Christmas with the Helms'

We had a great Christmas! My parents came to Little Rock this year and we all spent Christmas morning at our townhouse. I love to cook, but my tiny kitchen is not made for huge family meals, so we ordered turkey dinners from Mimi's...it's a little embarrassing, but it was really good and a lot less hassle. Harper loved her gifts! I tried to get her to help me open some, but she didn't care one bit about any of it. To my delight, however, she is actually playing with her new toys! We put her in a Christmas dress that Brandon's mom bought her before she was even born. I must admit, I hate this dress! But his mom was horrified that we didn't take her to get her picture taken with Santa, so this was our compromise. Harper is so close to crawling! She gets up on her hands and leans over on one knee, then falls back her bottom....it will happen one day very soon! Her are some pictures of the Christmas dress *sigh*

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's been a while since I've blogged, we have been very busy around here! This time of year is always interesting at school. The students know that they are about to have a very long break, and thus, they feel like school is just something to pass the time. Today we had a half day after two snow days, and they were wild! Only one more half day to go and the FREEDOM! for 2 weeks. My parents are coming to Arkansas for Christmas and they arrive on Christmas Eve. I have been trying to figure out how I'm going to fit everyone into my small townhouse and feed everyone that will be here. I have a very small kitchen so cooking for a large number of people becomes quite an undertaking. Should be interesting to see how that turns out! We have only bought Harper two presents, and I think that's all we're buying. She doesn't know it's Christmas, and she has grandparents coming who have bought her several things also, so I just don't see the point in going all out this year. Next year will be a different story I'm sure! Harper is talking so much these days...not real words mind you...but she is very vocal! I was a very quiet and shy child, I don't think she is in danger of being that way...just look how cool she is already! This picutre was taken in SkyHarbor while we were waiting for our flight back to Arkansas. She already knows that the perfect shades really perfect any outfit.

oops

I took Harper to the doctor today for her check up and shots...I always dread it because she cries so much and looks so sad! She really doesn't cry that much at home, so it gets to me a little. Anyway, the doctor looked in her left ear and said, "did you know she has an ear infection?" Of course I didn't! She had been a little cranky over the weekend, but she is cutting her first tooth so we didn't really think much of it. Oh well. That's the only thing I hate about daycare, the seemingly never ending bouts of ear infections/sickness. They do all they can do keep everything clean and sterilized, but with that many little kids in one place, it's bound to happen I guess.

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks! The time has been flying by since she's been born. I really love the holidays, especially Christmas. It's still a little hard though, to be here, away from my family during the holidays. Some of Brandon's family lives here, but it's just not the same. My parents are coming to Arkansas for Christmas this year, so that should be interesting! The rumor is that we may have snow in December this year, so that will be pretty...and potentially annoying. Snow in Arkansas is not like snow other places, like the Northeast, for instance. When it snows here, it melts after a day or so and the refreezes on the ground as ice. I hate the ice! I'm scared to drive anywhere when there's ice so I end up being homebound. Being from Arizona sometimes does have it's downfalls...they are few and far between, but to be fair they do exist.

Voting woes

This election was the first time since I've been able to vote that I did not cast a ballot, not on purpose, however. I had every intention of voting, I left work early to vote. When I got the polling place, I wasn't on the list!!!!! I'm not sure what happened, but my name was no where to be found. They said I could go in and cast a ballot, but it would eventually be thrown out. I figured I'd already wasted enough time. I'm mad. I always give people who don't vote a hard time, well not everyone, only those who complain. Can you tell I'm still a little disappointed?!?! I'm not the only one who had trouble ( sorry Nicole!!). Harper is sad too. People who don't vote make Harper sad.

Harper has found her voice, and she insists on using, loudly, at all times. The best way I can describe the sound she makes is that it is very similar to the sound of someone slowly letting the air out of a balloon. So cute. I have spent the past two days home with bronchitis. I thought I was over it, I thought wrong! I hate missing work, my students are a bit of a handful. I'm sure they terrorized the poor sub, whoever it was! I have a hard time getting subs for my class....I'm sure it has nothing to do with the boy who throws tantrums and hides under the table, or the other little boy who enjoys pleasuring himself in class and farts and purpose and says "excuse me" because that's the polite thing to do. Never a dull moment. Here are some pictures I took while giving Harper a bath, look at those green eyes!

