Wye Mountain 2012

Here are my attempts at getting a picture this year.  Not great but okay.  I took a ton and these are the best I got.   Enjoy!

Eden's 4 Year Questionaire

This year I asked Eden a bunch of questions on her birthday so I could remember what she thought was fun at the age of four.  I found a bunch of these online and thought it was really neat so I will try to remember to do this every year with the girls.

How old are you?  Four
What makes you happy?  When somebody is my best friend and when somebody is playing with me or reading with me.
What is your favorite animal?  Horses
What is your favorite thing to eat?  Eggs, pancakes, peanut butter and honey sandwiches
What is your least favorite thing to eat?  I don't know.  (I can think of several she throws a fit about=)
What is your favorite thing to do? Playing with my friends (naming Lydia and J. David) and being nice.
What is your favorite TV show?  The Fresh Beat Band
What are you really good at?  I am really go at coloring and gymnastics.
What is your favorite movie?  Beauty and the Beast
What is your favorite color?  Purple (SHOCKER;)
What is your favorite song?  Jesus Loves Me
Who is your best friend? J. David and Lydia
What do you and your mom do together?  Take care of Harper, pick up, play in my room and go somewhere together.
What do you and your dad do together? Go on dates (this was right after their Valentine's date), play
What is your favorite sport?  Soccer (this made Michael very happy)
Where is your favorite place to go? Chick-Fil-A and for ice cream
What is your favorite book?  Fancy Nancy's
What do you want to be when you grow up?  Doctor and Mommy
What is your favorite school lunch?  Peanut Butter and honey sandwich, oranges, goldfish
What is your favorite fruit?  Oranges
What is your favorite snack?  Cheeze Its
What is your favorite breakfast?  Eggs and bacon, milk
What is your favorite thing to do with Harper?  Hold her and feed her
What is your favorite thing at church?  Sing songs, pray, and play
What is your favorite candy?  Smarties
What is your favorite ice cream?  Vanilla with sprinkles and gummy bears
What is your favorite store?  Target for the popcorn
What is your favorite activity?  Painting and playing guitar

Eden is 4!!!

 I can't believe Michael and I have a four year old.  Eden turned 4 on Feb 24th.  She was so excited about her birthday and turning four.  She is already talking about turning five.  I told her she needed to slow down a bit=)

Eden woke up to balloons and streamers on her door.  She was very surprised when she was awake enough to notice them.  She loved it!  They stayed up for about two weeks I think.  Then we all got a little tired of having to go through them so many times a day;)  Her birthday was on a Friday so she got to go to school and take some cupcakes for her class.  That night she wanted to eat Chick-Fil-A so she got her wish.  Uncle Jeff, Aunt Sarah, Lydia, and Jack Henry came to dinner and then to the house afterwards to celebrate.  She had a great birthday day!

Excited about her balloons and streamers.

 Getting a quick hug and kiss from Eden before taking her to school.

 Eden getting to open her gifts after dinner.  She waited all day to open her gifts so her daddy could watch.  Poor thing!

 Aunt Sarah and Lydia playing with Harper.

 Lady and the Tramp.  It has become one of her favorites.

 She loved the new wand and crown we gave her for dressing up with.  They were a big hit.

 Harper loves Aunt Sarah reading to her.

 Time for the birthday brownie per Eden's request.  That was easy to handle;)

 Eden and Lydia eating together.

Eden holding the balloons Aunt ZiZi got her.  My dad and Lindsay came down that evening for Eden's birthday and because my dad was running a 5k on Saturday with Michael and I.  My mom came down on Saturday to help celebrate Eden's birthday.

 Eden getting ready to open the gifts from J. Pops and Mimi.

 Eden being her silly self.

 Her favorite.  She got a Rapunzel dress that she had been asking for and asking for.  

And a Rapunzel head full of hair to play with.

