Gotta Love a Giveaway!

Have I mentioned that I love Caden Lane? I fell in love with their nursery bedding and it just keeps getting better. They've really expanded their line to fun things like towels, bibs, spill mats, blankets, diaper bags, on and on. And they recently added their new Boutique Collection.

As if I needed another reason to love Caden Lane, they are having a giveaway! Today is the last day to enter so hurry up and get those entries in. You can find more information about their contest on their blog: www.cadenlane.com/blog. My fingers are crossed!

There was a tree.

Once upon a time there was a tree, key word being was. Earlier this year we picked out a tree for Harper. It was a beautiful Chinese Pistache and we planted it in the backyard and cared for it. We loved our new little tree and we have a wonderful memory of picking it out together as a family. I thought I had blogged about picking out the tree but I couldn't find it, oh well. Short story is we rode around the nursery on a golf cart with a dead battery and almost had to walk back and Harper pooped her pants. We changed her in the trunk of Judy's car. To onlookers it probably looked bad but I tell you what, it just might be the most convenient place to change a diaper. Anyways, Harper's tree didn't make it. Blame it on global warming and our 100+ degree summer but the poor thing just couldn't survive. It's quite sad really. There it sits in our bare backyard with a few brown shriveled leaves still hanging on for dear life. I would take a picture but it's too depressing (and it's getting dark). Good news is that the tree had a warranty and we are going to pick out a new one this fall and have it planted in it's place. If they'll let us, we will keep the old tree and cut it up to be used as wood for our chiminea and have some sort of cremation ceremony.

In honor of our fallen tree, here is Harper's favorite song on the VeggieTales Backyard Party CD.

The Green Grass Grew All Around

There was a tree
(There was a tree)


A pretty little tree
(A pretty little tree)


The prettiest tree
(The prettiest tree)


That you ever did see
(That you ever did see)



Oh, the tree in a hole


And the hole in the ground


And the green grass grew all around, all around


And the green grass grew all around



Now on this tree
(Now on this tree)


There was a limb
(There was a limb)


The prettiest limb
(The prettiest limb)


That you ever did see
(That you ever did see)



Oh, the limb on the tree,


And the tree in a hole


And the hole in the ground


And the green grass grew all around, all around


And the green grass grew all around

Now on this limb
(Now on this limb)


There was a branch
(There was a branch)


The prettiest branch
(The prettiest branch)


That you ever did see
(That you ever did see)



Oh, the branch on the limb,


And the limb on the tree,


And the tree in a hole


And the hole in the ground


And the green grass grew all around, all around


And the green grass grew all around



Now on this branch
(Now on this branch)


There was a nest
(There was a nest)


The prettiest nest
(The prettiest nest)


That you ever did see
(That you ever did see)



Oh, the nest on the branch, 


And the branch on the limb,


And the limb on the tree,


and the tree in a hole


And the hole in the ground


And the green grass grew all around, all around


And the green grass grew all around



Now in this nest
(Now in this nest)


There was a egg
(There was a egg)


The prettiest egg
(The prettiest egg)


That you ever did see
(That you ever did see)



Oh, the egg in the nest,


And the nest on the branch, 


And the branch on the limb,


And the limb on the tree,


and the tree in a hole


And the hole in the ground


And the green grass grew all around, all around


And the green grass grew all around


Now in this egg (Now in this egg)

There was a bird (There was a bird)


The prettiest bird
(The prettiest bird)


That you ever did see
(That you ever did see)



Oh, the bird in the egg,

And the egg in the nest,


And the nest on the branch, 


And the branch on the limb,


And the limb on the tree,


and the tree in a hole


And the hole in the ground


And the green grass grew all around, all around


And the green grass grew all around



Now on this bird
(Now on this bird)


There was a feather
(There was a feather)


The prettiest feather
(The prettiest feather)


That you ever did see
(That you ever did see)



Oh, the feather on the bird,


And the bird in the egg,

And the egg in the nest,


And the nest on the branch, 


And the branch on the limb,


And the limb on the tree,


and the tree in a hole


And the hole in the ground


And the green grass grew all around, all around


And the green grass grew all around

6 months

Stats

Weight: 15 lbs 3 oz (31%)

Height: 26" (59%)

Head Circumference: 42 1/2 cm (50%)

Good news is her head is in better proportion to her body and she's growing in length. Bad news, the doctor assured me it's really not bad news, is that she's dropped in percentile in weight. I was assured she's perfectly healthy and not to worry but I can't help but fear she's not eating enough. I'll just tell myself she has a really high metabolism.