Just an excuse...

I really have nothing to say, my mom is in town, it's been fun. She's leaving tomorrow and I'm bummed. I just wanted to post some pictures of Harper! 6 months old, I can't believe it!

sick!

sick!

Harper just got over her double ear infection, so I was surprised when her daycare called and said she had 100.4 and was sleepy and VERY cranky. Why can't we all just be well already??? I just got over bronchitis, so hopefully I didn't pass that on to her! Sick babies are no fun for anyone. Here's a cute picture to lighten the mood of this post!

So much has changed!

It has been quite a while since I've been on here! Harper is doing so many new and exciting things...well maybe only exciting to us. She sleeps in her crib all the time now, no swing! She is rolling over, sitting up with a little help, and eating rice cereal! This month she'll be 6 months old and I can hardly believe it. Brandon was playing with her this afternoon and she started to giggle...and I started to cry. It was so sweet! In other news...I'm considering quitting my teaching job to become a professional dog walker. Yes, that's how well this school year is going.

Whoa Baby!

I called my friend Jeannette tonight for our usual late night talk/her trying to convince me to move back to Phoenix session, only Jessica answered the phone. She answered because Jeannette is in labor! I'm so excited for her! I wish I could be there to see her and that beautiful new baby! I'm also excited because we finally get to find out the name! Harper went to bed at 8:00 tonight, a first in her young life. We'll see how long she decides to stay asleep! She is growing up so fast I can hardly believe it. Being back at work has been hard, I feel so badly when I realize I've been so caught up in work that I haven't thought about her! It does make the time we spend at home together extra special. The weekend went by too quickly! Oh well, we always have the summers.

One week down

Harper and I survived our first week of daycare and going back to work. She did really well! I was a basket case the first couple days, and of course, she was just fine. The ladies in the nursery just love her! They tell me everyday how happy she is and that she has the cutest smile. She is a darling baby, and she's mine. I feel so blessed to have the happy little family that I do. The first days of school are always interesting, especially viewing the fiasco that ensues when parents are dropping their kids off for their first day of kindergarten. I'm not sure who ends up crying more, the child or their parents! I guess I understand it a little bit better now that I'm a mom. I remember our first day of kindergarten. My mom rolled up to school in our green conversion van, got my sister and I out, walked us to the door, said "goodbye, I love you" and left. I remember being a little put off by this, but she did exactly the right thing. The first day of school should be treated as though you are ripping off a band aid, just do it fast and get it over with! We try and tell parents this with little success. Once the boo-hooing parents are gone, the kids usually have a great time! Oh, the joys of school.

Goodbye SkyHarbor

My brother's wedding was beautiful! I'll post some pictures when I get them. They had their ceremony at 6:45 pm outside! I was a little worried, but it wasn't the scorcher we all thought it would be. I didn't melt, but I did manage to trip on my dress on the way up the stairs and back down again. Oh well. Harper had a great time! I think it wore her out to get passed around and looked at and adored! She was ready to come home. God smiled on me, she slept the whole way there AND the whole way back. I was really stressing about that plane ride! We left on Sunday afternoon and after I said goodbye to my parents at security, I boo hooed all the way to our gate. I really miss living in Phoenix and my family. I want Harper to grow up around her family. I also didn't get to see my friend Jeannette, which I was also very sad about! She won't have that belly much longer and I wanted to see it! Oh well. I also have to go back to work next week, which means Harper will be starting daycare. I'm past the point of putting on a happy face about it, bottom line is, it's going to suck. Pray for me, I'm having a hard time with it.

Arizona here I come!

Next week I'll be in Phoenix! The last time I was there it was November and I was pregnant. My little brother is getting married and I am in the wedding. I am so happy for him and Karlyn, they are perfect for each other! My sister, Harper, and I will be flying out Wednesday morning, early! I am a little nervous about flying with a baby. I always felt bad for mothers with children on planes. If a baby cries on a plane, you have very little that you can do for them. And there are always those awful people that roll their eyes, moan, and do everything else in their power to make sure that you know that they are VERY irritated by your crying baby. I've had many suggestions for how to make the flight a smooth one, drugging them, nursing during take off and landing, nursing the entire time, prayer...the list goes on and on. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I do know that whatever happens, we will live, and those awful people should just get over it (or shell out the cash for another airline that has first class!)

