It's Party Time!

Last Saturday we celebrated Harrison's 2nd birthday with friends and family. It was about half the crowd as last year---allowing us to have it at our home this year, which contributed to Harrison's AWESOME mood (kids just do better in their own environment). We can't believe how well he did.

Celebrating turning two was relaxing, we didn't have the chaos of worrying if something didn't go right. I stressed out in preparation for his first birthday WAY too much trying to make his day perfect, such a different story this year.

I also took time this year to take some photos of the details---something I wish I would have done last year.

The flame cupcakes---LOVE.

 Food---perhaps the most important part. Puppy chow and fruit kabobs--toddler foods of choice of coarse.

Yummy birthday cake---but not really the design I ordered, it was supposed to be a fire truck, but flames it is. 

A quick family portrait.

He decided to feed the cake to daddy before blowing out the candles.

 My absolute favorite shot from the day.

Madden---Harrison's NICU neighbor all grown up too!

Harrison's cousin Cecilia being silly!

Meet William, this handsome boy is our neighbor across the street---he will be two in March.

 These awesome CARS pjs caught the attention of everybody.

 Showing the over-crowd at our home---which only confirms we have out grown our space (or really our floor plan)

 Here is Quinn--another NICU neighbor to Harrison. I am glad we stay in contact with a couple of families that we spent so many days with...we all wanted the same thing---to bring our little boys home.

 After presents Harrison sat on my lap and looked around the room and I asked him to thank everyone for all of his new gifts...Clear as day he said, "thank you." This made my day. I take pride in two words he using most frequently, "please" and "thank you."

 Apparently the Elmo fireman card was a hit!

Thank you to all our friends/family that came, you really made this day special.

Lastly---here is Auntie Potter. We have to thank her for making all the party decorations and what an awesome job she did. Make sure you scroll back up and take another look at the banner, cupcake holders and other decorations---all created by Auntie. Thank You, Thank You! Your pieces of art were definitely a hit! I only wish I could convince Harrison to pose with the banner on my backdrop---I spent more than hour creating the setting and I can't even get him to go near it, not even with cupcake (sadness for Mommy).

Auntie Potter & Harrison
 (Oh and blame daddy for changing the camera setting making this photo yellow---with editing, it's the same result, so I give up---but too cute not to share, just bothers me as Doug tells me I am just too picky :)

 We will have a 2 year old in 5 short days.

Sneak Peek!

For those of you that can not wait to see birthday party photos---here is one to hold you off for a bit---or at least long enough for me edit his birthday party photos sometime this week.

Instead of saving the best for last, here is your treat.

Looks like someone may have been digging into the frosting prior to blowing out the candles (and he even shared with daddy).

ENJOY!



Fishy

We took a trip to Pet Smart to get Harrison an early birthday present.

He picked out two gold fishys.

.

He also helped pick out supplies. 

Then a Pet Smart employee approached me and told me I was not allowed to take photos inside of the store. The employee didn't know why it wasn't allowed, but told me that I needed to stop taking photos.

REALLY? Like no one ever takes photos inside of their store with their cell phones?

Well, due to Pet Smart regulations---there is no more photos for your viewing pleasure.

We did however get Nemo's and Fishy's home together. The fish were released into their new home after Harrison went to bed. In the morning he eagerly helped feed them (a tiny pinch) and we were out the door.

Sadly---we came home that evening to find Fishy belly-up. Sometimes this happens and can be expected, so this why we let Harrison pick out two fishys.

In the coarse of the evening Harrison watched Nemo swim around in and out of the rocks and fed him a tiny pinch of food before he went to bed. I went to the kitchen to finish up some dishes and walked by Nemo and he wasn't swimming---looking closer Nemo was belly-up too.

After further instruction from Pet Smart we are waiting a few days to try some new fish---hopefully a second round will live longer than 24 hours.

Harrison comes up to me and says, "Fishy" and puts his hands up in asking, "where are they?" I told him we can get some new fishys soon.

First Hair Cut

Milestone: First Hair Cut

Date: November 17, 2011

SO...how'd this go?

Something like this...

He looks thrilled doesn't he?

To ease his fears...Daddy got his hair cut first. Harrison seemed to understand that he was going to get his hair cut too. He sat on my lap pulling at his own hair and I explained to him that it was going to be his turn next.

When his turn came...he didn't want to go.

First we tried to have him sit on daddy's lap.

Next we tried sitting him on the chair.

We tried offering him his blanket, plug, and M&Ms.

Finally he ended up on my lap---but very reluctantly. He also decided neither of us needed to wear a cape.

 He never cried, but protested with whines and without a tight bear hug from mom, surely he would have ran away. He wanted nothing to do with sitting still.

 For moment there was a smile---a sucker to save the day.

 Both his an I's favorite part of his hair cut...

 Almost done...

 Meet our hairstylist Kristi. Doug and I have trusted her to cut hair for the past 7 years, now we add one more.

How do I sum up this experience?

Let's just say I am happy his hair doesn't grow very fast. When it comes to needing another haircut? I just make tackle that task on my own.

