Fall fun in Longview

We spent several days in Longview last week, and it was a busy but FUN few days!  On Thursday morning we {my parents, Jason and I} took Harper to the pumpkin patch at Ellis Pottery.  It was the most amazing pumpkin patch that I have ever seen and Harper LOVED it!  That little girl walked around for over an hour and wouldn't let us pick her up or even hold her hand.  After the pumpkin patch we enjoyed our favorite Longview food-- Pizza King!!  Harper is a big fan, too :)  

Here are just a few of the many pictures that I took at the pumpkin patch.  I need to edit/crop some of them, but I just don't have the time.

Other Longview highlights included watching little Cayman cheer at her pep rally; going to big Cayman's varsity volleyball game; eating homemade donuts; checking out the progress on Jason's parent's house that is being built; Harper getting lots of attention from her Nani and Pa; and a 30th birthday party for Bryan {one of the two reasons we went to Longview.  The other was to celebrate my mom's birthday--which is today. Happy birthday, Mom!}.

Tori threw a really great party!  Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures because I was too busy making sure Harper didn't get run over by their bulldog, Frank.  She didn't.  She actually loved Frank and would pat him and try to kiss him.  Oh how I really wish I had a picture of that.  

I did get a couple shots of Harper in her game day t-shirt.  I'm loving this little cardigan, too.  I mean, seriously, how cute is she!?

the good and the bad

WARNING: I'm not in a very good place right now and need to vent.

Harper and I were both hit with a pretty nasty cold last week, followed by Jason.  I rarely get sick and it really sucks.  Especially when you have a job that you can't exactly call in sick to.  

Harper is cutting a new bottom tooth and she's been a lot more tearful yesterday and today {she's normally not tearful at all}.  It's about to make me tearful, too.  Or just crazy.

I am actually having tooth pain myself.  On a tooth that has a crown.  

We had our quarterly pest control service done last week.  Two days later we had a bad ant problem in our bathroom.  It's still not resolved.

Weaning has been more difficult than I thought.  I did not realize how emotional I would be about it.  I thought I'd be sooooo ready to be done nursing.  In some ways I am {I think a 3 night trip to Cali in November is really going to happen!}, but I miss the nursing.  And Harper still won't drink cow's milk.  And she doesn't even drink enough water in my opinion.  Her diapers are significantly less wet than when she was nursing 4 times a day.  So I have enormous guilt and worry going on all. the. time.  {I'm actually still nursing once a day.  I postponed ending it all together when Harper got sick.}

If I'm going to be honest, part of me really regrets weaning.  I wish I could have let Harper wean on her own.  But I don't think that would have happened for a long, long time. And after spending two years off and {mostly} on fertility meds, followed by 9+ months of pregnancy, and then 12+ months of nursing... I need a break.  So I'll just cross my fingers that after I completely stop nursing {like, this weekend}, Harper will start drinking a lot more.

And lastly on my list of things to vent about: naps.  Actually, that's all I'm going to say about that right now.

Now onto more positive things...

Jason's birthday was the 27th.  I had two of our friends watch Harper so that Jason and I could have a really nice dinner out.  We went to Killen's Steakhouse in Pearland and it was  a-m-a-z-i-n-g.  We shared the best crab cake that I have ever had for an appetizer, then we both had filet mignon and au gratin potatoes for the main course, and chocolate truffle cheesecake for dessert.  And I had two glasses of wine.  It was all so, so delicious.  And to top it off, Harper did great!  Not a single tear was shed and she played happily with Erin and David the whole time we were gone.  What a wonderful evening!  

{Jason's birthday weekend last year}

We went to Beck's baptism on the 30th.  Harper sat quietly in Jason's lap with her head on his chest the entire service and then finally fell asleep towards the end.  She also took a 3 hour nap that afternoon after we got home.  Rare.

so sweet

Harper and I enjoyed a nice lunch last Tuesday with a friend of mine.  {This was when I was  trying to convince myself that my sore throat and runny nose was just allergies.}  It was a gorgeous day and we were able to eat outside while Harper squealed and waved at the many birds that she saw.  {Thanks again for lunch, Mario!}  

We got Harper a new carseat.  We went with the Britax Boulevard and Harper is pretty excited about it.  {Stephanie, if you read this, the Diono was too big to put in our car rear-facing.  We tried it out in person.}

I made baked apples for Harper last week and she LOVES them!  I'm so glad.  It's another fruit that she will eat and a good way to add fat to her diet since she's missing out on the whole milk.

I finally got to watch some Aggie football on Saturday since it was an evening game-- and they won!  Harper doesn't exactly allow me to watch TV during the day, but since it was an evening game we recorded it and then paused it while we got Harper bathed and put to bed.  I'm so excited that the game is in the evening this Saturday, too!

Harper has started rolling her ball back and forth with me.  She has so much fun :)

I also ordered a new planner for next year that I am really excited about.  I needed to go ahead and get one because I have a wedding to write down!  {And don't even tell me that there are apps for this.  I'm not there yet and won't be for a long, long time.}  I also signed Harper up for a music class with Pearland Parks and Recreation.   I think Harper will really enjoy it- babies and music- it's like Harper's little heaven!  

And this coming weekend I have a day trip planned with my mom friends on Saturday and then dinner club on Sunday!

I feel a lot better now :)  

Off to wake the little one up from her nap {so that she'll go to sleep at bedtime}!

videos should work now :)

I didn't realize the videos of Harper walking were set as private.  You should be able to view them now!

our little walker!

Even though Harper practically runs with her stroller, will cruise along everything, and had taken 2-5 steps at various times in the past couple weeks, it still took me by surprise when she started walking on Tuesday.  

I should have known she was about to because that afternoon she was sitting in my lap and just randomly stood up and took five steps.  But it wasn't until that evening that I declared her a walker.  She was in the kitchen with me while I was making dinner and just stood up and walked clear across and out of the kitchen.  She wasn't even trying to get to anything--she just started walking to walk.  She then practiced all night long. 

These videos are from Tuesday night.  Her balance and speed have already improved quite a bit since then.  She still crawls or uses her stroller to get somewhere fast {like when I walk out of the room too quickly}, but she seems to prefer to try to walk.  If she does start crawling, I can tell her to stand up and walk and she does!  

It's so cute how proud she is of herself.  She smiles so big when we praise her and she'll even clap for herself sometimes :)

Harper's 1st Birthday Party, Part Two

The best part about a first birthday party has to be the smash cake {alright, cake is my favorite part of any birthday party}.  Harper was a little slow to dig in, but after Jason managed to get some cake and icing in her mouth she decided it wasn't so bad.  We let her eat {well, play mostly} until she got some cake up her nose.  She let us know that she was done at that point!

Harper did not like it when I blew the candle out in her face.  Oops!

After a quick bath from Nani, Harper was ready to play!  She walked around with her new stroller forever {thanks Grammy and PaPaw!}.

The party ended and this little birthday girl was finally worn out.  One birthday party down...

{I also want to note that the next blog post will hopefully include a video because, as of tonight, we have a WALKER!!!}