Shots

Same 3 as last time, she took them like a champ and seems to be feeling just fine. Her next appointment is in 4 months and the best part-no shots!

Eating

This month we started rice cereal and she's also had oatmeal. She's done very well with both so after getting the ok from her doctor, we tried carrots tonight. She did very well and ate them all up! Back when Rachel and Finley stayed with us, Rachel showed me how to make food for Harper, and by make food I mean cook it, puree it, and freeze it in ice cube trays. It made me feel really good knowing the carrots I was feeding her were organic with no added preservatives, sugar, or salt. And they actually taste (and look) waaaay better than jarred baby food.

Tricks

Rolling over both ways like a pro. She actually prefers to be on her tummy now which is a bit of a surprise considering she wanted nothing to do with it for a long time. One downside to this new trick is that it has made diaper changes a bit more challenging.

She can manage to get the pacifier in her mouth when we hand it to her.

She's discovered how to turn herself around in her jumper and she actually plays with the different components rather than staring at herself in the mirror and river dancing. Lately, she's discovering how to entertain herself whether it's with toys or her hands and feet.

She continues to excel in swim lessons and it makes me so happy that she enjoys the water because I do too!

Just in the last few days she's been working on her m's. She watches me and presses her lips together and says mmmmm. Occasionally she manages to add the 'a' at the end and we get what sounds like 'ma'. Yesterday, James is my witness, she said 'ma-ma'. Of course James was in her face making her laugh when she did it so she may be slightly confused. Nonetheless, we are very proud of her!

One of her new favorite toys is Zeke. Whenever he enters the rooms, her eyes light up and she's glued to him. I tried sitting her down on the ground within reach and she had no fear and went right for his mouth. He didn't seem to mind and he just licked her hands while she squealed in delight. She also gets a kick out of grabbing his ears. It's great to seem them bonding. I will work on getting this on film, it's so cute!

Harper and her cousin Bella taking a ride on Zeke.

Harper's Half Birthday

6 months ago today, on January 19, I remember waking James up to tell him I was having contractions and that I was going to take a warm shower to relax but not to worry. And then when I told him he should probably get ready to go to the hospital he insisted on taking a shower too. As we drove to the hospital through the frozen fog at 3:30 in the morning, I don't think either of us knew what to expect. I remember calling our families on our way to the hospital telling them not to hurry, it will probably be hours before anything happens and we would call them later. In the back of my mind, I thought I would be sent home and we would come back the next day for my scheduled induction. Thankfully, they got ready and headed to the hospital.

Shortly after we arrived at the hospital (45 minutes later), Harper was born and we began our journey as a family of 3. It was love at first sight. I studied her features while she slept, instead of sleeping myself-I didn't want to miss a thing. A yawn, opening of her eyes, her adorable stretches, and the infamous 'Harper Dance'. I couldn't take my eyes off her. At that moment I knew my life had been changed forever.

What a ride the past 6 months have been. We've had sleepless nights, 3 am car rides when nothing else would calm her down, a memorable road trip to Kansas City to meet Uncle Jon and Cousin Bella, our first Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, 4th of July among other holidays, visits from wonderful friends and family, play dates, and many firsts-first snow storm, first smile, first bottle, first diaper explosion, first time holding her head up, first laugh, first time rolling over, first taste of rice cereal. Every day for the past 6 months has been a first and just when I think I can't possibly love her any more, I do. I'm having so much fun watch her grow and develop, I wish I knew what she was thinking sometimes. Like the other day, she was perfectly content looking at her hands for 15 minutes. She would touch her fingers together and look at the front and back of her hands and slowly bring them to her mouth and back out again. I'm so proud of all that she has accomplished in her first 6 months of life.

