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).