Lately

Things have been crazy lately – I know everyone says that. Life happens!

We had a busy May – with Harper’s party, Harper’s actual 1^st birthday, 2 weddings, 1 long weekend away at the beach, and then celebrating Memorial weekend at the river.  So far in June we’ve had the last day of school for the 2 older girls, Hadleigh’s pre-school graduation, and a week at the Outer Banks for vacation.

Hopefully I’ll get caught up and blog about all these things, so stay tuned!

Since Orange is the New Black Released Season 3, it’s gotten my butt in gear to finish Season 2.  It still has me a bit shocked when certain things or scenes are shown.  Anyone else too?  Oh and while I’m writing about watching TV.  We just cancelled our DirecTv service.  It’s something we’ve talked about for MONTHS.  I finally pulled the plug on them.  We were paying $150 a month for internet & TV and we didn’t get hardly any channels.  Honestly, the only channels we watched were PBS, Disney Jr., ESPN, Comedy Central, TBS, and HGTV.   We are buying 2 Roku sticks and just going to subscribe to a few more app-type services.  Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime…just have to research which ones will be best for those channels we are used to watching.

I fell off the wagon from working out and cooking dinners around here.  This past week I’ve done pretty well with getting back to planning meals and actually cooking them in the evening after work.  Still haven’t started back with my workouts.  I set my alarm for 5am with intentions of going for a run or doing one of my 21 Day Fix workouts…but I just hit snooze. I’m so mad at myself yet I keep doing it. Funny how that happens!

Here’s to getting my shit together and working out, eating better, and maybe blogging on the regular again?! CHEERS!

·         Do you watch OITNB?

·         Have you gotten rid of cable? What do you use if you have?

Harper's 1st Birthday

Harper Madden, I cannot believe you are already ONE!  You definitely complete our family and you are such a joy!  Our social baby for sure, she lights up the room with her smile, red hair, and laughs. 

I still mourn that you are the last baby in this family when I really sit down and think about it.  Physically, I know my body can’t handle another pregnancy, but you and you sisters are so amazing, that I think about another often.  Then there are days, when you are crawling around crazy, getting into everything, and your older sisters aren't listening and I think, “yep. I’m good with three!” Your sisters absolutely adore you and you adore them.  You already stand up for yourself when they take things from you.  That red hair stands true to that feisty personality you have! 

You’re sleeping better at night, but still wake up once.  You take 2 naps during the day, although only one of them I would consider a good nap.  When you are awake – you are 100% full force.  Crawling, climbing, throwing, laughing, pulling…anything and everything you can get your hands on.

You love food – any food at that really.  Yogurt is your favorite, but there isn't much you don’t like.  If someone is eating, you think you should be eating too.  I’ve pretty much started giving you anything and everything – peanut butter, jelly, olives, pickles, chicken, rice…anything!

1 year stats

Weight: 21 pounds 11 ounces (78 percentile)

Height: 30.25” (86 percentile)

Head: 18.75” (98 percentile)

 Your birthday party was so fun to plan and everyone had a great time.  You loved swinging, playing with your gifts, eating, and diving into your cupcake. 

 Birthday Party details:

On your actual birthday, our family went to a local diner and had dinner & ice cream to celebrate. 

 You are so loved!!

1st Birthday Prep & Inspiration {Harper}

I can’t wrap my head around the fact I have less than 2 months until Harper Madden is ONE whole year old. Harper’s first year has gone faster than either of her sisters (and they went by pretty fast!)  I started pinning flowers and fairies, then moved to butterflies before I chose to go shabby chic! I just purchased the invitations, so now onto the decor! 

via

via 

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I have lots more ideas on my Pinterest Board - go check it out if you're curious! 

Harper 8 months

Harper Madden is 8 whole months! She is so happy almost all of the time – definitely our most social baby girl. 

Weighs: 20.5 pounds

Loves: Sesame Street, Being held, Being talked to, her bippy (pacifier), baths, doing anything – as long as she’s occupied and doing something, she’s good.

Hates:  Being left alone, the act of putting a shirt on, and waiting to be fed

Milestones:  Harper is crawling!! This past weekend she officially started!  She’s not super fast, but she’s moving.  She’s also started pulling herself up onto things.  I know it won’t be too much longer until she is walking.  I’m betting it’s before her 1^st birthday, which is faster than either of her sisters.

Eating:  Girl loves to eat!  She watches your food intently if she’s not eating with you.  She usually gets about 1.5-2 jars/pouches of baby food and then some puffs/yogurt bites to snack on.  She still nurses when I’m around too.  We've given her a bunch of table food since she seems so interested and she has done really well with it.  Anytime we are having something that I know she will be able to eat, we offer it to her.  Harper is picking food up great when it is set in front of her.  I think she’s been doing that for almost 2 months now.