Being a mommy so far has been beyond my expectations. We have been blessed with such a wonderful baby. Harper, I love you and I am so thankful God gave you to us! "Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17.

Beautiful memories from 6 months ago today...enjoy!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 50th Anniversary to the beloved American classic "To Kill A Mockingbird." And why is this special? The author is Harper Lee, of course! I have been asked if we named Harper after the author, we didn't. She's not actually named after anyone or for anything. At the time, my office was working on a project for the Anthony-Harper school district and I began to like the name. It's unique, not bazaar (pun intended), spelled just like it sounds, no crazy nicknames...yet, though kids can be quite creative, with the middle name Anne she won't be confused for a boy, and it starts with the letter H! For years I have felt left out of the Jost family, and my family for that matter. Judy, Jonathan, James Jost...Kimberly, Kingston, Kyle, HILLARY Koser. I have broken the cycle!

So, happy anniversary Harper Lee and happy 'almost' 6 months Harper Anne.

Pregnancy Journey

I couldn't resist making a video after I saw Rachel's and Jessi's. It seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant. Sometimes I miss my big belly and 'butterflies', oh and not having to do manual labor and having an excuse to sleep all the time! Those were the days...

Independence Day

We enjoyed a weekend of BBQ(s), family, friends, and FIREWORKS!

Big fireworks=no problem for Harper which is a good thing considering we have a few closet pyros in the family. As long as I held her close and covered her ears for the bigBIG ones, Harper enjoyed fireworks Saturday and Sunday evening. Her favorites included the never ending fountain, roman candles, and sparklers.

Our freedom isn't free-thank you to all the men and women and their families that have made sacrifices to serve our country, past and present.

(We thought Judy was taking our picture, we didn't realize it was a video at first hence the slight awkwardness).

5 months

New tricks: Rolling over both ways very efficiently. Harper has turned into a tummy sleeper, funny since until recently she didn’t like being on her tummy at all. When I lay her down in her crib it doesn’t take but a few seconds before she’s flopped over onto her tummy. It’s funny to go into her room in the morning and find her propped up on her elbows looking around smiling from ear to ear.

This week we started rice cereal. At first I gave her small, thinned out amounts. She seemed to like it, so each day I gradually gave her more and used less milk. She only gets cereal once a day, usually in the evenings and I will still nurse her before she goes to bed. It’s fun introducing new foods but at the same time, I wish she would stop growing so fast. Next month we will start the vegetables Rachel and I made when she stayed with us.

Harper is a gymnast. She can get her feet into her mouth, not at the same time though she tries hard! She loves sucking on her toes and when she’s had enough sucking, she just hugs her legs to her chest. This new trick has come in handy during diaper changes, I don’t have to hold her feet up anymore to wipe her tush!

She’s beginning to take out her pacifier and hold onto it. She’s made attempts to put it back in but she hasn’t quite mastered that yet.

Her favorite activities still include her jumper, her swing though I don’t lower the tray because then she can’t get her feet in her mouth and that makes her mad, her bumbo chair and tray-I put her teething rings on the tray and she goes to town, rolling around on the floor, watching baby Einstein videos-My First Signs, and Baby MacDonald.

Celebrating Father's Day

To celebrate Father's day we went to Stearman with my Dad, my brother Kyle, Rachel, Finley, and the Grimmers. There was a huge fly-in event and the runway was lined with planes and you could check out some of the fancy hangars. We walked around for a bit and had lunch. It was hot but well worth it to see all the planes coming and going. Sunday evening we went to dinner with Gary (James’ dad) and Janet. Dinner was a bit of a disaster but everyone was a good sport, including Harper. I’m thankful to have so many wonderful fathers in my life.

Harper's wild about daddy.

Harper and her Papa Gary.

