Visit from Aunt Lori!

We were so excited to have Aunt Lori in Dallas for a visit this weekend! She hadn't met Harper until now, and it looks like they are going to be fast friends. I don't have any photos, but will try to post one soon. We had so much fun hanging out with Aunt Lori and really appreciated her help with the Arbonne parties - great turnout and lots of fun!

Can't wait for Harper to meet the rest of the Luceros at Christmas! We love you Aunt Lori!

Pool Time

I promise to do some posting of all the things I've neglected to post in the past few months! For now, here's a photo of Harper playing in her new pool this weekend. She's a big fan. Of course, I slathered her in sunscreen but forgot to put it on myself, so I've been dealing with a burned back. Further proof that the mommy mush has invaded - and now completely taken over - my brain.

That's a monkey on her suit...fitting for my little monkey!

On another note, we're so glad that our buddy Bailey Jack Beck got to come home from the hospital yesterday. He was apparently a SUPER STAR patient and is recovering from his heart surgery so well, that they released him yesterday. So many people have been praying for this sweet little boy and his parents - God is good!

Hello out there?!

Hello! We're back and ready to blog. I have no real excuse for our little blogging hiatus except, well, we've been busy! We've taken a few trips, eaten lots of new foods (Harper, not me. I'm sticking with my old standbys...sweets and Mexican food...obviously...), taken Harper for her first swim, gotten baptized, had a visit from Nana & Papa, and lots of other fun stuff. I'll post about all of these uber-exciting activities later today, but thought I'd leave you with this little jewel of a photo. It's Miss Harper in her new swim getup, sunbathing on her Daddy's lap over Memorial Day. It just makes me grin from ear to ear. As only my little Stinkerbell can do.

Caroline's Birthday!

This one is a little late (surprise!) but we went to our bestest bud Caroline Stewart's birthday party on February 22nd. She is such a big girl and got to eat cake! Harper was eyeing it. I sincerely hope she doesn't get my sweet tooth. In case you aren't familiar with the extent of my love of sweets, the cute little girl scout in our neighborhood delivered our cookies Saturday and two boxes are already gone. Lemon cremes and Dulce de Leche. I'm saving the Tagalongs, since I gave up chocolate for Lent. So far, so good.

Back to the original topic...Caroline's b'day. Caroline's Mommy did a great job planning the party. We had sundaes and cookies and all sorts of other sweet treats (yay!) and it was lots of fun. Here are a few photos...

The birthday girl enjoying her cake. We admire the way she just dove right in.

Harper with Mysti and Caroline. I think maybe she learned how to make that face from Mysti...

Harper with Mysti and Kasey. I promise I was there! I didn't just drop my child off and head to the mall!

Happy Birthday Uncle Christopher!

Tuesday is Uncle Christopher's birthday (26!) so Harper wanted to send a special message. Actually, she wanted to eat the special message, which was funny until I noticed she had purple permanent marker all over her mouth. I don't think the green baby books advocate this kind of behavior, but you gotta live a little. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We love you!

PawPaw!

PawPaw came to visit Harper this past Saturday. We had lots of fun playing and hope he comes to visit again very soon!

I'm wondering when the fascination with the tongue is going to end??

A few more firsts

Harper has experienced a few more "firsts" in the last few weeks. Super Bowl, Farmer's Market, first birthday party (not ours, Sophie's). In addition to the fun stuff, we've also had our first ear infections (plural. both ears at once.) and first major diaper rash. I'll spare you the sight of that. Harper is feeling a lot better, though. We're working on rolling over and sitting up...neither of which we've accomplished just yet. No rush. Mommy doesn't want these things to happen too quickly!

Harper with Caroline and Aunt Mysti at the Colvins Super Bowl Party. This is right before Caroline gave Harper a few little "love pats" on the head. She didn't want to share her Mommy!Harper taking in the sights at the Farmers Market. She helped Daddy pick out some pretty pansies for our front yard.

Harper all dressed up before Sophie's birthday party. There were lots of big kids there and they even had a bounce house. Harper was mesmerized. Please note the rare occasion when I can get her to smile for the camera. She is usually all smiles until I point the camera at her. We are working on knowing when to ham it up.

