Suffering Well

As you may remember, our pastor was diagnosed with brain cancer in December. This article about Matt was in newspapers around the world today. It has been so amazing to see all that the Lord is doing during this trial... all the people that have heard the gospel in a new way because of this cancer. If you haven't ever heard him preach, go listen now. I've never heard someone preach the gospel so effectively and clearly week after week. I'm so thankful to be a part of this church!

Under the Weather...

It should come as no surprise to you, but Harper has another ear infection. I must say, I am ready for a weekend where we are all healthy! Thankfully this one is only in one ear, and this medicine usually kicks in quickly. I'm also hoping it will help some with her cough. She was hardly able to drink her bottle tonight, and once she was finished, she coughed so much that a lot of it came back up (sorry for the gross details!). I'm also praying that she sleeps better than she has the last few nights...however, I don't have high hopes for that! She has been so sweet today, and I just feel so sorry for her! We're kind of laying low this weekend, but we did do something today that simply made me giddy.... we bought a new washer and dryer. Yes, I said giddy, and I meant it. If you had my current washer and dryer, you would understand. Although it is extremely efficient with water, I have mentioned how small the barrel is, so it isn't very efficient with my time. The new one will be delivered on Monday, and I am already excited about laundry day. How pitiful is this...I'm excited about laundry. I really need a hobby or something.

94!!!

My Mee-Maw turns 94 today! Oh how I wish we were there to celebrate with her. I'm sure she's iced/snowed in, so I'm hoping the staff and her friends at her house really make her day special. I am so thankful that the Lord allowed her to be my grandma. We have so much fun when we're together... laughing and joking about the men she has crushes on (when she hears what I'm saying!)! I hope that even though her family isn't with her today, she truly feels loved and celebrated. I just love her so much!!!!

Harper's House

We should be heading up to Oklahoma City right now for my Mee-Maw's birthday, but the looming weather is keeping us from doing that. My sisters, dad, and I were going there for the weekend... but since their flights for today were cancelled yesterday, we decided to change it to another weekend. It does make me really sad though to think that we won't get to celebrate Mee-Maw's 94th birthday with her! Instead of ice and snow, we're just getting rain today! We ran our errands early this morning, so now we don't have to get out in the nasty rain! Thankfully we have 3 rooms of toys to keep Harper entertained. She has much happier days when I change her scenery throughout the day. Her newest toy is her play house. She got it from Gama and Pop-pop for Christmas, and I finally put it together a few weeks ago. This is something she'll be able to play with for many years! As soon as we remodel our back room (that's another post for another day!), it will go in there with all of her other toys. I can't wait to have a playroom. My den won't feel like toysrus has thrown up all over it anymore (that's gross, but it's how I feel!)! Anyway... here are some pictures of Harper playing after lunch.

Playing with her puzzle in the house

And by playing with her puzzle, I meant eating her puzzle

She stays busy crawling in and out of the house

And this is when our game of chase began

It's blurry but cute... you can tell she's trying to get away from me!

Giving me her sneaky look while we play!

Movie Monday...

Here are 2 of Harper's latest videos. Can you tell how much I love my new video camera??? I'm obviously having way too much fun with it! She loves to throw the little balls that came with her house. I'm not sure how she knew to do it... she's just a genius, I guess. Just kidding! If you know Corby, you know that's where she'll get any of her athetic talent! Enjoy! And please excuse my loud voice!

3 for 3

I knew it was bound to happen, but Corby got the bug last night! Thankfully his wasn't as bad as mine, so he felt fairly good once he woke up this morning. I'm hoping that is the end of it. The piled up laundry, dishes in the sink, and toys everywhere is about to do me in! I'm ready for life to be normal and everyone have the most energy possible! I have a cute video of her waving tonight, but somehow I deleted it after getting it on the blog. I'm not about to sit here and upload it again, so I'll do it tomorrow. But it's a good one... I promise!

And I also must apologize to anyone who has slept in our guest bed. I promise those sheets are new but my word... they are AWFUL! I slept in the bed last night and had to sleep in long pants because they were so "balled up" (as my sister would say). It was so uncomfortable! Before we have another guest, new sheets will be purchased! I'm really embarrassed... we've had a lot of guests in the last 2 months sleep in there!

Making it's way through our house...

Yes, I got the stomach bug last night, and this might be worse than it was the last time. I was up most of the night, but thankfully Corby was able to stay home today. I'm still feeling a little uneasy, but I think I'm on the mend. And now, I am sitting all by myself in a quiet house. That's right... all alone. Mare called and said she had errands to run and wanted Harper to go with her. Mare is such a sacrificial friend! So for now, I will rest and enjoy the peace and quiet... and pray that Corby doesn't get this too!