Tutu

Since the day Harper was born, I have wanted to buy her a tutu. A pink, girly, tutu. They're super cute, fun to photograph, and completely unpractical. She's just learning to roll over, what makes you think she can twirl yet?

Since the day Harper was born, James refused to buy Harper a tutu (he also won't let me paint her toe nails). They're too girly and completely unpractical.

We are going to have family photos taken this summer by Tim Davis and I've been talking nonstop about wanting to find a tutu for the photo shoot. My manipulation convincing has paid off and James bought her a tutu! A fluffy, soft, hot pink tutu! I'm even more impressed that he didn't cave in and say "just go buy her one" rather he went by himself and picked one out that he approved of. This makes me so happy. Not only is he no longer denying our daughter of living every girl's fantasy of being a baby ballerina, he wanted to give me her that dream himself. A lot of people told me just go buy her one despite him not approving but I don't like going behind my husband's back to get what I want. We can usually come to a compromise and we have learned to pick out battles. By the way, I was going to fight this battle. Next up...painting her toe nails...

Thank you honey for Harper's new tutu!

Pool Rat

Stearman

Our new favorite place to visit on the weekends is Stearman Field in Benton. They recently opened a bar & grill in a hangar right off the small runway. The restaurant is simple but well done with airplane parts and memorabilia on the walls and hanging from the ceiling. They are known for their burgers and they have a decent beer selection on tap. Next time we are there I'll take some pictures. There are several private hangars located right on the runway, and there is even a local resident that has a hangar on their property across the street and we've seen them drive their planes over and take off right in front of the restaurant. There is also an outdoor patio and an outdoor stage for live music on the weekends. Every third Saturday of the month they have fly ins for breakfast except for June, it's an all day event complete with a band, skydiving show, and fireworks. Rachel, Sol and Finley will be in town so maybe we can convince them to go for breakfast. Whether you are into planes or not, it really is a neat place to visit.

The pilot of this little red one was about our age and his hobby is flying. His plane goes 200 mph and he was doing all sorts of flips and tricks. After a quick stop to refuel, he strapped on his parachute and took off down the runway leaving a trail of smoke.

For $150, you can go up in this one for 30 minutes.

The noise doesn't seem to bother Harper. I think she likes looking at the bright colors and she will watch them land and take off.

Red fish, blue fish

Harper went for her first swim! I took her to the neighborhood pool with Kourtney and her kids, Will and Parker. There is no documentation of her actual swim, just this 'after' photo. Despite the water being a little cooler than her nice warm bath, she did very well. She was clingy but never fussed. I absolutely adore her swimsuit and she has a cover up to match. She also has a cute pair of sunglasses that I forgot to bring which would have been nice to have (bad mommy). I've been having a hard time finding little swimmers diapers for her size. These are 1. too big and 2. not flattering. So if any mommies know where I could find XS swim diapers, let me know! In July, she will begin swim lessons at the Y. I'm more excited now that I know she likes being in the water. Also, mommy could use a tan!

Kiss and make it better

Harper is doing very well this morning after her shots, unlike last time. She slept more than usual yesterday afternoon and last night she slept through the night. She got her last dose of Tylenol yesterday evening around 6 and hasn't been running a fever. I'm so glad she's doing better this time, it made me so sad to see her so miserable after her 2 month shots. On tap for today, BBQ at Barry & Paige's to break in their new deck. Yummy!

4 months

Last Wednesday, May 19, Harper turned 4 months old. Her check up was today and here are her stats:

Weight: 13 lbs. 10 oz/42%

Length: 24 3/4 in/60%

Head: 42 cm/75%

Shots: 3 :(

A few weeks ago, I had to take Harper in to see Dr. Hund because she developed a rash all over her arms, legs, and tummy. Turns out she has Eczema. He prescribed a hydrocortizone cream which we use twice a day. It seems to be helping but I notice if I skip a day, it starts to come back. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem to bother her much.

Other milestones:

Rolling over tummy to back

Soft coos are things of the past, she yells! She loves to hear her voice.

