cigar & wine

Thank you to my cousin Liz for sending me these pictures, had she not, I would have never seen what my poor, innocent child was manipulated into doing. It seems Grandpa and cousins, and possibly daddy were up to no good, thinking it was hilarious when Hudson grabbed a cigar asking what it was and tried blowing into it. They thought it'd be even funnier to hand him a glass of wine as well. As I was showing Jamie the pictures, he laughed and asked, "Are you mad?" When he was sure I wasn't angry, he confessed that he was in fact at the scene of the crime, and may or may not have had a hand in it. I hope this isn't a look into our future, 15 years from now........

Harlow's Party

We celebrated this spunky, energetic, wild, sweet, adorable little one year old on Saturday. She was THE CUTEST thing on the entire planet in her tutu outfit. And she loved it. Her necklace came off at one point, and she brought it over to me to put back on her. Girl loves her accessories.

And girl is loved. Grandma was thrilled to finally have a good picture with her only granddaughter. And Maddi, in typical Maddi fashion, held Harlow down until she could no longer resist.

Unlike Mommy, Harlow had no fear of getting dirty in her pretty outfit. She ran around outside, crawled on the deck, grass, and dirt, played in the sandbox, and munched cookie crumbs.

This was a sight we saw often.....tutu in the air!

Birthday girl was even nice enough to share some cookie crumbs with Nala.

Godfather Ryan was excited to get some lovin' from Harlow and even more thrilled to get some from Packy. 

Sister enjoyed all the balloons, playing with cousins, and opening presents....except not really opening presents. She grabbed a couple and then let her brothers and cousins tear them up. She got a new wagon, her very first Barbie and convertible, a Vikings cheerleading outfit, a Rody horse (look it up, its supposed to be the #1 toy for toddlers and it was such a hit Grandma already ordered it for the boys), some adorable outfits, beach towels, and other various toys and money. She could've gotten nothing and still would've been a happy birthday girl, but we sincerely thank our family!

She was the center of attention and LOVED IT!

It took her awhile to dive into her cake. Cousin Regan helped her along by giving her a little taste. She liked squishing it between her fingers much better than eating it.

Harlow and her brothers and cousins; Hudson, Sidney, Paxton, Carson, and Regan.

And parents, who love their little girl unconditionally. Her sassiness and all.

on the school bus

School bus photos taken at the Vehicle Fair throughout the years........

twelve months

Harlow is twelve months old- May 8, 2013

A picture to document her ever-so-thin blonde hair, and her scream she gives when she's told no.

Hudson came in with a plate of pancakes and Harlow was all over him. Followed his every move, never taking her eyes off the pancakes. He left the room and she gave out a good wail of a cry.



At twelve months old.....

weight: 18 lbs. 5 oz. (in the teeny, tiny 8th percentile)

height: 29 inches (45th percentile)

diaper size: size 3

clothes: grew out of 9 month winter/spring clothes and into 12 month summer clothes

bottles: GONE! drinking whole milk from a sippy cup

food: EVERYTHING! only dislikes have been bananas and Jell-O

Little things about Harlow.....

-she quit the bottle like a champ, cold turkey, and never looked back

-hasn't spit up since she stopped drinking bottles

-loves milk from a sippy and anything that's in her brothers' cups

-she blows kisses and does it with force

-she loves to go to bed and immediately grabs for a do-do and bumper tie

-she sleeps on her back 90% of the time

-walks like a pro and practically runs, get her outside and she runs wild and loves it

-is a drama queen! if she wants something she can't have she will cry immediately and not stop until she gets it

-if you scold her, she gets a pouty lip and looks for someone else to tell on you

-she has a mark on her nose that the doctor says is an inverted oil gland and will go away on it's own

-she bites her crib and has made teeth mark and gauges, pretty much ruined the entire front bar

-loves to eat and eats alot! if you share with her, you get none

-already loves to play on my phone and knows how to unlock it and touch with her fingers

-if you're holding her, she is inevitably pinching your arm or neck without even realizing it

-she looks adorable in summer clothes!!