Thanks Caroline!

Harper's bestest buddy, Caroline Stewart, let us borrow some nifty big girl toys. Caroline is almost one, so she has moved on to much more sophisticated play things. Harper has had so much fun with the new Bumbo chair and Rainforest Jumparoo. Thanks Caroline!

First try in the Bumbo. Totally unwilling to close her mouth or smile for the camera.Another day in the Bumbo. This time we wanted to touch our toes. If only I could have gotten what came next in the photo...she completely folded forward and wanted no part of it after that.

Hanging out in the jumparoo. Buster kept licking her legs so she's a little distracted.

All Bundled Up

The crying subsided for a minute, so I'm taking a minute to add this photo of Harper all bundled up. Nana's good friend Mrs. Hummel knitted this hat (and a matching sweater) for Harper when she was born. Isn't it too cute?

The Grateful Book

So, maybe everyone already knows about this book. If so, please pardon my enthusiasm. If not, go immediately to your local Barnes and Noble and purchase it for your child. Lovey gave Harper a copy for Christmas and we LOVE reading it. It's called Grateful, A Song of Giving Thanks. And it even comes with a CD with a recording of Art Garfunkel singing the song (not his best work, but really sweet). The author is John Bucchino.

Have to run. The wee one is waking up from her power nap.

Enjoy the book!

At least I wasn't in my bathrobe...

For those of you keeping track of the Get It Together Plan, hereafter referred to as GIT, I must confess that I took my daughter to school today with a head full of wet hair (mine, not hers...she doesn't really have any hair yet). My mom taught me not to go outside with wet hair, especially when it's 45 degrees out, but I just couldn't help it. To be fair, Harper was clean, fed and dressed in a really cute outfut, so who really cares what I look like, right? I'm guessing the exception to that is my coworkers, who probably wish I would at least put a little lip gloss on. Baby steps, people.

Hotty Toddy!

In case you missed it, the Rebels put on a great show at the Cotton Bowl last week. The most exciting part, though, was getting to see Lacey and Ham, and Lauren, Jackson and Hudson. We can't wait for Baby Ross to arrive in March. We suspect his mommy is a little ready, too.Lacey, Lauren and Harper
At Mi Cocina. Look at Lauren's cute belly!
At the game. Go Rebs!

Christmas Fun

We spent Christmas in Ruston this year at Lovey and Big Sam's house. Tobi and Tori got a Wii, which provided hours of entertainment (mostly for the big kids). We went to Granddaddy and Vergie's with the Shealy gang on Christmas Eve. Then PawPaw came over on Christmas Day, along with Grandma and Papaw. Uncle Christopher was in town from New Orleans, too. A side note to Uncle Christopher - we don't care if you lost a bet...shave your beard!
Daddy and Harper on Christmas Eve. Harper is slightly obsessed with her tongue, so she likes to stick it out in photos. I tried, but she wasn't willing to cooperate.

Clearly Santa was getting there fast enough.

All dressed up in the cute outfit from Nana and Papa.

Mommy's little candy cane

Mommy and Harper before Harper's first Christmas party. Note the wreath on the floor in the background. It stayed in that very same spot until the decorations went back into the attic. Further evidence for the "get it together" plan.

Catching Up

So, it's clearly been a while since I've posted anything. I doubt anyone is surprised. I have, however, decided to turn over a new leaf in 2009. My New Year's resolution is...to get it together. I think that's broad enough to cover most of the areas in my life that need work. It's also just vague enough so that I won't feel like a total loser this time next year when I have accomplished absolutely nothing (read: if I still have baby weight to lose and haven't finished writing thank you notes).

I do have a (somewhat) detailed list of what getting it together entails, but I will spare you the boring details. I will say, however, that at the top of the list (right above baby weight) is to be more grateful and count my blessings daily. Topher and I were given the most precious gift this year and I don't want to take one minute of that for granted.

I'll update with photos of Christmas and various activities in November and December in the next few posts.

Happy New Year!