "more", "milk", "book" and we are working on "water". He loves going outside. And, I do mean love. He loves to laugh and if you tell him "No, No!" He just laughs even harder. He thinks it is so funny. He is not a picky eater at all. I really do not think I have found anything he does not like.

He really is a happy boy!

Bye, Bye Bottle!

Well, "E" turns one year old this week. This morning, as Russ was feeding "E", I told him to enjoy it and cherish it, because that is probably the last bottle that he will ever feed him. I love watching him take his bottle. I am not quite ready for it to go.


But, whether I am ready or not, it is on its way out.

Happy Anniversary

I cannot believe that we have only been married for two years. And, I do not mean that in a negative way, either. It just seems like we have always been married. It has been a great two years. I could not have asked for a better husband or a better father to "E." Thank you, Honey!

Our first kiss as Mr. and Mrs. Harper . . .

Just Can't Resist

Okay, so this post is long overdue and is actually suppose to be about "E" turning ten months old. However, it is almost time for Easter, so I have had other things on my mind . . .



Oh, how I cannot resist a Cadbury Creme Egg. Literally, I can eat a box full by noon. It is a good thing that they only come in a box of four. And, two years ago, my husband was being all sweet and nice and bought the Cadbury Caramel Eggs. Oh yes, they are amazingly good too! So now, I buy both. I am so bad that on the Monday morning after Easter, I make it to Wal-Mart as early as I can to buy all the remaining Cadbury Eggs. They are one-forth of the price, too.

I guess you know what the Easter Bunny is going to bring for me!

An Afternoon With Grandpa

Yesterday, Grandpa was off work so he decided to pick up "E" from daycare at 2:15 p.m. because there was work to be done and Grandpa needed "E's" help. Since "E" was picked up so early, he did not get his afternoon nap. Needless to say, it was a rough afternoon for Grandpa.

First, "E" would not take his bottle. Every time Grandpa tried to put it in his mouth, "E" would spit it out and blow milk all over the couch. Second, he could tell "E" was sleepy and ready for a nap, but "E" was not going to take a nap without a fight. And, in the end, he did not take a nap. Then, around 3:30 Grandpa called Nana and said, "What time are you coming home." She said, "It will be at least an hour." He said, "Oh!" Nana then said, "Why, what is wrong." Grandpa replied, "E" has a dirty diaper. I can smell it." After tackling the dirty diaper, Grandpa tried to feed "E" baby food, because he knew that he had to be hungary. He did okay for a while and then "E" decided that he needed to feed himself. Baby food was everywhere, so Grandpa gave "E" a bath. "E" loves taking a bath and everything was running smoothly for a while. Then the unthinkable, "E" pooped in the bath. Yuck!

I think it is safe to say that Grandpa will not be picking "E" up quite as early.

Nine Months . . . Already

"E" turned nine months old yesterday. When I was pregnant with "E", nine months seemed like an eternity. However, the past nine months have literally flown. I can honestly say that I enjoy every day with him. He brings us such joy and laughter. It has been so fun to watch his personality evolve. He truly is a happy baby. He waits to catch someone's eye so he can smile at them. He will smile at the drop of a hat. He loves for us to chase him around the furniture. He gets so tickled and excited that he almost falls over. "E" already loves to snuggle and give kisses, too. Although he still gives open-mouthed kisses, he smooched for the first time this weekend.

And, I have never seen a baby love being outside as much has he does. The entire time he is outside he blows as if he were blowing out a candle and says, "um" or "uh." It does not matter how cold it is, he loves being outside. He enjoys going with his Nana to feed the horses. And, he loves to go with his Grandpa on the four wheeler to check on the cows and their calves. Grandpa even took "E" on the track hoe for the first time on Friday. They moved a big rock in the back yard. Most of all, he loves to go with his daddy for walks around the pond and to watch the trains pass.

I have never seen a baby enjoy food as much as "E". There is nothing that he will not eat and there is nothing that he does not like. And, if you have food, he will find it. We are going to have to be healthy eaters, because "E" is always wanting a bite of what we are eating.

"E" also loves Wheel of Fortune. I do not know if it is Vanna or if it is the spinning wheel or the flashing tiles, he is memorized by it. "E" also loves music. We often believe that he is signing. Especially when he is outside.

Here is "E" at nine months:

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Our first Christmas with "E" was amazing! First of all, it was a White Christmas! It began to snow on Christmas Eve! Scott and Jill, my brother and sister-in-law, made it in just in time!



We all had a great time together Christmas Eve. Nana read "E", T'was the Night Before Christmas. Then we put out cookies for Santa. Yes, "E" wanted to put them in his mouth!



Not only were we excited about Santa coming, but Jack could not wait for him to arrive, either!



Of course, just like the kid that is still in all of us, the first thing we did when we got up was get bundled up to go and check out all of the snow that had fallen and then to see what Santa brought.



"E" was so good this year!







The best part of Christmas was spending time with our family. "E" just loves his Uncle Scott and Aunt Jill!



And, we got to spend a couple of days with my favorite nephews in the world!



All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas and New Year!