She is grabbing for her toys

She likes sitting up in her bumbo chair and jumper. I put them right in font of a big mirror and she goes to town. We've also noticed she doesn't 'jump' on both feet, she alternates feet hopping from one to the other. It's as if she's trying to river dance.

She thinks everything is funny and she has the cutest little laugh, it's my new favorite sound.

She still sleeps through the night and on occasion I catch her waking up and talking to herself for 10-15 minutes before falling back asleep. She’s a hoot.

She loves the tv, is that bad? It’s become a distraction while I’m feeding her so I have to turn it off which stinks because that’s when I would catch up on my recorded shows.

She knows her family. It’s fun to see our parents interact with her because she lights up.

Her leg strength is amazing. While on her changing pad, she lifts her legs up and throws them down. Hard. James calls it the Hulk Stomp.

She’s a drooler. I’m waiting for her to start teething any minute. While we were at the doctors office they gave us a teething pacifier for when she does start.

She’s started to grab for her feet though she can’t quite reach them. If she’s wearing pants, she’ll grab onto the pant legs and try to pull her feet to her mouth. Another reason why I think she’s rolling onto her side, it’s an attempt to get her feet.

Somebody loves me...

I'm sure there is still someone in Las Vegas that loves Harper but I know someone in Tucson loves her too. Miss you Aunt Jessi.

Babies, The Movie (May 16, 2010)

I'm really behind on posting so this weekend my goal is to get caught up. A lot has been going on and unless I document what we've been up to, I'll forget.

Once upon a time, last Sunday we took Harper to her first movie at the Warren. I had heard about the Babies documentary and several reviews suggesting that babies would enjoy seeing it because they like watching other babies including reflections of themselves in mirrors. I was a little hesitant taking her and we invited my mom and Judy along for the matinee. Harper is a very good baby and I expected her to do fairly well but I was prepared for her to be hungry, fussy, or sleep through the entire thing but she didn’t. She sat in my lap the majority of the time and actually watched. She was kicking, waving her hands and babbled some. At one point she did get a little squirmy and Judy took her down the stairs and stood with her but she continued to watch the big screen. She did fall asleep right at the end. Now that I know she does well at the movie theater, we may have to start taking her to more movies. I think it’s all in the timing.

As for my thoughts on the movie: I was disappointed. I was expecting some narration or subtitles even. The footage was beautiful and the babies were cute but it left something to be desired. I was also surprised at the family selected to represent America, not what I would have chosen. All in all, I feel very blessed to be raising a baby in America and to have such luxuries as diapers!

Harper in her Sunday clothes, matching bow of course.

Lazy Saturday with mommy. Her Adidas suite is one of my favorite outfits, I'm tempted to go buy another one when she grows out of this one.

Roly Poly

My baby is going up so fast, too fast! Today she rolled over for the first time from her tummy to her back. Generally, she doesn’t like being on her tummy but the past few days she’s been able to tolerate it. I was at work on Monday and had to run home over lunch which isn’t typical but I also had to drop off more milk for Harper at Judy’s. While I was playing with Harper, I wanted to show Judy how she enjoyed being on her tummy so I flipped her over and within seconds she rolled herself over. In shock, I flipped her over again to make sure she had really rolled over on her own without my help. Sure enough she did it a couple more times before getting tired and frustrated. She obviously wasn’t as excited as we were. Turns out I had my video camera with me but I didn’t think to get it out so I will try my best to catch her doing it again. She's rolled over once since and the other morning I caught her trying to roll over from her back to her tummy. It’s so cute. She kicks her legs in the air and throws them to one side. She doesn’t quite have enough momentum to get all the way over but I have a feeling she’ll figure it out soon...and then she’ll be walking, talking, dating, going to college, getting married, having kids. Woah. I’m not ready for her to grow up yet. Stay a baby forever!