Exploding air conditioning=LONG weekend!

We have been telling the people people that run our section of townhouses that our air conditioning hasn't been working correctly for the past 2 months. To be more specific, we have called 7 times in the past 2 months. So needless to say when they called on Friday to say that our unit had exploded and needed to be replaced, I wasn't surprised in the slightest. We had to check into a hotel for the weekend. The whole fam in one small room....it was a long weekend. But we are now back in our house and pleasantly chilly! Harper did so great...I'm pretty lucky she seems to be a "go with the flow" baby. Here are some pictures from when Brandon's mom was here.

Ugh...

First of all I'd like to say how sorry I am for my friend Jeannette...30 weeks pregnant with a bum ankle. Not that there is ever really an ideal time to break a bone, but being pregnant is an exceptionally bad time! This week Brandon's mother has been in town...it's been interesting. I think Harper is just worn out from all the company, she has been so grouchy today. She is like her mother, enjoys company and getting out, but also craves alone time and peace and quiet. Harper is smiling all the time now! Its so precious. In the morning when I go in to get her up, I always sing a good morning song. She starts smiling even before she opens her eyes. She knows her mommy's voice and is happy to see me, how cute is that?! I am so excited, Harper and I will be in Phoenix in 2 weeks! My brother is getting married and I am in the wedding. I'm interested to see how my dress fits...since the last time I tried it on I was 6 months pregnant...hmm...

Day Care Blues

I have finally found a daycare that I am happy with, and believe me, it's been an exhaustive search. I just don't like the idea of someone else taking care of Harper other than me or her father on a daily basis. I know that other people can care for her, change her diaper, feed her etc. But no one can love her like I do! How will they know the songs she likes? How will they be tell that she is crying because she needs a nap or because she needs to be held? I'm sure I'm not the only mother who has agonized over these things. I'm still trying to get past the guilty feeling that won't go away.

On to happier things. Harper hates tummy time, I mean HATES it! But because I don't want her to have a wiggly jelly neck, we press on with it. Here are some pictures of her, a rare moment, when she was not screaming during tummy time.

Bottle Battle

I think I have a very opinionated child. We have been trying to get her used to taking a bottle for weeks. I have to go back to work in August and she will have to take one at daycare. It has been a total battle to get her to take a bottle and, so far, Harper has been winning. I felt like I was giving up to easily, but after 45 minutes of screaming, I would usually break down and just breastfeed her. Well yesterday I went to brunch with some friends and Brandon texted me and said she took a bottle from him, no problem. All day yesterday and today she drank from a bottle like she'd been doing it forever! Hallelujah! Now if I could only get her to sleep for longer than 4 hours at a time at night and decide that its ok to be on her belly. One thing at a time.

Unwanted Advice!

I just have to vent a little...

As a new mother you get tons of unsolicited advice. Sometimes this advice is great...sometimes not so much. I'm getting a little tired of being scolded for not taking "good advice" from people. The fact of the matter is that most of this advice is just plain bad and most of the people from which is comes could tell me the sky was blue and I'd question them...they're that unreliable. As a result of this, however, people think I'm being stubborn. I'm not being stubborn, I'm making the best decisions possible on my daughters behalf...so back off!

Enough of that. I'm excited for the 4th! We are going swimming and then to a cookout. Harper loves to swim! I took some pictures of our last swimming excursion only to realize once I got home that the memory card was out the camera *sigh* Oh well, I will take many tomorrow! Here are some more pictures at Miranda's request. These were taken when she was about 6 weeks old!

I have never blogged before (is blogged a verb or even a word?) but I have decided to do so after Jeannette suggested it and reading Nicole's almost daily! I read Nicole's because she has an infant daughter just like me and it's comforting to read about someone else going through the same things that I am. Jeannette and Nicole also live in Phoenix and I live in Little Rock *sigh* so I must live vicariously through others...oh AZ, I miss you so! I will try and post some pictures of Harper with this blog, hopefully it works!