-at first loved baths with her brothers, now hates it and wants to be in there alone

-climbs onto and into everything, daycare says they've never seen anything like it

-if she's mad, she'll scream at you

-likes to tease people by not giving them kisses

-she had a terrible week of teething (i teeth) but never got any teeth (still 6)

-to mommy's delight, doesn't mind wearing shoes anymore and even lifts her foot to put them on

-was a very good patient at her 12 month check up, cooperated with everything the nurse and doctor wanted to do and smiled her way through it, until the shots

-undoubtedly still loves her mommy more than anything

I can't believe this beautiful baby is ONE YEAR OLD!! She is a ball of mischief and sweetness all rolled into one adorable little girl. Mommy loves you Miss Harlow Mae Josephine!

Mother's Day

It was my fourth Mother's Day, a day to celebrate the three most amazing gifts in my life. There is nothing I love more than being a mom. There is nothing I am more thankful for. It is clearly evident to me that I was born for this. To have these three beautiful babies.

Hudson was so excited to give me the present he made at school. He'd been hiding it in the house since Thursday. He brought it up several times a day; asking if I'd found it, making me guess what it is, telling me I had to be very careful with it and hold it with two hands, and that I was going to love it so much he was sure of it. I was in the shower Sunday morning and he came into the bathroom and said he wanted to finally give it to me, but he figured he should wait until I was out so it didn't get wet. Good thinking, bud! I barely had the chance to get dressed (just putting my pj's back on) and he handed me his precious gift, telling me he wrapped it in green tissue paper because that's my favorite color. Such a sweet, sentimental boy. It was a ceramic plate with his hand print. After I opened it, he decided it needed a little more color so he drew on it and made it into a "hand print Mommy" with a face and legs. To say he was proud is an understatement. Also, to say Harlow is jealous of her Mommy's attention is another understatement. (please excuse the messy bed in the background)

All of three of the kids (with Jamie's help) gave me a new charm for my Pandora bracelet. I love how each charm I have means something so special. But Paxton's greatest gift to me came in the middle of the night, when he woke me up (sleeping on the living room floor again), rubbed my face, and whispered, "Mommy, I just want to give you a good night kiss. I love you." I could have sobbed right there, on the living room floor, at 4 o'clock in the morning. We are raising good hearted kids.

I'm lucky enough to have a best friend in my mom. I hope and pray to have the same relationship with Harlow as I have with my mom. She is the center of our world, and the following quote fits perfectly...

"The only thing better than having you as a Mom, is my children having you as a Grandma."

harlow's 1st birthday

It was Harlow's big day, and per tradition in this house, she woke up to balloons!! Knowing my wild and crazy girl, I was anticipating her reaction to the balloons, and I was spot on....she exhaled, screamed, flailed her arms about, and wiggled out of my arms to get at those balloons. I knew she'd love it. I know my girl.

Look at that great hair, sticking straight up.

She was interested in her presents, enough to last about a minute and then she allowed her brothers to rip into them.

Her most favorite was this Radio Flyer wagon/rider. She immediately crawled on it and pushed herself around. She was so happy and made the cutest, smiling faces. She can't quite right reach the floor when she's sitting on top so she slid herself all the way to the front and giggled like she knew it was silly.

Let's not forget about these two rugrats even though it's sister's special day. They were just as excited about the balloons and presents. The picture below was supposed to be of all three of them together but sister wasn't having it. Would you want to sit next to these two? I don't blame her.

But her mama, she's always willing to snuggle in to her mama. And man, I can't squeeze this girl tight enough.

Kisses for Daddy. He had just put some lip stuff on and she could taste it. She couldn't take her lips off of him.

And that daddy took this picture and is very proud. As he should be, look at this precious face he caught.

She likes to fit in with the boys, playing with Daddy's phone and wearing his hat.

Because it was Wednesday, we went to Arnie and Sheri's for supper. They went all out and decorated with balloons and birthday decor. Thank you guys for making her day even more special.

Vicky gave her her first ever wax juice bottle. We were sure she'd know what to do, eat the wax versus drink the juice, but she's no dumby. She sucked that juice right out! And wanted more, and more, and another one, and just one more after that one.......

So after all that sugar, it was cake time! Ha, what a lucky girl. She kept looking at me, like she was waiting for me to tell her no. She had a grip on that cupcake and no one was taking it from her. Paxton liked watching her squish it up and shove it in. And he posed by her for other reason that just to be sweet and adorable. He patiently posed there for everyone to take his picture.

Happy Birthday sweet baby girl. Mama loves you, and everyday I am in awe of you.