Sleep:  Not sleeping through the night and not sleeping in her crib. Womp. Womp.  She wasn't feeling well, so we had her sleep with us and she’s been sleeping with us ever since.  We’ll put her in her crib to begin with, but she wakes up within 2 hours to come into our bed.  She will also wake up about 2 times to nurse.  Right now, it’s not a huge deal that she’s in our bed so we’ll see how long it goes!

Hadleigh & Hayden: love their little sister SO much!  Sometimes too much!  They always want to kiss her and hold her hand.  A lot of times we are telling them not to touch her because each one of them will hold a hand and then she’s not able to do anything.  They’re very protective over her and make sure she stays safe and is clean from any food on her face J

Cousin Time!

Back in the beginning of December, we packed up the family and headed to Charleston, SC to visit my sister and her family.  The drive seemed longer than usual because of it getting dark earlier.  The girls actually did fairly well.  

We were all excited to get there and spend some time just hanging out.  We really didn't have plans other than my nephew Erik’s 6^th birthday party.  The girls love running around and playing with the boys, so it was nice for them all to be together.

We did eat at this BBQ buffet, which was amazingly good.  Full of southern comfort food.  We had never heard of a BBQ Buffet, but apparently they are everywhere down South.  Who knew?!  I should have taken a picture, but I didn't.  You’ll just have to imagine BBQ, coleslaw, green beans, mac and cheese, pies, cornbread, squash casserole, collard greens….and so much more. You’re welcome.

Uncle Daniel /Daddy played a little game of football with the kids outside :)

Our first night there we walked around the neighborhood checking out all of the Christmas lights.  Cold beverages in hand, family, and Christmas Lights = a good night!

There's nothing better than a baby getting a bath in the kitchen sink!

Saturday was Erik’s birthday party and the kids had a bounce house to keep them busy.  By night time they were definitely tired!  Do you have family you visit out of town? Do you pack in a bunch of activities or just lay low like us?

Do you have family you visit out of town? 
Do you pack in a bunch of activities or just lay low like us?

1st Birthday Pictures!!

Dirt Road Photography did a great job again!

LOVE.THESE.PHOTOS.!

Enjoy!

12 months! 8.29.11

We have a toddler! We have a ONE year old! What a year, what an awesome year!  Hadleigh definitely keeps Daniel and I on our toes, which I'm sure it's not even the beginning :)

 Doctor Stats:
Weight: 23 pounds 4 ounces (88%tile)
Height: 30 inches (90%tile)
Head: 19 3/4 cm (95%tile)
Her year check-up went great - no complaints at all and she said we were doing everything we were supposed to.  She also said her vocabulary is advanced - children at 1 usually only have 1 word down, which I thought was super low. She still only has 8 teeth, but Dr. Christian said her 1 year molars were coming in, so any day now!

Hadleigh's sleeping has been wonderful.  She goes to bed around 7pm every night (maybe not on weekends as much) and gets up for the day around 7am.  She usually wakes around 5:30-6 to get her bottle, but then goes back to sleep for a while.  We can't complain!

She's still crawling to get to different places in the house.  If it's within close vicinity, she will walk while holding onto a piece of furniture.  She's taken a few steps on her own, but still falls to her butt.  She will stand on her own and bend down, but not full out walking.  She totally can do it - just not confident in herself yet.

I still buy the organic squeeze fruits and veggies.  She can be picky sometimes, so it makes me feel better that I know she is getting some in her little belly.  Hadleigh is a texture girl, so somethings she refuses to eat.  She mostly gets table food, unless I'm giving her the squeeze fruit or veggies.  She loves lima beans, which is beyond me cause I'm a texture girl too and I hate them!

Vocabulary:
Mama
Dada
Nana
Red

Baby

Ball
Du-Du (Duke) Which is so funny cause this is what Erik used to say too :)
Wow! (The best thing she says!)
She will say "ba" or "bi" for her bottle/bippy

Hadleigh's Actual Birthday 8.29.11

We didn't have power in our house because of Hurricane Irene, so we ended up taking Hadleigh and the dogs to Nana & Papa's house to enjoy the day in AC :)  Nana and Hadleigh had a blast with the toys and animals at their house.  I got off work early, to be able to spend some time with the birthday girl!  I took her to The Children's Museum location in Short Pump.  Hadleigh really enjoyed the area that is blocked off for kids her age.  She was not a fan of the cow that "mooed" really loud, and the train that rides kids around in a circle.  Maybe when she gets older she will enjoy!  After the museum, we went and picked Dada up from work so we could come home and open gifts!  For Hadleigh's special 1st birthday dinner, we took her to her favorite place (and one of Mama's) = Chick-fil-a!  She enjoyed some chicken nuggets, french fries, apple juice, and a few bites of a peach milkshake.  I think she had a great first birthday and I can't wait to see how much she's doing at her second! <3