Hayes Turns 2!

Saturday, we celebrated Hayes' 2nd birthday.

It was at My Gym...and Harper had a blast.

The birthday boy

All the kids playing

Amy & Graceyn

Josh was out of town with family, so Patrick stepped in!

Harper loved hanging out with Mary Whitley.

we love a ball pit!

I need a friend to play with...

Found one! And found Mr. Mike's Nose

From one Matwijec man to the next...she had her eye on Coop!

Hanging out with sweet baby Graceyn

Singing Happy Birthday to Hayes!

While all the big kids ate their cupcakes...

Harper had the place to herself!

After cup cakes, it was zip line time!

She loved it!

Audrey ziplining

Cooper on the zip line

After the party, we had dinner with the Hicklens.  Patrick is holding down the fort with all the little ladies!

Our Extended Family is Growing!

We are so thrilled to let everyone know that our extended family is growing.

As you already know, we have one awesome nephew, Dagan.  Well, he is going to be a big brother!

Ashley and Nate are expecting their second child together...this December.

(Ashley has a step daughter, Micah)

I love his face in the first picture.

 Baby Wright around 13 weeks

We are so excited that Harper has a cousin on the way this year...

and another one in February.

Yes friends, ANOTHER COUSIN!

Aubrie and Brandon are also expecting!

Baby Booth at 12 weeks

We are overjoyed that our small extended family is growing so fast!

We love that we will have two more little cousins for Harper.

Love and Prayers for both growing little ones!

Love, Mother

Since becoming a mother, I have a whole new outlook and appreciation for my own. In just 10 short months, I feel I have a complete understanding of unconditional love, support, and protection.

It is a very special gift that not everyone will experience. I am so grateful and blessed to be a mother. I am equally blessed to have a mother that has been there for me for the last 30 years.

This past week, a dear friend lost her mother. I cannot relate to how she must be feeling, and can barely imagine what she is going through. Her family is constantly reminding us that not all hope is lost. She is in a better place. A holy and sacred place where the love of God has healed her pain and suffering.

Jenn, you have shown us your faith in the Lord over and over these last few weeks. You are a true pillar of strength for your family and friends and have amazed me every step of the way. Your smile is the light in the midst of all this darkness.

"Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

2 Corinthians 5:8

"No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star." ~Edwin Hubbell Chapin

Water Baby. Water Daddy.

Or should I say Water "DaDa".

 While Josh was wakeboarding on Sunday, Harper finally said "Dada".

I was pretty excited for Josh...I think she knew the lake was the perfect place to say it!

The next morning, he got her out of bed and she said it again...just for him!

Date Night

Last week, Josh and I had the night to ourselves.

While our little Harp was off playing with her Nana, The Gov, and Great Grandmother...we went on a date!

Since it was a work night...it wasn't anything crazy...but it was just what we needed.

Quick photo before dinner.

We had outback and then finished the night at Sweet Cece's!

Cheers!

And while we were about to head off to dinner...this one was was enjoying her own dinner.

Her first lasagna!

YUM!

SHE LOVED IT!!!

Happy Monday!

Harper-This past month (9-10)

Harper,

This past month has been very fun, exciting, and exhausting!

You are officially IN TO EVERYTHING!

We love watching you explore...but find our selves pulling you away from the non-baby proofed parts of the house.  When we tell you "No", you smile a big smile and keep doing it.

You think its a fun little game!

Here are some pics of what we have been up to for the last month.

Mayumi brought you this awesome outfit back from Japan.

You loved it...especially the tag.

Japanese outfit and shoes

You got two more teeth...your top center.

You didn't handle teething for these two as well as the first.

These really seemed to bother you off and on for about 6 weeks before they popped through.

You got some new headbands and mom was being silly.

You love when i turn the camera around on my phone.

Showing off your new shirt mommy made you.

This is what dinner sometimes looks like. Nothing like some "under the dining room table reading".

You are a water baby!

You love the bath, pool, and lake (but not the life jacket).

You would sit and splash all day long if we let you.

I just love this pic of your after swim snack!

Hanging out with daddy and Mally on the steps.

Pool time with Mommy

We sat you down in the grass the other day and you just kept kicking your feet back and forth...

until you found a leaf to eat.

Showing off those thighs and standing like a big girl!

Smarty pants working on a puzzle

Wigging out with Aunt Aubrie

You are such a good sport!

Dancing with Daddy when he got home from a business trip.

Standing up again. You have stood several times without holding on to anything...for about 2 seconds at a time.  You are also walking all over the house with the push walker.  Next months post might have you walking on your own. 

Happy hour with Susie

Just chillin with Susie

Eating everything in sight...except that one cheerio stuck to your face.

playing in your crib and throwing things out

Taking Frank for a test drive

Make-up brushes and mirrors--such a diva already!

You love messing with Mally's cage.  I covered it up (happy dog in the bottom right), so you decided cartoons would be okay...for now.

Needed both your hands to walk around the coffee table...so you put the socks in your mouth.

This is how I found you napping, crazy girl.

How this is comfortable, I don't know.

And possibly one of my favorite moments from this past month.

You rarely fall asleep in my arms anymore.  I cherish these times.  You are growing and changing so much everyday.  You are almost a toddler...so any baby snuggles I can get...I will happily take!

Happy 10 Months Harper!