- Funs and Faves! -

I'm not sure how [only FOUR months in!] I've fallen sooo miserably behind in the competition, but even a creepy window-peeping stranger could glance into this house and definitively conclude that Brian has already...easily...won the title of "FUN PARENT."  I've maybe definitely subconscioulsy tried to un-acknowledge that little piece of not-fun truth for several weeks now, but there will be no more denying from here on out.  Truth hurts. Tonight at dinner, Harper could not remove her eyes from Brian.  Her gaze was fixed, and her head followed his every minuscule move.  She coos and babbles constantly until he throws her a little bone of attention; and when he finally does, she blushes and kicks and drools all while babbling even louder.  Her smile for her dad is ginormous.  Allllll these hours logged with Mom, but I guess all she really needs me for is her beloved milk tap, anyway. ;)  The stereotypical "Daddy's girl" thing is fo' real... 

...and the onesie says it all! This girl has a heart of pure gold silver for her dad!!!

...And if you couldn't tell, the feeling is mutual.

Sooooo while we're on the topic of all things fun and favorite, let me just archive *TEN* of our current funs and favorites!  We currently love: 

BOOKS.  [All family and friends: thanks for stocking Harper's bookshelf! We love opening a new book and reading your notes signed on the pages!] A whole separate post dedicated just to the bookworm! 

THIS DOLL.  [Special thanks to Andy, Angie, Miles, and Lily!]  Never thought an infant would be so attached to a toy.  Thought wrong.  Not sure if it's the super soft fleecy outer-part that she likes OR the silky underside, but she doesn't let this doll get very far out of sight/reach these days.  Poor dolly's right pigtail is currently crusted over with dried drool; and when Harper gets teeth, I imagine those pigtails will just be dangling by a thread...

BATH TIME.  And hair washing.  [I love kickin' back in my awesome jacuzzi, Meghan! Thank you!]

THIS SWING.  [Thanks to Grandma, Rosemary, Katie, Theresa, Joanie, Jenny, and Margy! I think of ALL of you and smile every day!!!...because...] This is our numero uno favorito baby item by FAR far far.  Harper has loved this contraption since day ONE, and we would be lost in helpless-first-time-parenting-world without it.  I juuuuust looked up the weight limit yesterday [which is 25 lbs! Phew! Another two months at least!], because I am already nail-biting in anxiety of the day we have to ween from it.  It's kiiiiind of turning into a love hate relationship at this point, though, because: with it = 3-hour afternoon nap, no problemo! And without it = continual sleep fighting frustration, meltdowns to the max, and noooo nap.  Shoot me in the foot when we tip the scale at 25 lbs.......

BEING OUTSIDE.  This girl can't really be my daughter, considering I'd rather be inside in A/C sans humidity and wildlife and ...bugs...  BUT!  A short session of basking in the sun or a little stroller ride through the subdivision shockingly hasn't killed me. Yet.  Top left photo: coming home from work at 8am and seeing this little face [actually, both of these faces!] on the porch is my favorite greeting to date! *googly eyes*

LITTLE COUSIN KATE.  Harper's best buddy!  We usually see Kate and her parents [Brian's cousin + wife] about once a week, and the four of us have loved watching these two girls grow up together! They were born a month apart, and I am so excited for them to go through school hand-in-hand and always have each others' backs. Nothing like an [unofficial] twin sister, huh? :)

THE BACHELORETTE.  Another Monday night has come and gone, and we can't turn our heads... #willyouacceptthisrose  ...I know I'm not the only one who despises Kaitlyn and her zilch-o morals! But I also can't throw the towel in on the entire Bachelor/ette franchise... So what do you other avid viewers think?! Shawn or Nick?!?!? I am torn 51/49, barely favoring Shawn obvi.  [NO SPOILERS!]

HAND-ME-DOWNS.  [THANK YOU, Kindra!] Oh, happy day.   A little girl can never have too many clothes, right?!  Since we didn't find out gender during the pregnancy, we came home from the hospital to only a handful of unisex onesies and a couple sleep sacks!  I immediately wanted to buy Harper so many things but was shocked at how fast she would outgrow each size! Insanity.  Little booger grows like a weed! Giving her a cute wardrobe while keeping the bank account on the [+] side was a tricky balance......... ;)  Luckily, a sweet girl I work with kept us in mind as she was getting rid of all her little girl's clothes! Three big boxes to sort through + a couple loads of laundry later, and Harper has her closet stocked through 9mos for a suuuuper small amount of dolla dolla bills! Hashtag: stoked!  Nothing like a good stash of hand-me-downs!  Harper is loving all her "new" clothes!!!