Everyday little things...

If you have been counting...the is the 600th post!



Think of your favorite holiday or something that you just absolutely love that doesn't happen very often.



For me? It feels like Christmas everyday. To see the things Harrison does is no other word than amazing. Each day he does something he couldn't do the day before.

On Sunday I watched him play at the park. He tackled a huge platform of stairs (without a railings) and pefectly climbed to the top. Two months ago, he couldn't get up one stairs without losing balance. I remember telling Doug he will be 3 or 4 before he can do these stairs." He proved me wrong. And to watching him climb to the top of slides and say, "weee" on his way down hits me like no other. This was a baby born 11 weeks too soon. A toddler that didn't crawl until he was 11 months old and didn't walk until he was nearly 16 months. I observe 3-5 year olds playing at the park that won't even go down a slide by themselves or can't climb those stairs. Prematurity TAKE THAT!

Another Magic Moment

During breakfast over the weekend Doug and I were engaging in a conversation only to look over to see Harrison driving the crust of toast on the table of high chair making automobile noises. I know we shouldn't be delighted with our toddler playing with food, but in the moment all we could do is laugh in delight as his imagination begins to soar.

I love to watch him when he doesn't know I am watching him. This is especially true during Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Sesame Street. He imitates actions of the characters and I finding him mooing at the television. LOVE.

Language (talking) has come hard for Harrison, so with each new word learned brings happiness. The newest word? Fishy. He loves "fishys." Harrison, what does the Fish say? Harrison's response, "bubble, bubble." And Harrison doesn't know it yet, but he is getting a gold fishy for his birthday. He is very in-tune with animals. He often helps me feed Whitney Dog in the morning and if a squirrel feeder or bird feeder goes empty, he is the first one to let you know... We can't wait to see his excitement with his fishy and he will get to feed him everyday.

Harrison's obsession to help out with anything and everything is pretty awesome. Over the last couple of weeks we have touched up paint around the house in preparation for the Realtors to come through . Harrison was excited to be given his own foam brush (without paint that is) and he pretended to paint along side us. Daddy even let him help paint the outside door over the weekend. He was blue, but had fun and that's what counts. We ordered him his very own first set of Craftsman power tool set for his birthday as well. It should have arrived already, but was damaged on shipment, so hopefully a new set by his actual birthday.

Speaking of his birthday, we celebrate this weekend already! The food has been bought and the cupcake order placed. My brother Eric put together a 2nd birthday video and did an absolute fantastic job. I think I have watched the video a dozen times already. I will share it on Harrison's birthday which is 14 days away!

Thursday at 3 PM will be Harrison's first official hair cut...another toddler milestone. At one point I wondered if he would ever get any hair, and now he sports a full head of white blonde hair. I am hoping to snap a couple of photos, depending on this experience goes...it could be good, bad or ugly. Daddy goes first, which should help ease some tension. He generally does alright with his hair, we comb it every morning and plays with my curling iron (unplugged) and tries to curl his own hair. I guess he wants to be more like daddy. I am just wondering how much more grown up he will look once he has a big boy haircut.

 I keep looking at this little boy--not a baby anymore. Looking at him growing up so fast is so hard, but at the same time the excitement to what is to come.

And I have to add a HUGE thank you to daddy for taking Harrison a majority of the time this past week. I have been really sick with a cold bug (for what seems FOREVER), but with antibiotics in hand I think I can say I am on the mend, we will see if I get to keep my voice in the morning. I also took today off work to do what the doctor said, rest and fluids. This may have done some good. For those single moms out there, I don't know how they do it--they need more credit. Parenting definitely is a two person job!

Here is a cute photo from the park a couple of weeks ago---it was cold that day.



Have you checked on the "Jammin" post below? My favorite video EVER.

Jammin'

Rockin in the new car... Never mind the video being sideways---Daddy has yet to figure that one out on his new phone. A new phone and then a new car for daddy? Hmmm.... Well I guess I can't complain I have a brand new camera and I am one of those people who is boy-coting a smart phone.

The video clip starts off slow---but when he gets going with his hands? PRICELESS. This is my favorite video yet. Thank you MC Hammer for the Rockin song!

Oh and BTW this blog entry is only one away from the 600th post! WOW.

LOVE...

Do I love spending 32+ hours a week at work? In short absolutely not. But what cheers me up is picking up Harrison at the end of the work day---it's the highlight of my everyday.

I especially love when we come home with his art projects. In celebration of Halloween they decorated pumpkins.

What's not to love about this?

 Here is a super cute one from our trip to the Children's Museum last weekend. He insisted in wearing the driver's hat--no prompting needed.

 And another super cute one from a couple of weeks ago!

 Do you love the hat? It was from Harrison's secret admirer--aka Miss Ruthie :)

 He drove with a braid in each hand, simply doesn't get more adorable.

 Playing in the leaves with Big Sister Whitney Dog.

Though---he doesn't look thrilled here I asked his to show me "touch down."

That's all I can post for now---nap time is over and we have to get out any enjoy this beautiful weather!!!