The US is saddened, This is My "Happy"

I wish, first of all as a person but definitely as a parent, that there was only goodness and beauty in the world my innocent daughter (and all our innocent children) lives in: such is not the cass, of course.  Yesterday was the day of the mass shooting at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut where 18 children and 9 adults lost their lives suddenly and terrifyingly.  Yesterday was a day when so many parents didn't get the privelege that I did:  picking my baby up and snuggling her and hearing her sweet voice and giggles...and so,  we had a lot extra of that last night...even then, it's never enough when I imagine "what if".
May Heaven open it's gates wide for those new angels...but thank the LORD I still have mine.

In the Other Room

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, in the warm November sun we get in our breakfast nook, and I can hear Dada reading a book about love, and my heaet swells;  to hear the two of them sharing such a sweet, quiet.moment together in an otherwise busy day, makes me proud to be a Mommy.  Proud of my family.  And so in love.  I had to sneak in and get a picture...

Reverse Baby Jenga

Harper finally decided to get out her big blocks, and instead of building, she wanted us to build on her!  So funny...this kiddo comes up with the funniest things to do! 

Watch "Reverse baby jenga" on YouTube

     It's almost Halloween (2012), a little orange can't hurt, right? 

I posted this video to youtube, and shared it on Facebook the other day and this morning after my heartbreaking "when did you get so big? " moment I can't stop watching it: it's literally been playing in the background while I post on here, and I adore hearing your little voice reading "Go Dog Go"...it's better than the best song in the world to listen to.

You're a little over 2yrs old (24 1/2mos) in this video, and we'd just rearranged and reorganized our living room, and you LOVE the easy-access to your books at eye-level...they were the first thing you went for!

We haven't read this book but maybe 3x ever...this is you just talking about what you see in the pictures; you are so smart, my Wubbie-Duckie!!!!

When Did You Get So Big?

    This is you this morning...Friday, October 26th, 2012 at about 7:20am in our bed (Dada is sleeping just to your right).  I went to get out of bed this morning, and you rolled over, and snuggled into your pillow one last time for the morning, and I just watched you -- time was forgotten, schedule was forgotten, LIFE was forgotten as I looked at you and I thought "when did you get so big?"; in your big-girl tshirt, and your little white leggings, I didn't see my little baby anymore...my Boobah...I saw my little GIRL.  My Harper. My Wubbie.  Your legs are so long, and your tiny little hiney, and your lean little body...your hair all a mess, and your long feet -- you'er a toddler.  You are growing up so quickly, and turning into this intuitive, hilarious, SMART little girl.  I love this.  I adore this -- your age right now is ridiculously fun and funNY...but it makes my heart ache something fierce too...you will never be little again.  You will never be that tiny baby again.  One day you won't fall asleep in my arms, or lay on top of me to snuggle and watch Cinderella for the 200th time.  If I could stop time, at any moment, it would be this one.  I'm not sure I would rewind...but I would certainly stop it.  Maybe forever.  

Wubbie Turns 2

As Harper's 2nd Birthday crept nearer, we decided not to do a huge production-of-a-birthday party as is the "thing" these days...instead, we decided to make a "Birthday Weekend" of it instead and it was a huge success! 

 Truth be told, the "weekend" started during the week with the arrival of some large boxes of presents via UPS...she was not altogether happy that she couldn't open them on the spot.

Friday morning started snoozy 

 

but got better as the day went on and she got to take her special birthday hat with her to school

In the afternoon, for snack time...Mommy & Dada showed up to celebrate with all her friends and teachers for a cupcake party at school!

                           

             helping Miss Jennifer pass out cupcakes, and then  sneaking a bite on her way to her seat

 

   

Saturday morning the 29th arrived, and it was up early to head to the Asheboro, NC Zoo with Mimi, Pappy, Uncle Tom and Aunt Jill for the day!  We showed you (and took with us) your present from Mommy & Dada: your very own Radio Flyer Wagon!!! 

It was rainy and cool outside, but it kept the crowds away and we had a fantastic day despite the drizzle!  We saw the new baby gorilla's being held by their Mama, new baby monkeys, lions, zebras and you loved the Scarlet Ibis (though we didn't grab a picture!).  Your favorite was probably the animated robot dinosaur exhibit...you kept telling us you were going to "eat 'em...and bite 'em", and then roaring back at them!!!

   

 

Finally it was time to go, so we parted ways, after a brief gift-opening in the parking lot, and headed home.  You were exhausted, but refused to sleep all the way home, then crashed out from 4:30pm - 9:30pm, and then back to sleep at 11!  

 

Sunday morning came and we spent the morning playing games around the house and playing with all your toys, just spending time together as a family.  Mid-afternoon you and I took a little shopping trip and you picked out "Duckie...he's two"...you love him...he heats in the microwave and you love to snuggle him all warm.

                                           

 

 
  

 
Later in the afternoon, we invited Auntie Bean, Uncle Bud, Wyatt over along with some other neighbors and their little boy (Melissa, Steve and Isaac - "Mysaac" as you call him) to play and celebrate!  We all had a great time with the bouncy house, bubbles, running down the street, snacks, and of course CAKE!!!!

The Sweetest Thing

I don't have a whole ton to say on this post...I just wanted to share one of the most sublime things about being a parent:  watching your sweet baby sleep...there is nothing sweeter.

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