"You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!"

On Harrison's and I's way back from the kid's concert in the park (in celebration of our local Steamboat Days)---we decided to stop at Zesto (an ice cream store).

Turns out Harrison likes ice cream, which was a total relief for daddy. For those that don't know me well...I may be the only person you know that doesn't like ice cream. During my pregnancy Doug actually tried to convince me to start eating ice cream as babies taste buds develop in utero. The convincing didn't work...but it seems Harrison's taste buds took after like daddy anyhow.

I have to tell you...this was probably most fun I have ever had taking photos. Harrison drew in a crowd and even a semi truck driver stopped briefly to watch.

Too bad daddy had to work, he missed out a sticky good time. Thank goodness Mommy had the camera.



Damn---this is child is adorable!

Keep scrolling for more pictures...There is a bunch---all too cute not to post!

 This is his second ice cream cone. He dropped the first one in a pile of sand and cried as I carried over to the trash. He seems a bit happier below with ice cream cone #2.

In case your wondering...he finished the second cone minus the cone itself which was incredibly soggy from the 85 degree temps. and melting ice cream.

And yes... as much as I don't care for ice cream, an older gentleman offered to take a photo of the two of us and I couldn't resist.

Turns out in all...Harrison had 3 cones from Zesto in one day. As Doug and I pre-celebrated our anniversary on Friday night, Grandma walked Harrison down to the Zesto. What can he say? It was a good day for ice cream.

Super Duper Cute

Tonight was God Fathers Pizza buffet night. It's one of the few places we can take Harrison to eat without having to wait for food. I love their buffet selection. Harrison got stuffed on mashed potato's and gravy, peaches, tator tot casserole, and Mac & Cheese.

After dinner we took a stroll down on the levy to observe the local carnival setting up before we walked back home. We  ended up coming  home with these adorable photos as an added bonus.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

The calender turned over one more year on Sunday for me. Twenty-seven. I am young enough to admit my age, but old enough to not appreciate aging another year.

My boys treated me well. I got an early birthday present last week when I received a painted floor backdrop for indoor photography sessions. Did you notice photo below with Harrison on the doll bed with that cool flooring? That was a sneak peek of the new flooring.

On Sunday (my actual birthday), Doug and I made our first trip of the year to Target Field to watch the Twins play. Sunday marked exactly one year we went to our first game at the new field.

Remember this?

(June 12, 2010)

 That was our 6 month old Harrison head.

June 12, 2011

Where's Harrison?

At Grandma's house.

At 18 months he is a ball of endless energy and I couldn't imagine him happily sitting through a 3 hour baseball game. I know the two children who sat behind us that were probably about 5 or 6 still had a hard time behaving. Maybe in a year or two Harrison will come again---that all depends on how naughty he is :)

All in all----The game was great! Twins won 6 to 1. This second game that I have ever been at that the Twins won. Apparently my presence is no longer bad luck. I am now 2 for 10 for Twins games.

BTW---our seats were great. You can probably tell from this photo. I didn't even zoom in all the way.

I was actually anxious to get home from the game to spend some of the day with my other favorite man!

"Whoa," Harrison says...

 "You missed that candle Momma!"

Now take a look at this next photo? Who in there right mine gives a giant piece of cake to a freshly bathed toddler, who already brushed his teeth at bedtime?

One word...

Mommy.

 Taking time to share!

I had a great birthday (despite the aging part)... Thank you for all the nice wishes.

This coming weekend marks another weekend celebration. On Saturday (June 18th) Doug and I will celebrate 6 years of marriage. Well in actually we will celebrate our anniversary on Sunday, but we will REALLY celebrate it as we set sail on our Caribbean Cruise in August. 53 days left until we bask in the sun and be waited on hand and foot...but who's counting?

 Me?

Yes I AM! I told you that you were going to hear much more about this upcoming vacation!

The Blog turns 2 {already}

Two years ago today I made my first blog entry at blogspot.

