Brooklyn Sleeps Over Recap II

Last weekend Brooklyn honored us by staying the night! She came on Friday and left on Saturday night! We had the best time! I will say I played just as hard as they did! We had a dance party, wrestle mania(not Brooke's favorite game), played with balls, had a band concert(Harry is singing into the maraca and Brooke played the xylophone), went in and out of the tent over and over(Harry liked to tip it over), read lots and lots of books, played outside in the wagon, played with balloons(the most laughs came from the balloons), made big messes, put on tattoos, and blew lots and lots of bubbles! I love it when Brooke comes over! She did not whine or cry one time except when Harry had head locked her when I was out of the room. She is the easiest child and so happy! She was so patient with Harry. She did say "Don't do dat" a few times and it was well deserved! We can't wait until Brooklyn comes over again!

Telly's Funeral

This post is very late but, when you write about a death it is never easy, no matter what the circumstances are. My Great Aunt Telly died about a month ago. Cancer took over her body and now she is in heaven with God. It was Harry's second funeral to go to but, one where he was able to visit a few close aunts who only know him through this blog and emails! Telly is my Grandmother Georgia's little sister and the only sibling alive that lived near her. She and my grandmother were very close. I was able to spend a lot of time with her while growing up and while I was at Harding she lived near campus. It was nice to have a relative to visit and have cook for you....and she did with a smile! I have to tell about how she met Chad. Chad and I had only been dating 2 weeks when he met my Grandmother in Searcy. She happen to be with Telly and knew that I was head over heels for this guy. When Telly met him she looked at me and said "Oh Amanda....you're getting married!"! I about died! I was still trying to play it cool and we were not even officially dating yet! Telly, like me, was not very good at holding secrets! I loved her so much....she was impossible to be mad at!

On a brighter note, all of my mom's sisters came to the funeral! Harry had a ball with them! Karen(far right) is probably Harrry's biggest fan, she played with him more than any one and thinks he is just wonderful. Harry loved her just as much too! Roz (second from the left) was there too! She is who we gave Charlie to! She loves that dog! Joyce(second from the right) came and brought peace and love to the scene. I treasure any time I get to spend with these wonderful aunts, they really are fun! It was a nice visit but, a sad one too! Harry was not the most polite at the funeral, we ended up in the nursery the entire time and at the grave site, Harry was crawling over grave monuments and stones. I was so glad Dad was there to help chase the wild man! He was worn out by the end of the trip!

A Special Friday

Chad left for a men's retreat on Friday night, so we were left to fend for ourselves! It wasn't hard! Shannon's birthday is coming up and Holly, Melissa and I had to help celebrate! Birthdays with this group of girls is always a special treat! We get together and have a the best time, we wish we could do it more often! Girls nights get cut down the older we get! We met up at PF Changs for a fabulous dinner on the patio!

Then we got pedicures while still chatting in the massage chairs!

We spent the rest of the night talking...we could have stayed up all night! These are the best nights to look forward to! Our next big date is to the movies....27 more days before the premiere of.... What was Harry doing during all this time? Mimi and Papa had him! I was so thankful they spent their date night chasing Harry around!
They are some good grands, they spent 2 and 1/2 hours at the park playing and watching Harry chase the squirrels! I am pretty sure Papa had grass stains on his pants along with Harry! They are so much fun!

Happy Late Birthday Lauren

This is my best friend Lauren, beautiful inside and out! She turned 28 a week ago! She lives 7 hours away but, only a phone call away. She is the friend that I like to make sure I have time when I call her because, there is no doubt our conversation will go into deep spiritual and life issue talk! I feel like she and I are growing spiritually side by side! I absolutely love talking to her, I miss her when we are apart and am always excited about telling her good news and unfortunately, for her she gets to hear about the bad too! Lauren is the most sincere, kind, honest person you will ever meet! I don't know anyone who desires to do what God wants them to more than her. She is so encouraging! I tell her all the time how lucky anyone would be to be her best friend.....lucky me! Happy Birthday Lauren!

3rd Anniversary

The only recent picture I could find of us without Harry...well without Harry being the center of the picture...okay..without Harry looking at the camera.....the days of our lives!