My little Rapunzel doing Rapunzel's hair=) 

Eden at 4 LOVES:

• To SING!!!!  All the time and everywhere.  She is so good at making up songs and lyrics.  Harper loves it when Eden sings to her and we all get a kick out of some of the songs and words she puts together.
• Music.  She loves listening to music and playing her guitar.  She said she wants a girl to teach her to play=)
• Gymnastics.  She goes every week and loves all things gymnastics.  She also took a 6 week "Ballerina Beginnings" class and loved it.  She says she wants to do that in the fall.  
• Church and talking about God and Jesus and singing all her church songs.
• Playing with Harper and helping me with her.
• Playing outside.  Riding her bike and scooter, playing at the park and swinging.  She can swing all by herself and loves to play with her friends there.
• Reading.  She still loves to read and be read too.  
• Her favorite foods are: chicken, lots and lots of fruit, hotdogs, Cheese Its and gold fish, milk, water, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, cheese pizza, candy, cereal, eggs, bacon, pancakes, donuts, noodles, fish, and grilled and popcorn shrimp, popcorn is a favorite, and I'm sure many more things.  
• Playing with all her friends.  She loves them all in so many special ways.
• Family.  She loves all of her family and asks about everyone all the time.  
• Dressing up and changing clothes ten times a day!!!!!  It is crazy but she loves it!
• Wearing pajamas.  I don't know why but she will come home from anywhere and put pajamas on.  
• Cartoons:  Fresh Beat Band and Dora are her favorites still.  
• Movies:  Any Disney Princess ones and new favorites are Lady and the Tramp and Mary Poppins.
• She loves playing with her hair and trying to style it herself with clips and headbands.  She loves to have me do a side ponytail or braid these days.  Adorable!!!!!

Eden's personality is still so fun.  She is still our sensitive one.  She can get upset very easily so we have to watch that.  She is still very independent and short tempered and doesn't like to ask for help often but we are working on that a lot.  She loves to do things independently but when she can't do it she quits which is very frustrating.  We are working on her patience and not giving up because you can't do it the first time.  She is always cracking us up.  She tells us things and then says its a joke or she is kidding.  She is trying to be a little comedian lately.  She is so smart and especially loves writing.  She is still a great sleeper and I'm so thankful for that.  She is such a beautiful girl on the inside and out.  Michael and I are so blessed to be her parents and thank God so much for this beautiful gift he has given us.  

WE LOVE YOU, EDEN!!!!!!

Harper at 4 Months Old

 Weight: 19 lb. 2.2 oz. (99%)

Length: 27 inches (99%)

Head: 17 inches (93%)

Harper had her four month appointment last week on Feb. 6th.  Dr. Stanford said she looks great and she is one very healthy little girl.  She got her shots which really mess her up.  She runs a fever for two days with them and gets super fussy, which is not fun for mommy or Harper.  She is definitely long and heavy.  Eden at 4 months was 16 lb. and 25 inches long.  So Harper is still running two inches longer than Eden.  That is crazy to me and I just keep wondering if Harper will continue to be taller through the years.  Harper has been busy the past month and learning so many new things.

