All kinds of fun

We had all kinds of fun this weekend.  It started on Thursday night with a trip to Chick-fil-a for dinner.  It was CRAZY there because it was an elementary school night so kids were running around everywhere.  However, the good side of that was that the COW was out walking around and Handley couldn't jump out of her chair fast enough to get a pic with him.  Harper seemed confused, but curious and kept an eye on Mr. COW as he made his way around the restaurant.  

Friday night was lots of fun for Robby and I.  Lisa, one of my good friends from high school, got married in Mexico a few weeks ago and had her reception on Friday night.  My BFF, Jen, came over to watch the girls for us.  It was fun to get dressed up, celebrate with her and to catch up with some old friends.  

When we got home there was a big box waiting for us.  I knew right away what it was - new Pottery Barn chairs for the girls, which are early birthday presents from Gigi and Papa.  Handley had the small one and all we needed was a new cover for Harper and then a bigger chair for Handley.  I had planned to at least wait until Harper's birthday, but Robby couldn't wait so we got them ready and gave them to the girls first thing in the morning.  I must say they were a hit!  Thanks Gigi and Papa! 

It's as if Harper knows that it drives Handley nuts when she tries to get in the "wrong" chair because she did it all weekend!  

Maybe it's just that she wanted to get back at her for all the big sister torturing that she endures...

getting her make-up done

And wearing "bowl" hats. :-)

Story of the BIG bed

Handley has been sleeping in her BIG BED (as she calls it) for almost a month now.  However, I wanted to wait and blog about it until I was done with all her bedding.  Here's the story: 

Handley saw a few friends who had big beds and started asking about switching hers.  Knowing what she meant, but trying to buy me some time I told her she did have a big girl bed (toddler bed - basically her crib with the front off of it).  She would get frustrated and say, "No Mommy, not a big girl bed (what she called her toddler bed).  I want a BIG BIG bed."  I told her we'd get her a big bed soon, but I was thinking down the road, like maybe this summer.  However, she kept asking so finally I gave in.  It wasn't that I didn't want her to have a big bed, but I didn't want her to have a big bed with out big pretty bedding and I just honestly didn't have the time.  As it is right now I had/have 2 big sewing projects I was/am working for other people, I'm planning her class Easter party, somehow volunteered myself to head up our huge neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt, and I'm planning Harper's 1st Birthday Party.  Whew.  There are just not enough hours in the day.  

A few weeks ago Handley spent the night with Gigi and Papa so Robby and I decided that would be the perfect time to switch her bed.  We already had a mattress and bed rails in the basement and I'd gotten some princess sheets at Wal-Mart that were waiting for this big occasion.  An hour later it was done and when I stepped back to take it in the bed looked SO big.  Too big and way too tall for my little girl.  However, when she got home and heard her Daddy tell her about a surprise in her room she couldn't get up there fast enough.  All I heard from behind her was a gasp and a squeal, "A BIG bed!!!" She was so happy.  She tried to climb up and couldn't even get up because it was so high.  We went to Target the next day to get a stool to help her get up and down on her own. 

I was worried about her falling out since it is so high and we didn't have bed rails, but I tucked pillows around her and she did great.  Slept like a baby and has ever since the big transition.  She was happy as could be, but I was not.  Every time I walked past her room I'd cringe at the sight of the un-finished bed with only sheets on it.  I don't know why I cared so much.  She hated to be covered up while she slept and could care less about a comforter, bed skirt, and pillow shams, but I wanted it so I got to work.  

I know a lot of people look forward to doing a "big girl room" so that they can re-decorate and start from scratch.  However, I love her room and curtains that were already there.  I have such great memories of my mom coming to FL while I was pregnant to help me sew all of her crib bedding and curtains when I was just learning to use my sewing machine.  I was in over my head with that project, but it was totally worth it in the end.  I knew I wanted to keep the same look going in there so thankfully my mom found the $40-a-yard fabric at a discount fabric shop for only $7.99 a yard!  She sent it to me and I got to work right a way, but it has still taken me almost a month to get it all done.  When Handley first saw her "BIG covers" she was thrilled.  I didn't think she'd want to sleep under her comforter since she never wanted to be covered up before, but she is a changed woman! Finally the rest of it is done and her big girl room is complete!  

Harper - 11 months

I can't believe that in 1 month my baby girl will be turning 1.  Robby asked me the other night if I'd planned her birthday party yet.  (I know he asked because when Handley was 11 months old the only thing left to do for her party was wait for the big day.  I'd been working on it for months!)  Everything is in my head for Harper's, but I think it isn't done yet because I'm in denial.  :-( I know there are many fun times ahead, but I love, love, love the baby stage and I don't want it to be over yet. Lucky for me she doesn't seem like she is going to be an early walker like Handley was so I can hang on to that part of her being a baby for a while longer.  I'm not ready to be done nursing, but I have every intention of weaning her when she is one. On the bright side, I can't wait to turn her car seat around in a month and be able to see her sweet face in my rear view mirror.  