FAMILY NAPS........but what's new?  "Sleep when the baby sleeps" miiiight be the best bit of advice anyone ever gave us!!! 

And lastly, but absolutely not leasty...

THIS PLAYMAT.  [Thank you thank youuuu, Anna and Becca!] God bless Skip Hop and their awesome products [we only have a few, but have been nothing short of THRILLED!].  When we first busted this out of the box a couple months ago, we ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the way our little nugget laid so contently and noticed all the dangling animals... Then a few weeks later we couldn't get the video camera out quick enough to capture her [probably accidentally] swinging her arms and swatting at the toys... And NOW, the mat provides hours of daily entertainment as she holds an animal in each hand and a third animal between both feet... I love watching her tiny hands grasping and her fine motor skills developing on this play gym!  [This might be the last day that poor blue elephant has ears or a tail........ Girl ain't gentle!]

More funs and faves coming another day! But you'll have to excuse me for tonight; it's time to go hang out with my little family of three and creep/crawl back into the competition for fun parent...

*humph*

- Bookworm to the MAX -

This little worm lovessss some books!  Still not sure where she gets it from; I haven't forced my nose in a book since nursing school [circa 2011], and Brian...well...let's just say he's mostly an iPhone/TV/MacBook type of guy... ;)  But sometimes the apple falls normally THEN gets kicked far far away from the tree[s], so I suppose dat be da case at our orchard.

[Almost] 4 months old, and she can't turn her head...

"She looks at those books like she can read!" ...Well, maybe she can, Daddy!  #babygenius

"There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world.  Love of books is the best of all." ~Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis 

Read on, Baby Bear!  The world is waiting for you!!  :-*

- 150 years of family fun... -

Throwback to a few weekends ago whennnn we celebrated Brian's annual family reunion AND his hometown's 150th [sesquicentennial!] homecoming par-tayyy!  Say that five times fast......betcha can't.

The only pics I have from the weekend are from the parade:

Oh, and then there's this one: 

...which I had to sit in for, because Brian was off gallivanting somewhere around the carnival. [Notice I am the only non-Croatian on the couch...............HOLY GHOST...yipes!  But not meant in the Trinitarian sense, obvi.]  

2015 = the year of the bay-bay! This family is growing by leaps and bounds!!!

Happy 150th, Mt. Olive! 

- THREE months... -

We're still in the third month...

...but barely...

...so I better sneak this post in while it's still legit!

Check out our big 3-monther!!! 

Dear Harper:

You are extremelyyyy smiley this month! I mean...everything is just damn hilarious and you smile 23.5/7... <---The only 30 minutes a week you're missing in that equation is when your crazy mom has the camera out and is actually trying to make you smile.  Funny how that works, isn't it?!  Oh, there we go...

You earned the nickname of "Bear" somewhere during your second month, but it has really started to stick this month! [Daddy and I call you Baby Bear because, well, sometimes you're just a little bear!!! It's ok though. LOVE YOU.] ...I hope you grow up knowing what your real name is, because your dad hasn't uttered the name "Harper" for weeks now. Oops!  Bath time is a real hit at this house; you splish and splash and constantly coo + babble while in the tub.  You LOVE [like head over heels loveee] getting your hair washed in the sink. It's really freakin' cute the way your eyes go into a soothed daze and your tongue repetitively licks your lips [I think you kind of even salivate a little???].  I don't blame you though; who doesn't go wild over a little head massage under warm water?!

And alsoooo this month, you started attending Daddy Daycare because yo' mama finally had to go back to work...

...saw your first parade...

...and helped your dad celebrate his very first Father's Day in style!!!

No growth measurements to report, because you didn't have to see the pediatrician this month!  Next well-child visit scheduled at 4 mos.........

You are so fun! We love you more and more every day! Happy 3 months, big girl! :) 

- I can't even make a comprehensive title because the rambling is so random... -

Today is the kind of day that sends the average person's mood swirling down the drain into a miniature state of depress-seeeon.  But I thrive on days like today.  Dark storm clouds + the soothing sound of heavy rainfall = my bliss.  The house stayed mega dark this morning, and Harper and I slept in until an embarrassingly late hour.  No one was out and about the subdivision knocking on our door a) trying to sell expired Avon junk or b) collecting $$$ for orphanages in Antarctica or c) telling us our grass needs TruGreen [for real? It was the best looking grass in the neighborhood last time I checked...] or d) teaching us how to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  [Side note:  I maybe sometimes exaggerate a little bit, but no, not right now. Our subdivision really is AWFUL about these things.  I have been waiting for two full years now to install some signage on the front door that says: 

ABSOLUTELY NO SOLICITING. BABY SLEEPING. RING OUR DOORBELL AND I WILL SLIT YOUR WRISTS AND ALSO VIOLENTLY AMPUTATE THE FINGER YOU USED TO PUSH THAT BUTTON. ALSO, BEWARE OF DOG [[THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE]]. LEAVE PACKAGE AND RUN; I DONT WANT TO DETACH BABY FROM BOOB TO SIGN YOUR DAMN DELIVERY SLIP. VIOLATORS OF THIS DOORSTEP WILL BE PROSECUTED AND CASTRATED. OH, AND FINALLY: KEEP THE CHANGE, YOU FILTHY ANIMAL.

