Festival

We headed down to Lake Eola for a kids festival today. The weather was perfect- warm but windy enough to keep us cool so we could enjoy the day outside. After the festival we walked over to the Farmer's Market where Sam enjoyed an italian ice. It was a wonderful afternoon.

Sentimental

With Harper's 1st birthday coming up this song gets me every time!

Purse

Best Buddies

Generous Love

My Aunt Pam does such a great job spoiling our children. She always picks them up the greatest gift from her travels and we look forward to her boxes coming in the mail! A huge box was delivered today and we couldn't wait to open it. We pulled out a beautiful rocker for Harper- it is hand painted. We love it. Thank you so much Aunt Pam for always thinking of us and picking out the most thoughtful gifts!

Hello There!

Of course I am sitting here blogging while I have a million other thing to do. No pictures from the weekend- Sam has his 400th cold this season and of course Harper caught it. I do really hope this is the last one. We didn't do much this weekend while doing everything. We did make it over to Stride Rite to get Sam some new sneaker which he is convinced make him run faster and jump higher!

We are busy planning and preparing for Harper's 1st birthday party and family pictures by Amy Smith on her actual birthday- what fun!! Picking out outfits for the whole family is such a chore and stress for me. I found the kids outfits in a second at Lulu Belle and now just have Russ and myself to buy for. My mom has the day off on Thursday so we are heading to the mall and not leaving without an outfit for each of us.

Lots of fun stuff coming up:)

Easter Sunday

Dancey Dance

Dancey Dance, originally uploaded by Sam&Harper.

Sam really likes the show Yo Gabba Gabba so to pass the time while our Easter eggs dried Sam and Russ practiced their Dancey Dance moves!

Eggs

11 Months Today

We are quickly coming up on Harper's 1st birthday. I took some pictures today with some pretty great light- I love the sun peaking out over her head. As Amanda over at Tumble Dry says, I wrote a "mama sap" post about Harper last week. This week I will just leave you with some pictures of my sweet baby girl.

Bunny

We have such great neighbors and over the weekend we ran into one of them out front. He asked us to wait a minute as he ran inside, he said he had a little something for Sam for Easter. He came out with this huge, adorable furry blue bunny Easter basket filled with candy and other goodies. Sam was beside himself. It was such a kind gesture. In the basket was a pair of blue bunny ears that Sam is happy to model for you...

Moments

We are rarely home alone, just the two of us girls. The boys went out for the morning and she was having a hard time falling asleep from those teeth pushing through, so we sat in the rocker just the two of us. She was sprawled out across my lap, nearly too big with her head in the crook of my arm, sucking her thumb. I watched as her eyelids would flutter, almost asleep, looking up at me with that smirk behind her thumb from time to time. Clutching the soft pink blanket she has grown so attached to, such a cuddly girl from the very start.

Such an easy baby girl, never giving me any trouble, so content as the commotion of our house surrounds her. Most of her first year I have spent juggling the responsibilities of a two year olds typical demanding and emotional ways, and the needs of my baby girl, which have paled in comparison at times.

As I stare down at her I wish I could freeze this moment in time. Time pushes forward with such urgency once you have children. The milestones, if possible, have flown by at greater speeds this time. Sitting. Crawling. Clapping. Standing. Talking. Desperate to walk along side her brother. She is ready but her legs not quite there yet. Attempting to imitate every action, movement and reaching for everything he has. Such a strong desire to be a part of him, us, our family. She fits so perfectly, I don't remember life in this house before her.

I can read her mind, I can see it in her eyes. She is so ready to take off, running and keeping up with her brother. I am not so ready. I hold on tight to the moments she wants to be held, finding comfort in me and my rocking, whispering and singing in her ear. I hope these moments will be etched deeply in my memory forever.