We Survived!

Harper and I officially survived our first weekend all alone! Corby went to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama game, and we stayed home. I was a little nervous because I really depend on Corby for weekend help. In fact, he does everything on the weekends... so I knew it would be quite a change for me. Thanks to the Dallas Sample Sale at Market, Mare, Harper, and I stayed very busy on Saturday. We had a lot of fun together, but we were both really happy to see Corby this afternoon! Even though the Cowboys are playing tonight, I think it will be early to bed for me! I am exhausted. I hope you had a great weekend!!!

Bottle Holder

Harper has been doing her latest trick, holding her own bottle, for a few weeks now. It has recently become more consistent, and most of the time she gets mad if you help her (not a good sign for the future). Her meals take a little longer now because she easily gets distracted. Instead of drinking, it is more fun to shake the bottle over her face or just throw the bottle on the floor. Yes, milk gets everywhere. But since I still hold her, I can easily get her back on track. I am so proud of her, and I think she's pretty excited about it too!

Sanctification in Marriage

Whew... our pastor, Matt Chandler, preached a sermon on marriage a few weeks ago, and I was finally able to listen to the whole thing. I heard half of it at church, but Harper girl wasn't interested in the nursery, so I missed the other half. It is almost an hour, so it took a while to find the time to listen to it. But let me tell you... it is POWERFUL! Convicting, yes... but those are my favorite sermons. And it just so happens, Matt preaches that way every week, so I'm right where I need to be! If you have the time (and really you should just make the time), go to itunes, search The Village Church, and listen to "The Path, part 7: Sanctification in Marriage". It will challenge you, for sure! He speaks to both the husband and the wife, so it would be great to listen to it together... just a suggestion!

"I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee..."

Hands down... Harper is the cutest little bee I have ever seen. I'm sure you'll agree! We have had such a fun day as a family. The Smith's had a fun little party this afternoon, and then we went to our church for Trunk-or-Treat. Harper was pretty happy most of the day, considering she's still recovering from her ear infection. Oh yes... why not continue our sick trend?!?! I knew something was wrong on Thursday, and I'm so thankful I took her in. Thanks to some meds, she is much happier and is obviously feeling better! Back to the day... she did great until it was group picture time. I'll let that picture speak for itself. I took a ton of pictures today, 96 to be exact... so be thankful that I sorted through them! Enjoy!

Studying her tutu

From the back... so cute!

Checking out her daddy!

Harper the bee and Gavin the monkey

Harper the bee, Gavin the monkey, and Saylor the lobster

Group picture... fail

Berkley the Giraffe and Saylor the lobster weren't enjoying it either

Check out the precious Dunlap brothers!

They were ducks and their dad was a goose.

Duck, Duck, Goose... get it? Ha!

Trying to figure out her costume

Another try... not successful!

Erica's food set-up... DELICIOUS!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Hi Dad. It's me, Harper. I just wanted to let the world know that you're the best dad in the whole world! Mom said that today is your birthday, and I hope it is your best one yet! I can't wait for you to get home so we can celebrate. Although I am hoping you and mom wait to eat that yummy cake once I'm in bed. It is just so hard watching you eat such delicious things... and that cake is no exception!!! I love you more and more each day, and I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful dad. I love our time together when you get home from work. Yes, water gets everywhere, but I love that you give me my bath each night! And then I love laying in your arms while I eat my nighttime snack! You love me so well, and I can't wait for our relationship to get even stronger. I do have one request... I know that football games are important, but do you think you could not yell so loud when you're excited? It scares me every time. I'd say that I'd work on my sensitivity to noise, but we both know I'm not getting over that any time soon. I love you, Daddy. Happy birthday! Here are some of my favorite pictures of us...

Don't forget to see the post about the photo shoot mommy and I had at the Arboretum yesterday! I had so much fun!

Picture Day at the Arboretum

Yesterday, Harper and I headed out to the Arboretum (botanical gardens) to take some pictures. I've been meaning to do this for a while, but the weather has not been cooperating. It was pretty muddy at the actual pumpkin patch area, so I didn't get any of her there... but there were plenty more pumpkins along the way! I think Harper looks pretty cute in these pictures! Enjoy!

Showing her serious side

She loved touching all of the pumpkins!

Someone offered to take our picture...

it was Harper's only real smile of the day!

I love this one!

These pumpkins were HUGE!

Learning new things

Since Harper started solid food, I've been putting a sippy cup on her tray. I knew it would take a while, I just wanted her to get used to something different. I decided to switch to a different cup, and she thoroughly enjoyed her time with it this morning! She still can't hold it all the way up, but she was sucking some water out and was very pleased with herself. It shocked her every time she did it. And in turn, I laughed every time!

Look, Mom... I'm a big girl!

I really posted this so you could see the hair growing over her ears.

It's kind of been out of control today!

Giving me her "I'm sneaky" look

On an unrelated note... Harper threw up again tonight. Corby was already gone to our small group, but thankfully my friend, Erica left the group to quickly come help me. I am SO thankful they live just a few streets away! I realize things could be so much worse. I just feel like I'm going stir crazy being stuck at home all day, so the tears have been flowing all night long. And I just feel sorry for her. I know she has to be sick of all this! I do think I've finally gotten a hold of myself.