On this day

May 12, 2009




May 12, 2010




1 year ago today I found out I was pregnant. At the time, I had no idea how much my life would change. We were excited, scared, and a little unsure of what we got ourselves into. Is this really what we wanted? Is this the right time? We have been blessed with an angel and she has made our lives so much brighter. I am overflowing with a love for her I never thought possible. I feel fulfilled, enriched, blessed beyond belief, and thankful to be Harper's mommy. No one could have prepared me for this feeling of overwhelming love. Sure, some days are difficult and exhausting but it's nothing compared to the reward. God knew what he was doing and I am thankful for this precious gift.

Harper's MANY boyfriends

Against her daddy's wishes, Harper has MANY boyfriends. I guess she got the 'boy crazy' gene from her mommy. Just to clear up who's got dibs, here's a timeline of Harper's dating history so far.

First boyfriend: Graham Young
Age: 2 days younger than Harper
First date: 6 weeks
Date consisted of playing on Harper's play mat followed by lunch
Why they're destined to be together: Graham and Harper's mommy had the same doctor and saw each other in the waiting room before each appointment. I guess you could say this relationship began long before they were born. The day we left the hospital, Dr. Feuille came in to release me right before he delivered Graham.


Second boyfriend: Edmund Woods
Age: 1 week younger than Harper
First date: 7 weeks
On their first date, Edmund and Harper went for a walk around the Andover campus while taking very long naps. After their naps, they played for a bit. Harper played hard to get.
Why they're destined to be together: They are both members of the second generation BSC. I couldn't have made it through pregnancy without my friend Carrie by my side. We compared notes, and still do. Edmund is rolling over, maybe he could teach Harper some tricks.

Third boyfriend: Isaac Graham
Age: 1 month older than Harper
First date: 3 months
Harper and Isaac met at the WSU v. KSU baseball game.
Why they're destined to be together: Even though Isaac was wearing the wrong colors, Harper thought he was pretty cute and like her mommy, she has a thing for older boys (sorry Graham and Edmund). Isaac was adopted by his parents, Melissa and Justin (a co-worker of mine). He's a lucky boy to have such awesome parents.

Future boyfriend #4: Finley Scott
Age: 1 year
First date: June 2010
Finley and his parents, Sol and Rachel, will be staying with us for Allie's wedding in June. This will be Harper's first sleep over but we've told her they have to stay in separate rooms. She may have many boyfriends but she's still a lady.
Why they're destined to be together: Harper likes cowboys and how could she resist this?

The best 3 months of my life...so far.

It's hard to believe 3 months ago, we were in the hospital holding our baby girl for the first time. Our lives would never be the same. She's growing so fast and learning so much. Her favorite toy right now is her hand. She prefers to suck on it over her pacifier, which I'm ok with. She's a drooler like her mommy, and can fart with the best of them. She smiles more every day and mimics our facial expressions. I need to stop buying clothes for her because she has so many but girls are sooo much fun to shop for! Her leg strength is amazing. I keep joking that she'll walk before she crawls. She has no interest in being on her tummy or rolling over but she loves her bumbo chair and jumper. Her hair still sticks straight up, no matter how much I wet it down but I love it. Gives her character. I also can't put the camera down. She's so much fun to photograph and she has so many different facial expressions. Happy 3 month birthday baby!

"Surprised and Confused"

Harper and her puppy, Buddy. A dear friend of mine, Julie from Las Vegas, gave us this outfit. I think it makes Harper look sassy!

Pirate booty! This onsie came all the way from Christina in the Cayman Islands. Cayman is very special to mommy and daddy and we hope to take Harper there soon.

I've got nothin'

I have run out of things to say. Ok, that's not true. I'm too exhausted to post but I realized tonight I'm a little behind posting pictures. So enjoy the following photos from Easter and picking out Harper's tree, which is one of the coolest gifts. Thank you Gary and Janet! Now every spring, we will take pictures with Harper in front of her tree to show how big it and she have grown. It's a Chinese Pistache and it will be planted this Wednesday-photos to come.

Marking the tree...SOLD!

New tradition of dying eggs on Easter. I'm looking forward to an Easter Egg hunt next year!

Mommy & Harper in her beautiful Easter dress and bow.

Harper looooves Uncle Kyle!

Grandma Maggie and Harper!

Priceless!