Minnesota Zoo!

On Sunday we paid a visit to the Minnesota Zoo!  

And...let me tell you, it was defiantly a zoo...and not just because of the animals (crazy busy).

Harrison loved the fish...

The grizzly bear was so friendly (looking that is) we could have picked him up a squeezed him!

And... I can't take credit for this picture...(this was one Doug took). He captured most of the pictures of our zoo day.

The best part of the Zoo trip??? We met up with baby Henry!

Baby Harrison 7 months, Henry 11 Months

FLASH BACK!

Baby Harrison at 3 Months, Baby Henry at 7 Months (Mall of America Valentines Day 2010)

My how they have grown!

Here is Harrison cooling off in the sprinkler along the path... He loved it!

Next...The FARM!

Here are the proud mommys!

Fun Day!

The perfect evening...

Tonight was picture perfect...and I am not just saying that because I have this incredible prop...this is what summer is all about...toes in the sand and relaxing on the shore line.

Quotes

Something to make you smile:

I just had to share a few quotes that came in a package of blocks for Harrison...

These are all quotes from children ages 2-5.

--"But Daddy is a big boy, and he doesn't sleep alone."
--"I think it went: dinosaurs, pilgrims, and then real people."
--"You know what?" "Not all dreams come true. But that's okay because you can always make new dreams."
--"Can I wear my socks to the beach to keep sand off my toes?"
--"I wish I had a small sweatshirt for my face."
--Child: "Do you get younger as I get older?"
   Mom: "No, we both just get older."
   Child: "Hmmmm... Well, then where as I before I was here?"
--"Your name is Mommy and you ARE a mommy."

My favorite actually just came from my 7 year old nephew Carter...

My sister-in-law and I were discussing how Harrison is shorter than the average 7 month old baby...Carter chimed in asking, "Since Harrison was born early...will he be a midget?"

7 Months...Already?

Oh, where or oh where does the time go? Seriously... I am sitting down here blogging about our little man who will be offically 7 months tomorrow.

Doug and I were on our family walk last night...and our conversation reflected back on these past 7 months. We have these little talks now and then just to remind ourselves just how lucky we are to have Harrison and have him be in the place we once thought he might never be.

The past two months--Harrison has changed so much it's hard to keep track of him! He has gone from a baby at 5 months who didn't babble, couldn't tolerate tummy time, and would have nothing to do with sitting...now at 7 months, he babbles and sometimes he babbles so loud he startles the kitty, he holds his head high on his tummy and is a supported sitter. What progress! Sometimes I get in these ruts when I think he should be doing this and doing that, but when you take a step back I am so amazed! We may have to wait later to meet milestones, but again when each is met, we have a greater appreciation.

So what us new with Harrison?

At this point in time he measures about 25 inches long and weighs about 17 lbs. Size wise we have to estimate this month as this is the first month we haven't had to visit the doctor (and let's cross our fingers and hope it stays that way). Even though Harrison is one chubby boy (thighs and cheeks prove that)...he is wearing 3-6 month clothing, with an exception of a few pieces of 0-3 months. Harrison can thank he height for the extra usage of smaller clothing. He also has tiny footies yet...finally broke out of newborn sizing and currently wear 0-3 month (size 1). And as I side note...I think it's completely amazing that last week I just cut Harrison's toe nails for the second time since he was born...I sware they don't grow!

Over the past month Harrison has tried the following foods and these are his respones:

Carrots- yummy
Sweet Potatos-yummy
Peaches-ymmuy
Pears-yummy
Prunes-yummy--his favorite
Bananas-indifferent
Applesauce-yummy
Green Beans---YUCK! and double YUCK!!!!
Rice Cereal--yuck--feed me something better

Soilds I would say are going well. I tend to buy more veggies than fruit for regularity reasons. And...if you can tell by the responses above, he isn't a picker eater like his mom and dad. Green beans about the only thing he won't let pass his lips, in fact he can spit the green goop with vengence. So...no more green beans, at least for a while anyways. On top of a serving of fruit or veggie each day Harrison consumes about 4-5, 6 oz bottles a day. Sometimes, we even have a popsicle on hot days. As I mentioned in many previous posts---he is no stranger to food!

Drool, Drool, and more Drool! I am constantly searching for the off lever on this facuett of his. Today, we visited the zoo and he drooled through his infant chest carrier to the point I could have wrung it out. And, you may think I am exaggerating...not so. If you need proof, come for a visit and you are sure to be dribbled on! Next to drool---toys are beginning to take over the house and these are on top of Whitney Dog toys (which she has two toy boxes of her own) we are well on our way to a chaotic mess! I guess that's life!