^^ Or something to that effect, at least, because I literally cannot STAND the AT&T woman trying to convince me at 8:47am why her TV package is better than the one I already have OR the roofing replacement man reporting during my nap time that, after his un-requested assessment of our roof, one of the shingles miiiight be a candidate for free replacement.  Go away right now and eat your boogers as you go.  End rant.]

Omg, where was I going with that side note?! Oh yeah. I was sayingggg that I legitimately have the "sleeping baby" excuse now, so I think it's a good time to post summa 'dat signage.  Because on rainy days like today [and with no solicitors!!!], the PJs are cozy and the snuggles are so sweet and I we really really enjoy the peace.  No episodes of weather depression at this house; we be lazy little ladies and there ain't no shame in the game.  

Besidessss the session of morning bliss: the flowers got a free watering, the car got a free washing, and........Baby Bear got her first experience of being caught in the rain!

Why 'da bay-bee in 'da rain? 

Because.

I work again the next two nights, and I normally try to cook several meals the day before I work [or at LEAST have the fridge fully stocked with groceries] so the three of us have enough food for dinners + leftovers for lunches.  

Why does that matter?  

Well, because.

Despite enjoying our peaceful, dark, solicitor-free home, we had to go grocery shopping today...  And by the time we filled the cart and checked out, another round of Hurricane Bill was on the horizon.  Hey-ooo, torrential downpour! Along with 20 other customers and their kids, we waited in the little cart room at Schnucks for 10 minutes.  Then finally, we decided to make a dash for the car.  Harper was all for making the dash, but then she heard a little thunder boom and: 

"This sopping wet situation just rained on my pretty parade, momma!"  But 3.5 secs after pulling out of the parking lot, she was snoozin' in the back seat, SOOO... Enn-bee-dee, I guess.

So now we're home and clothed in fresh, dry garments. Little Bear quickly retreated back to nap land [girl loves her sleep!], which I supposeeee gives me some time to continue the random rambling and recap our weekend! 

Thursday night, I put the finishing touches on Harper's nursery!  Most of it has been done for months now, but I finally made the last couple canvases and nailed them up to polish off the collage.  I love this room and these colors!!! And if you thought you'd get off the hook easily with one measly 'ole picture...............muahahah nope. Never. Many many more pics PLUS a "before and after"post coming soon eventually! 

Brian had the day off work Friday [reason being: "official holiday," even though the OFFICIAL holiday was on Saturday bahah].  We celebrated being Americans at his parents' annual 4th of July party..........

Harper was not allowed to enjoy the [amazing!!! Good job, Fleming brothers!] firework show, because her Mom would like her ears/hearing to be intact and functioning beyond age 4 months...  #protectthoseears #godonlygaveyoutwo #!!!   Luckily, she was one tired little fiya-cracker and napped in the house during the show!  [Pic on the right: we watched some more fireworks on Saturday night, and again Harper wasn't allowed outside... We viewed through the car window to escape mosquitos +  noise.  Oh, and she's nakey because holyyyyy blowout. After witnessing the event, my bro said we should probably just throw that outfit away because no way it's ever coming clean...........] 

Annnnd some family play time!

Harper hearts both of her grandpas!!!

Sunday morning was Murphy's baptism! [...Conveniently, he was scheduled to be dunked at the same time of Harper's ritualistic morning nap, SO! Fun fun for all involved, as I'm so sure you can onlyyyy imagine.]

Such a good boy! Welcome to God's family, Murphy Udell!  

^^ Found these two in the church's cry room after the baptism.  Zonked, dude!

Welp..............

The storm blew over and the husband's home and the coffee cup is drained and the baby's waking up and the pizza delivery man just rang the doorbell, soooo basically all my hopes and dreams of extending the morning's bliss/quiet/peace into this evening are now shattered.   

*sigh*

Until the next rainy day..........................exxes and ohhs.

- B's a FAJA! -

Super late post, again...................

...but I love these pics, so better late than never! 

Happy first Father's Day to my awesome hubby!!!  

I have never loved you more than in the moment when you first held Harper! You were so overjoyed and proud to share your new little girl with the world, and I will never forget our first day as a family of three. 