Harper Loves Samson!

Harper has a new friend, and his name is Samson. Mare and Reid got this sweet puppy a few weeks ago, and we visit him quite often. They are both initially excited when they see each other, but that excitement fades quickly. She becomes too busy playing with all of his toys! He loves to lick her, and she'll tolerate it... but she doesn't love it! She learned how to dodge his puppy licks and nibbles today. Soon he will weigh more than she does, so we are enjoying this playful puppy stage!

Her initial excitement was captured!

Annalise loved playing with Samson too!

Keeping her hands away from his puppy licks!

Her New Wave...

Harper has been able to wave for a long time, but she changes it up every now and then. Her latest wave is just precious! And it's the way Annalise waved when she was a baby... so obviously I think it is extra special!

I need a bigger washer!

I will definitely post more about our time with Annalise, but today... I just don't have it in me. Instead, I am busy changing clothes, as well as Harper's clothes. She is obviously not feeling very well, which can be seen in the 9 outfits we have been in today. I'm hoping that it is just a short stomach bug... I have no interest in this being passed around our family! I also wish I had a bigger washing machine. Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful to Annalise's parents for giving us their old one, but it is a Swedish brand, and I guess laundry loads are smaller there. You can seriously wash 3 or 4 towels at a time...I'm not exaggerating either! So needless to say, the already large pile of laundry from the week is even larger after today.

My little helper!

We had a great first day with Annalise in town. She absolutely loves Harper and wants to help with everything. She fed her 2 of her bottles today, and they both thoroughly enjoyed it. Harper also loves Annalise and follows her around everywhere. In fact, she didn't cry all day. I can only assume she has just been bored with me!

I have 2 hilarious videos of Annalise, and I will try to post them at some point. She loves to sing, and when she does... she makes her voice have a vibrato at the end of each note, and it cracks me up! I can only assume her teacher at school sings like that. She also does it while she is talking, and I laugh every time (in my head, of course!). We are so glad she is here, and I think the feelings are mutual! She has hugged me and Corby all day long!

Annalise and Harper...bonding over a bottle

This made me laugh... she grabbed the hat, put it on and said, "I am such a fan of the United States of America." I didn't tell her that it was an Alabama hat. Instead, I took a picture and sent it to her dad, a Texas Alum. It definitely cracked me up!!!

We love 50 degree weather!

On Tuesday, Harper finally got to play outside for a while, and she LOVED every minute of it! This girl loves being outside, and I am so thankful for that. My whole childhood was spent in my backyard and the Furr's backyard, and I hope that she is the exact same way! We took her lion outside, and she had fun pushing him around the yard... even though it was more difficult than on the carpet!

Pushing her lion around

Enjoying the great outdoors!

About to enjoy a snack of leaves

Giving the leaves in her hand a stare down!

The Tenth Month

Harper is 10 months old today! Ahhh... only 2 more months until the big day! We're hoping for a healthier month than we had in the last one. She's on a pretty terrible sickness cycle... gets a cold, becomes ear infection, put on medicine, gives her diarrhea, gets AWFUL diaper rash, and then usually another cold comes along. Needless to say, we're hoping these ear infections stay away! Besides being sick, here are some other things Harper is doing:

-Still has a toothless grin!

-Pulls up on everything and walks around holding onto the furniture

-4 bottles a day, and 3 meals... finger foods aren't her favorite, so we are moving VERY slowly with this! She loves her yogurt in the morning, but other than that, she isn't interested in eating anything else. Today we finally had success with lunch!

-Her favorite toys are her piggy bank (she dances to the song), any of her books, and her fisher price house

-She has been going to bed around 7:30 and sleeping until at least 7! I love it!!!

-She takes 2 naps a day, thankfully they are now lasting at least an hour (joke is on me today... I just looked at the monitor and she's up after a 30 minute nap!)

-She still isn't interested in the church nursery... I'm trying to come up with ways to help with that. I miss hearing the entire sermon!

-She loves being outside... we're glad things are warming up this week, so we can actually play outside for a while!

Pushing her lion around the living room!

I love her sweet eyelashes!

I also love her Baby Lulu outfit...

and the fact that it was $9.00 at Costco!

The back of her hair cracks me up!

Too cute to cut in my opinion!

Heading for the front door

Sweet thing just wants to be outside!