Besides drool and new foods, Harrison is starting to have what I term, "Clingy Days." Yesterday was one of them---MOST DEFINITELY! It's not that he is hungry, needs a diaper change, tired, doesn't feel good...it's rather him saying, "Help, I can't entertain myself!" For an example, he will be down playing in his jungle gym and let out a scream until you go over to him and literally watch him play, the moment you walk away---he would grunt or let out a yell in frustration. Same with swing...he could swing in the swing, he just needed you there to "watch" him swing. Nap time was an issue as well...I would be rocking him and the minute I lay him down he would be wide eyed and would have nothing to do with napping despite the NEED for one. He was also the king of cuddling--(which I have to admit that I loved). This same little  clingy thing occurred last week. I am hoping these "Clingy Days" don't increase their frequency. As much as I love being needed...I also need get things done as done.

As well as we are on the topic of getting things done...After 5 years, we finally have a screened in front porch. We thought this would be a great addition to have Harrison be able to play outside without being eaten alive by bugs and also provide him a safe place to nap and play while mom and dad get some much needed yard work done. (Our yard has never looked this shabby since we moved in five and half years ago---a note to our neighbors, the lawn and hedges with eventually get cut--at least that is our intention at this time).

What are we currently working on?

-Sitting
-Grabbing his feet consistently
-Rolling over consistently
-Looking up (beyond eye level)
-Holding his own bottle
-Putting in his own pacifier
-Learning his own name

With all of this work in progress it would better I stay at home working with him---right daddy? Someday is the plan...for now, I buy a lottery ticket every Monday.

What more could I possibly update you on? Stuff, lots and lots of Stuff...but like I said earlier on in the post...I have to get "stuff" done and I am sure you have to get "stuff" done.

Before I unleash the seven month photos... It would be great if you left some comments on this entry (just click comment below---you don't even have to have a google account)...Why am I requesting this? I have so many people that tell me follow my blog, but I never get any feed back... Give me your thoughts, opinions or whatever you have to say! THANKS! :)

Here they are!










Okay... I lied. I have to tell you a story first, about this photo shoot that is. To start it off... I got this photo inspiration by walking down the Target seasonal isle... A picnic basket. Why a picnic basket? Something not so original that is for sure and Harrison happen to fit perfectly in the one we have. Okay...now back to the story.

I decided for this photo shoot that we needed a new back drop other than our own yard. So I loaded up the Jeep and we set up for Garvin Heights. After spending 15 minutes getting everything put together and lugging Harrison up the hill...he was photo ready. I picked up the picnic basket to put him in and there was a HUGE Daddy Long Leg Spider! I HATE SPIDERS---ALL KINDS, END OF STORY. I threw the basket to the ground a smooshed the spider. After picking back up the basket I was just about to put Harrison inside when I saw another HUGE Daddy Long Leg...Again I chucked the basket...This time it broke, but I didn't care as I looked over at Harrison and he had a HUGE Daddy Long Leg crawling across his tummy. I flicked the spider so far and screamed like a little girl! I scooped up Harrison and looked at ground...it was practically in motion with Daddy Long Legs. I ran to the car with Harrison in tow. I quickly ran back up the hill and grabbed our props, shaking them to death in hopes of getting off all the 8 legged creatures. Just as I finished packing up the car...a neighbor approached me questioning "too many bugs up there for you?" I said, "It's beyond anything I can handle." (I am sure he heard my screams and witnessed flying picnic baskets.

After this commotion was over and nerves were calmed...these A-M-A-Z-I-N-G photos were taken.


Enjoy.

And the shoot continues...

Harrison was at his finest here!

"I don't like green beans!"

SEE!

Besides that icky taste expression I am sporting...did you notice what I am sitting in?

It's a big boy high chair! I feel like I am on top of the world!!!

Don't I look so grown up here?

It was pretty exciting putting Harrison in the high chair for the first time tonight. We had been putting off getting a high chair until Harrison could sit...but we took the plunge and he sits just fine in it. (We are still working on sitting which will more likely be around 7 months corrected age--September). And.. unlike his swing, which took me (mom) an hour or more to put together, this high chair took me less than 15 minutes. I impressed myself with my assembly skills tonight (and Harrison didn't fall out or the chair fall to pieces, so I did something right).

YUMMY! (He is trying prunes here for the first time tonight).

Here is one messy boy! Don't you just love the coverall he is sporting? It's a bib that stretches from his head to his feet...

And here is this grown up boy enjoying a Popsicle!

Whitney Dog helps clean up! (She is so good with him!)

And Harrison needed a bath of his own...

This precious boy is just so amazing!!! Today Harrison is 29 weeks old. He was born at just 29 weeks. What difference each and everyday!

A little of this, a little of that...

I just had to share a few more recent pictures of this incredible young man! Lots more photos and a much updated progress report will soon follow!

Something Sweet!

"YUMMY," says Harrison! Orange tongue and all, Harrison devoured his first sucker!

And... of coarse we had the camera to capture it...

SLURP!