The last 3 years have gone by so fast, we started our first year out with new jobs, new church, and a new community, then finding out we were going to to be parents only a year after being married, then marching right into becoming mom and dad during our 2nd year! It has been a ride but, a fun and great one. I could go on and on about how great of a guy he is and how there are no other men that would mesh with me as easily as my Chad. I can't thank God enough for giving me such a patient, loving, and understanding man as Chad.

God knew how compatible we would be when we met....opposites do attract! This is a late post...our anniversary was last Wednesday and we celebrated it last Saturday! Harry started throwing up on Wednesday night!

Chad left to Memphis for a guys golf trip on Thursday so, that is why I am so late my special posts! So, Happy Anniversary!

A Harry Smorgasbord

I feel very behind on my blog. I have a birthday blog and a anniversary blog that is already too late! I will have to post them later when I get myself organized. Saying that, here is a random group of pictures we have taken of Harry in the last week or so!

Playing on the slide and watching the other kids. I have to watch myself not be a "teacher" at the park with the other kids!
He likes making new friends!
Eating popcorn in his tent with his friend Hudson Lea! My mom text me to make sure she got service while playing in the tent with Harry!
He has been wanting to get in his saucer lately....too silly!He knows where the pacis are and is not afraid to grab one or two or three and switch them out ever so often!
He has started making goofy faces just to be funny!

He is finally a bath lover again! Whoo HOO!

Harryoke
Harry has a microphone we play with in the car and I guess the flashlight resembles it! I walked in our room to find him singing to it; I then followed him around our cluttered home to catch it on film.

Oh Sweet Spring

Harry, like all of us is so excited that warm weather is finally here to stay!

Harry adores his Cousin Brooklyn! I really mean it too, he is crazy about her!

Harryisms

Long time not see! I admit I have a ton to catch up on but, for now I I am going to just write a few notes on Harry at 16 months. More long posts are coming!

• Harry chases bugs and animals of any kind! Yesterday during pictures he tried catching a cricket, today it was robins and a bumble bee!
• Harry is not talking too much but, he does have alliteration down! He likes to say ball, bubble, bible, Bobo, book Papa, mook(milk), Coco, wuzit(What is it?), ruff, and the best thing he says is ugh ugh....that grunt that goes with a point!
• He is still obsessed with Shaggy and his paci.
• He has been doing the sweetest thing where he runs and throws himself on me to give me a giant hug, it is always accompanied with big smiles!
• His favorite toy is his bubble lawn mower.
• He thinks flowers are funny!
• He LOVES books...finally! I was getting super worried...being a reading specialist, the child has to read!
• I may have mentioned this before but, he enjoys puzzles, he is not really good at them but, he likes to try.
• Balls, okay I said his favorite toy is the mower but, really he could live with balls only. He things anything that is a sphere is a ball and it has to be thrown. Disclaimer: I am not ever pressing him to be a athlete, I actually try to get him to love music and instruments more than balls. The child was born to throw a ball!
• He still loves to dance! I have signed him up for kinder music this summer, I think he will enjoy it!

Harry Goes on a Safari

Harry and Co. went to the Gentry Safari tour. They had 2 petting zoos and a 5 mile driving tour. It was amazing that only 20 miles from our house are all of these animals! I would have to say it is more like a redneck version of the zoo. I doubt the zoo had animals trying to get in your car and sniff you!

These animals would just come right up to your car! Although these camels had a fence, their necks were long enough to give us some kisses! We rolled our window up super fast at these times! They had a million ostridges prancing around, they would come pack on your window...they are so ugly close up! They have signs reminding your to keep your windows up at all times, but Harry wanted to see the big lions and tigers(they were really fenced in).It was so funny watching Harry look back at the animals when we would pass by! He gets real intense looks on his face when he is trying to figure them out...reminds me of his daddy. The petting zoo was my favorite part..as you can see...poor Chad was stuck taking pictures!"Why did the chicken cross the road?" "to get away from Harry"!!Harry and the 3 Billy Goats Harry did very good throwing his Harry wanted this Gruff to follow him home...if we can't handle a dog...there is no luck for us with a goat!
"Baby Got BACK" Okay...i know...I just had to! "My hump..my hump.." Chad and I thought we were so funny singing that to the camels!
The pig was Harry's least favorite animal! That poor thing..Harry did not want to share his bread with Wilbur!
This was Harry's favorite animal! The kangaroo! Harry thinks this is called a gentle...not a kangaroo.

.The donkeys loved Harry's bread!