At 11 months she: 

• loves sleeping with her giraffie and has gotten pretty attached to it 
• says "uh-oh" every chance she gets
• says "Dada" like it is her job, but will only mumble  "Ma" every now and then
• thinks crawling around and bouncing on a bed is just as much fun as being at Disney World
• likes to play with cell phones, remote controls or anything else that has buttons
• is very sensitive and can cry at the drop of a hat
• gets very excited when I read her books
• enjoys lift-the-flap books
• plays "ball" with Handley and I and likes rolling and throwing a ball to us
• is very social and will happily climb up into anyone's lap who is sitting on the floor 
• loves being around other babies her age
• still doesn't like when I am out of her sight
• can "love" her baby - gives her hugs and kisses
• has 8 teeth, 4 on top and 4 on the bottom
• weighs 21 lbs.

Weekend update

We had a good weekend besides the fact that Harper was still not acting like herself.  I've hardly been able to put her down so that's why I'm just now getting around to blogging about it.  Saturday the hunt for the perfect rug continued (I brought Robby along this time to prove to him it's hard to find a really big rug for the amount of money he is willing to let me spend).  The girls did great on our shopping trip and we rewarded them with lunch at our favorite spot, Chick-fil-a.  

Saturday afternoon we had a princess birthday party for Handley and Harper's friend Addyson.  We met Addyson right after we moved in the neighborhood when she was only 8 months old.  She and Handley became friends very early on and I can't believe she is 3 already!  Her mom planned the perfect princess party, complete with a castle the girls all loved playing in.  I was excited to dress the girls in the princess outfits I'd made for them when we took our trip to Disney this fall.  They were both a little small, but worked just fine for the party.  

Avery, Addyson (the birthday girl) and Handley in the castle

Handley checking out the karaoke 

Some of the moms from the neighborhood 

After the birthday party we rushed home to greet Gigi and Papa who had agreed to come over for the evening so we could go to dinner/game-night at our neighbor's.  It was so much fun and I feel so lucky to have such great in-laws who love to come over and be with our girls so we can still do fun adult stuff.  

Sunday was spent relaxing and trying to figure out what was going on with Harper.  After another day of her still fighting a fever and not acting like the happy baby I know I took her back to the doctor today to learn she does in fact have an ear infection.  Boo!  I just wish I would have known sooner.  I feel bad for holding out and thinking it was the tooth that was coming in this weekend causing her fever and unhappiness.  Now she's on antibiotics though so I'm hoping she'll be back to her happy self before too long.  

Young Happy Fools

I love reading blogs.  Probably spend WAY too much time doing it, but to me it is relaxing and entertaining all in one.  I'm so happy that my sister-in-law, Stefanie, just started a new blog for she and Trey!  

Check out the Young Happy Fools.

Cars, Tractors, and WET pants

I've been on a search for a new rug.  Robby didn't seem to agree with my Pottery Barn choice (wonder why???) so this afternoon I took the girls to Home Depot and Lowes to look for a more economical choice.  I didn't find any that I loved, but we sure did have lots of fun on the hunt.  Handley frequents Home Depot with her daddy on the weekends and loves it because they have a "car" buggy that she can drive around the store.  Harper is big enough to sit in the car now too an I just had to grab my phone and snap a picture of this scene.  

Next, off to Lowes and although they didn't have any car buggies to ride in, they did have TRACTORS!!!  Handley is a girly girl at heart, but she has a fascination with tractors. (Bulldozers, riding lawn mowers, cranes...doesn't mater.  They are all tractors to her.)  As soon as we walked in we saw the "tractors" lined up and she went running for them.  She exclaimed that "Daddy let's me ride the tractors" so I let her climb on up.  She was happy to point out that this one had a cup holder for her water and snack.  

As we were leaving she noticed more "tractors" outside of Lowes.  As she climbed up she didn't notice the seat was full of water (and neither did I) until after she'd sat down and SOAKED her pants.  She was so upset and sad that she was all wet.  However, a quick change into dry underwear and getting to ride home with no pants on made her smile again.  

It's always an adventure! :-)

What a day

I never would have thought that this happy baby girl yesterday morning would turn into one sick little girl today.  Yesterday afternoon she started getting fussy at our play group and to keep her happy so Handley could keep playing I gave her my cell phone to play with (something I've done numerous times before).  When we got home she started fading fast and so did my phone.  She didn't sleep well last night and this morning she was still not interested in doing much of anything (kind of like my phone).  We loaded up and rushed out the Verizon store first thing to find out that it wasn't fixable and needed to be replaced.  Back at home, Harper almost fell asleep while I was changing her diaper and I was glad I had called for a doctor's appointment earlier in the day.  After a quick visit to the pediatrician's office we learned it wasn't anything to be worried about (no ear infections, etc.) and that hopefully she'd be feeling more like her happy self tomorrow.