I love watching you and Bear interact every day! She is one lucky little gal to have such a sweet, dedicated, involved daddy who tells stories...gives airplane rides through the house...reads books...feeds bottles...partakes in bath time...and even changes diaper bombs!  <---Father of the Year right thur! I know you are just chomping at the bit for her to be old enough to take part in all your hobbies [mmmmmhm, I see you salivating over that bike buggy every time you walk through the basement!], but I love how you meet her where she is now and don't miss a second of her baby milestones!  Hope your first Father's Day was the best day yet; you are so loved! 

...See? :)

Harper and I are soooo lucky to have you as a perfect patriarch for our little fam, and we love you so much!!!  

Can you believe you're really a faja?!?!  Yep, it's fo rizzle.

Happy first Father's Day! Hugs and kisses from da Harpster... She'll always be your little girl! :) <3

- Candid Camera -

Another edition of a whole bunch of random snapshots and no good stories to explain them...  2 months turned into 3 months like zip zap zoo, and all the sudden I have a BIG GIRL on my hands!  

*****

- #candidcamera:  VOLUME II -

[April 13 -- May 13] 

a) Hey there, TWO MONTHS! 

b) Either someone has a needle stuck in my voodoo doll or maybeee it's just a short little phase that will hopefully pass VERY soon, but the only way to settle down a raging bear these days is to take her outside. It somehow immediately nixes a tear-filled scream fest.  On this glorious/particularly fussy day, I relocated a kitchen chair to the deck and paid my mom $20 to sit out there with Baby Bear for an hour! Just an hour! Just kidding. Or am I...

c) Snoozin' through the weekly grocery shopping trip. Baby ain't picky; she knows that eating from Momma's kitchen is the best! 

d) Kicks and punches for being promoted to the BIG BED after 6am breakfast.

e) My new trick! ...Or maybe just a fluke. 

f) A very favorite place to nap...

g) I love my big cousin, Melody! 

h) All amped up for Cinco Cinco Cinco! 

i) Grandma Resa and her two grandbabies! Dawwwww.

j) Just me in my little bed! Harper sleeps in pack-n-play in our bedroom every night.  We used to try to swaddle her all the time, but every night would end in a brawling of limbs... Baby advice-givers and know-it-alls: you were sooo so wrong about OUR baby! This girl hates her arms swaddled in and will ONLY sleep soundly/comfortably in this adorable position! <3

k) I'm 2.5 months old and already sooo embarrassed to be pictured with my dorky mom. Someone help!

l) Crazy hair fresh out of the sink! 

m) I tried reallll hard how to teach the nugget how to win a man's heart over with homemade Italian dinners, but nope... I suppose cooking class shalt commence at a later date! #housewifeintraining ...but... #snoozingonthejob

n) Back to bed for post-breakfast snuggle-sleep time! Harper likes to get niiiice and close...

o) Happy baptism and welcome to God's family, Harper Cecilia! 

*****

- TWO months... -

How awful of a mom am I that H-Bug is 3.5 months old this week and I am juuuust now penning her 2 month posts? 

Pretty awful.

But it's ok.

No time for excuses! [But if you really want to read them [[which you probably don't]] thennnnn they're right hurr.]

Hello, 2 months! 

I can barely remember this far back [early-onset Alzheimer's? Please no.], but it appears that you began smiling and watching your animal mobiles? ...Great work!!!  These must've been your biggest milestones since the chalkboard made a special mention of them! ;)  At your well-child checkup, the pediatrician told us that you've been 50th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for height at every appointment since birth; but this month, you jumped to 90th for weight [and stayed at 50th for height].  Get it, girl!  We love your chubby little cheeks and roll-tastic [not-so-]little thighs!  Also if I recall correctly, we switched you to size 2 diapers riiiight at the 2-month mark [because blowouts are only fun for like.....never].  You still love your swing, but you also REALLY love your changing table!  Daddy always takes you in for a diaper change and tells you how much you "LOVE being attended to on that thing." ...He is extremely whipped and smitten now, too.  I think you have him right where you want him, which is perfect because you're definitely a daddy's girl!  Every morning, you wake up around 6am to eat breakfast.  And then after you eat and poop and get a dry diaper, you get promoted to the BIG bed and snuggle-sleep with momma until 9am-ish.  [Thank you for not making me be up for good at 6am! I love you so much for that!!!]  Annnnd the last thing that my shriveled up old momma brain recollects is that being stripped down to a diapey and having nakey time to kick allllll around is your new favorite thing!  Your shirt says it all: you sure are bee-utiful!!! :) 

You are so much fun, Harper Bug, and we love watching you learn and grow and discover new things every day! 

xoxox :-* :-*