• January 23rd- Harper rolled over for the first time from tummy to back.  She has done is several times since then, when she can remember to get her arm out of the way.  She is close to going from back to tummy.
• February 2nd-  Harper peed all over me for the very first time.  I was about to give her a bath and I had stripped her down and was holding her while her bath finished filling and she soaked me and the floor mat.  I had just showered too.  It was hilarious and I have learned my lesson=)
• Harper LOVES her bath time.  She soaks whoever is giving her a bath because she kicks her legs ninety to nothing.  She usually gets upset when you take her out too.  I love watching her in her bath.  No matter how fussy or tired she may be when she gets a bath, she is all smiles during it.  Such pure joy flows from her during her baths.
• Harper is the smiliest baby.  If anybody just looks at her, her whole face lights up with the biggest grin.  We LOVE IT!!!  Harper usually only gets upset when she's hungry, overly tired, or wanting your attention (aka: when you leave the room).
• Harper is a great sleeper and I hope I'm not jinxing us.  She takes great naps in her crib and goes to sleep for the night and sleeps all night.  She could go to bed a little earlier because she is still getting her last bottle between 10-11pm and sleeps until 7:30 or so but it works for now.  She also sleeps on her stomach and has since she was about 8 weeks old.  Just like Eden, she hated sleeping on her back and didn't sleep well at all.
• She is still just taking 4 oz bottles during the day every 4-5 hours with rice mixed in because of her reflux.  She has taken that since she was a month old.  Kind of crazy she hasn't needed any more yet.  She gets 6oz before bed.  I guess the rice gives her the extra calories she needs.  She still gets her Zantac three times a day to help with her reflux.  I'm sure her appetite will increase soon but it seems when we give her anymore she just spits it all out so we will wait until she needs it.  
• Harper started baby food over the weekend.  She has had peas and prunes so far.  She loves baby food and gets a little upset when its gone. Ha, like she needs anymore=)  
• We had to start giving Harper some Miralax for her bowels.  She still doesn't poop well so we are having to give her the medicine for two or three weeks and see if it gets better and if it doesn't then they want to do a barium enema to look at things.  We are praying it will help her and so far it seems to be working.  
• Harper is grasping at things like crazy these days.  She loves getting a hold of her toys, lovies, burp clothes, my necklaces or hair, and paci's.  And of course, EVERYTHING goes to her mouth.
• Harper is drooling like crazy and has been sporting bibs constantly.  We never had this problem with Eden so it is a little different having to remember to put one on her. 
• Harper loves being sung to, especially if it is Eden singing to her.
• Harper's laugh is precious and we can not get enough of it.  We all try to make her laugh but Harper LOVES it when Eden plays peek-a-boo with her or just talks silly to her.  It is the most precious thing EVER!!!!
• Harper LOVES Eden.  She watches her like a hawk.  Her eyes follow Eden around everywhere.  And Eden equally loves Harper and tries to play with her all the time.  Eden gets so excited when Harper laughs at her and Eden cheers for Harper when she roles over.   Eden could not be a more proud big sister and I love it.  I hope they will always be proud of each other and love each other unconditionally.
• Harper has definitely found her voice and her little squeal is hilarious.  She rolls her "R's" up and down and it cracks us up and it is SO LOUD!!!!  I have know idea how she found that sound but Michael and I just laugh because it is loud and really weird to hear her doing it.  She loves being talked to and she will talk back to us.  It is so sweet. 
• I think Harper may love books as much as Eden because she enjoys being read to all the time, which is a good thing.
• Harper still isn't a car seat person.  We are still working on that.
• Y'all may remember when Eden was little that she kicked her legs all the time.  Well Harper does that too but it is only her right leg that she kicks and has moving all the time.  Cracks me up.
• Harper is wearing size 2 diapers right now but will soon be moving to size 3 when we are out of 2's. She is wearing 3-6mo clothes but a lot of the one piece outfits don't fit so she is wearing the two piece ones mainly and starting several 6-9 month stuff that is warm.  She is going through the clothes really quick.  

All in all, Harper is growing really, really fast and I need her to slow down.  Her personality is starting to come through little by little and I love it.  She is so happy and easy going.  God knew we needed that;)  We love you Harper!!!!!

Eden and Harper hanging out in her crib being silly.

Harper wearing the jacket Uncle Craig and Aunt Tiffany gave her for Christmas.  She loves it!

I love this hat on Harper.  It's a little small now that it finally got cold enough for her to need it.  

Harper's first taste of peas.  She is thinking what in the world is this stuff.  She does really well with her baby food and has now started smacking between bites and covering me with baby food somehow.

"This stuff isn't so bad, Mom."

Harper in her Jumparoo.  She loves it.  I remember having to put a pillow or phonebook under it for Eden when she first got in it.  Well, Harper can touch the floor in it and doesn't need anything.  Crazy!!!

Randoms

 Eden and Harper had their very first bath together last week.  Eden thought it was so fun and Harper just watched Eden the whole time and splashed her a little;)

 Eden still asks to hold Harper all the time and usually when she does she asks to have her picture taken while holding her.  Two super cute girls.

 Last week we got some storms one afternoon and I loved the color of the clouds so Eden modeled for me while I tried capturing the color of the clouds.  She is such a ham and still posing like CRAZY!!!

 Harper in her towel.  I love wet, clean babies and I'm not sure I have any of her in a towel.  She is such a chub;)

 Eden just hanging out and being herself.

 Our little four month old.  Can she really be that old?  She is so big and the time has flown with her here.  Her four month stats are next.

Baby Blessing

On January 29th, 2012, Pleasant Valley had their Baby Blessing for all the babies that were born in 2011 which included Harper.  Their was a really nice sermon and then a reception afterwards for all the families.  I believe there were 26 babies involved.  They took a big group picture of the babies on Jan. 8th which we had to miss because we were in Birmingham for the wedding.  I hate that Harper wasn't in the picture but oh well.  We are so blessed to have Harper in our family and to know that there are people in our church who are praying for her besides us and our families.  I love that about Pleasant Valley.


And as a side note...... Eden got the PEAK quiet seat winner one week at church.  She was so excited and she got to pick out a prize.  They always print in the bulletin who gets it each week.  She thought she was cool stuff having her name printed in there.  We, of course, were really proud parents.