TWO YEARS. Since then I have made well over 500 entries and the blog has been viewed 14,000 times.

June 9th, 2009...Could that really be that long ago? It's amazing to think that I found out I was pregnant in June and Harrison was born in November. Not in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine what the future would hold.

I took a stroll down memory lane tonight, re-reading roughly more than half of the blog. All I have to say is... damn we are strong people. I don't think until now I gave Doug and I enough credit for making it through my pregnancy and Harrison's first year. But you know what...maybe the last two years weren't picture perfect. I had a difficult pregnancy with Harrison, he was born 11 weeks to soon, he spent 52 days in the NICU, he has had 12 ear infections and countless sickness in the last year. Would I change anything? ABSOLUTELY not.

How Preemie Mom's Are Chosen

 

Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger.

"Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint...give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a preemie."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a premature baby a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel."

"But does she have the patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience, or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.

Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.

I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.

You see, the child I am going to give her has a world of it's own. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

God smiles. "This one is perfect. She has just the right amount of selfishness. "

The angel gasps, "Selfishness! Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she will never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When her child says "momma" for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.
I will permit her to see clear the things that I see - ignorance, cruelty, prejudice - and allow her to rise above them.
She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."
 
If we ever have a bad day, I read this poem to remind myself that God chose us. We have a love of a child that not everyone has. I am thankful for his life, rain, shine, wind and thunder.
 
I want to take the opportunity to thank you following along with us on life's journey. I can't stress enough this is real life. We don't need to sugar coat our lives because life is perfect just the way it is.
 
 

And what post wouldn't be complete without a photo?

 

 

Night, night.

 
 

 

Sun, Sand & Water

The temperatures here soared in the 80s, 90s, and 100s.  We stayed cool over the weekend by taking our first trip of the year to the beach. Harrison wasn't quite sure if he liked it or not. He isn't a fan of sand on his feet (which can be typical for his age). After about 20 minutes we coaxed him into the water...

This next photo is super blurry... I was way off focus, but his cute expression totally makes up for this.

 Yes, as gross as the water looked...still didn't detour Harrison from trying to drink it. Yes, seriously, I wouldn't make that up. But I guess it's not really worse than when he picked up dog poop the other day and handed it to me. So maybe that didn't put the best image in your mind, but hey, I tell it like it is. And... If you can remember, I dealt with the cat poop incident too. Daddy better something coming.

Sand was Harrison's favorite of the day...it's ok on his hands, just not his tootsies.

 Wet, smelly and dirty--- practically a boy's dream. I believe in messiness!

After our afternoon at the beach Harrison now has a pair of water shoes for our next trip there. He loves them. This morning he picked up his new shoes and signed "please" to daddy to put them on. This evening he took them back out of the bin and brought them to me and sat down nicely waiting for to put them on and signed "thank you" after I got them on. Later tonight he even wanted me to put them on over his pajamas. I will have to get a picture of these "awesome" shoes. They are nothing more than $14 Speedo shoes from Target, but apparently they are much better than that according to Harrison.

I love how the simple things in life are the best things. Sometimes you need a child to remind you that life is much more than a chaotic day at work, paying bills, trying to figure out what's for dinner, cleaning the house, rushing here, rushing there... Life is so good.

A Monday not worth repeating...

Who invented Mondays? Not only is it the most dreadful day of the week...but what makes it worse is trying to keep yourself above water with weights on your feet. In short, today was a bad day and no, Harrison wasn't to blame. Sometimes life throws you a curve ball that hits you straight in the gut and today was one of those days.

But you know what...not matter what kind of day I have, I get to come home to these big beautiful blue eyes!

 This next one is picture perfect. I asked Harrison to sit down and smile. He complied! {Most likely this will be the only time this will ever happen}

 He didn't sit for long...he was back up running away!

 Peeking at the birdies!

 Mommy's favorite! FAVORITE!

 What? In June?

 He's taking the opportunity to show off his his blonde fuzz. It curls with the humidity :)

The lake is so peaceful in the evening.

!