We have a big week ahead of us. Tonight Corby and I are getting out of the house for a real date! We go out every week, but Harper always joins us. This time Mare volunteered to watch her and do her entire evening routine... such an AMAZING friend! Then on Wednesday, Annalise is coming to visit. If you don't know me well, Annalise was the little girl I nannied for before I had Harper. I can't wait to see her!!! There will definitely be some posts about her, as she always says the funniest things!

#1!!!!

Although Harper and I are both Razorback fans, we did cheer on Alabama last night. Alabama is our second favorite team, so we had a lot of fun watching the game. I had to tell Harper how it ended this morning because she only saw the first 30 minutes of it. Corby and his brother were at the game, so I know they had such a wonderful time with the big win! We even saw them on t.v.! However, we are ready for him to be home. Harper has been fighting this 4th ear infection and needless to say, she just hasn't been happy. There was a point the other day when I legitimately thought I was going to lose it. Don't worry... I'm better now and called in reinforcements. Thanks, Mare, for helping me when I go a little crazy!

I definitely hated that Colt McCoy got hurt, but he handled it with such class. His post game speech definitely made me tear up! Anyway.... here's what you really want to see... Harper in her Alabama dress. She got this as a gift from a family friend of Gama and Pop-pop's, and this was her first time to wear it. I think it's pretty cute.... obviously one with a hog would be a little cuter.

Holding up her #1...

her dad's classic camera move!

Such a sweet face... but you can probably tell, she just wasn't happy!

Playing in her room with her elephant

My precious Harper girl!

Oh, I just love her so much!!! She is just too precious for words!

Happy 1st Birthday, Saylor!!!

Harper's best friend, Saylor, turned 1 today! I seriously can't believe how quickly this year has gone by. When she was born, I remember thinking that the last 2 months of my pregnancy would go by really quickly now that she was here... and to say I was right is an understatement. And now... Harper will be 1 before I know it! But this post isn't about Harper or how fast time goes by. This one is dedicated to Saylor! Erica and Matt had her party on Saturday, and it was so much fun! Erica did a great job with the food and decorations... she definitely set the birthday party bar high! I am so thankful that we had our little girls so close together. Having their encouragement and friendship through parenthood is such a blessing... we love the Smiths! Here are a few pictures from her party. I had to cut it down since I did take over 80 pictures... can you even imagine what I will be like at Harper's party?!?!?

The birthday girl and her wonderful parents!

Me, Erica, and Mare

I am so thankful for these girls!!!

The cake was so beautiful and delicious!

Saylor's personal cake

The winter one-derland sign... so clever!

The awesome snowflakes that Erica made!

Harper and her aunt Mare

Blowing out her candle

Enjoying her cake and putting it everywhere!

Loving on her new baby doll... it was precious!

And Happy birthday to Erica tomorrow!!!

Kisses...

Harper has learned how to give air kisses, and it is the cutest thing ever!!! It started in Little Rock with Leah's fiance, Mike, and now she loves giving them out. At Saylor's birthday party yesterday, she gave them out the entire time to Matt's brother (someone she had never met before!). Her love/obsession for men is certainly something we are already concerned about!!! Enjoy this sweet video!

Christmas in Little Rock

We had such a wonderful time in Little Rock celebrating Christmas with my family. Even though I didn't get to see many friends (such a bummer!), I did get to spend some much needed time with my family. Harper thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas Day, which was Monday the 28th. She got some very fun presents and loved giving out her pieces of art. Everyone in the family received a "Harper Original" painting, and it was quite funny what everyone "saw" in their picture. I love a good homemade gift, so we will hopefully do something neat like that every year. Here are so many pictures from our time together... I just couldn't cut any out!

Our stockings on our Christmas morning

Playing with Kay-Kay's Vicks!

Checking out her stocking

Puffs and a piggy bank... it doesn't get any better!

Eliana taking about .2 seconds from

running around to show me her zhu zhu pet

She loved the bows and wrapping paper

Loving on Gran-D

Other than his National Championship Game tickets,

this was probably his favorite gift

Harper is OBSESSED with the mirror on this book!

Thanks Tia!!!

Opening her new Bible from Gran-d!

Playing with her farm from Kay-Kay

Chris showing off his new jacket!

Playing with her lion toy from the Wheelers

Tia keeping Harper entertained in Eliana's doll stroller

Thank you Papa G for the fun presents!

Eliana was thrilled with her gifts from Papa G!

Where is Papa G?

Eliana likes for people to lay on the ground

and then she covers you with anything she can find

DJ Eliana... this was hilarious!

Dance party... don't worry, I'll post videos soon!

Tyra taught her everything she knows

I love my sisters!!!

Add in the husbands/fiance

Sweet Harper wasn't interested in smiling...

But I still love any picture of the 3 of us!