Two Front Teeth

Seriously, these two front teeth...they MUST.COME.IN.

She's working on them both and when I look in her mouth, my mouth hurts. Her gums are so so swollen and there are these two bulbous areas that are just causing her to scream in pain.

The screaming. It has to stop. Orajel, frozen spoons, frozen teethers, teething tablest, tylenol, motrin...we need the teeth to come through.

Teething is not going well. Pray for teeth...and sanity...and ear plugs.

Crazy 8...

Sydney has rapidly approached 8 months and I feel like before I know it she'll be one year old! AHH! So far, this has been one of my favorite times with her. She is such a chill baby and her smile will honestly make the most stoic of strangers beam back at her. Some facts of the crazy 8 month old that she is:

1. Nurses 4x a day but we've added formula into that mix--once a day with twice a day coming right around the corner. Never batted an eye and took the formula with no problem...however, she had expressed a temperature preference.

2. She's still rocking a very speedy army crawl with a few actual crawling moves thrown in. She knows how to get to Point A to Point B ...and fast.

3. She's starting to pull up--mostly to her knees but has the desire to get to a stand (she just hasn't gotten there yet). She can pull herself into a sit and I often go to get her after naptime to find her sitting in her crib smiling at me or on her knees hanging on to the side (note to self--lower crib mattress).

4. She loves solid food. We've started giving her puffs, cheerios, bread and a variety of fruits and veggies and she's seriously crazy for it. She hardly wants to eat her baby food if something else is on her try and when that tray is empty, cover your ears, because she's going to let you know. She gets this look of determination on her face and just starts shoveling it in--its unreal.

5. She has been testing her voice. Some days she does a lot of screaming (thankully that hasn't been consistent and we're hoping she forgot how to do it) but she's also starting some other sounds (da da da, oo oo, and a few others).

6. One of my fav things with Gavin was when you reach and he reached back--it has taken her a bit past 8 months to get this but is finally getting it. Prior she'd just respond but thrusting her whole body forward at you. Still, I love when they respond with a desire to be with you.

7. Grabby. Grabby. Grabby. She grabs everything - paper, plates, earrings, computer keyboard, strings, toys, hair, shirts, necklaces, nose, etc. She also can find the smallest of gross things on your floor and get it into her little tiny fingers headed for her mouth. Eww. (and shame on me for not cleaning my floor more?)

8. She has beautiful and delicious rolls all over her body. She is not thinning out. She is actually getting tan around her rolls while the creases stay stark white. I love her rolls.

9. She sleeps from 9-10:30 (give or take 15 min and I do wake her) and from 1:30-3:30 (ideally). She sleeps from 7 pm to 7 am. She's a good sleeper. However, if she does wake at night, rarely is it from distress--its b/c she's just awake and if you go in there, she will just give you the biggest of smiles and think its social hour. Nope, we don't put up with that in this house. So back to bed, at which point there is some major screaming and tantrum throwing...and eventually she sleeps.

10. She bounces all the time. She loves to bounce. She's just feeling the inner beat I guess.

11. Overall, I love this age. I love that she's so happy and giggly and fun. She laughs easily and often. I love the excitement on her face when she recognizes someone and how quick she is to interract. Sometimes she's a bit shy and hesitant to smile until she's studied your every feature but once those smiles start...they just keep coming.

I Can Do It!!

Recently Chad and I finally got a king size bed...scratch that, we got a California King bed. It is basically the first time in my husband's life that he can lay in bed with his feet not hanging off the end. Obviously, we did not have a king-size bed frame so instead of purchasing one, I told Chad I was going to make us a headboard. After weeks of telling him, convincing him and talking about it, we finally did it. I definitely needed his help and when all was said and done, it looks amazing! I love it! Now...if I could only get the rest of my room decorated....

Harris Vacay 2010

This year the Harris family headed north to the Lake Geneva area of Wisconsin. We rented a house right on the waters of the small Lake Como. It was great July weather and since we took our boat up, we were able to have lots of fun in the seaweed...er, I mean water. It was really fun to be together as a family and the kids had so much fun together. The whole week they either had us laughing at their silly antics or disciplining with their spoiled behavior--typical of a vacation spent with cousins. Super fun trip including quality time with Chad which was much much needed this time of year. Can't wait to see what next year brings....

Sydney's first boat ride.

As always, my little BFF for the week.

Syd's clearly enjoying her quality time with Uncle Nate.

Every ride is a fun ride with your cousins.

Grandpa & Gavin talk about life...and sand digging.

Our free spirit.

Two beauties in blue.

Sweet Treats.

Moey...so grown up at 5.

Yummm.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Morning cartoons.

Loves to climb.

And slide!

Moey testing her balancing skills.

CHEERS!

Mommy & Gavin's big ride.

We do tricks...like no hands.

So tolerant...then again, I think she feels jammed into alot of things...those rolls just don't have many places to go.

Chad claims "oldest man I've pulled tubing"...come on now.

Mom H thought this was crazy stuff....that's our pad in the background.

Manicure time- complete with lots of pink and glitter!

Two Harris men enjoying the afternoon.

Daddy/Daughter swim.

Gone Fishin.

He's his Dad in so many ways....

Morgan and Katelyn.

Chad and his skippers.

Aunt Jen & Kate.

Nate & Moey's wild ride.

My little marshmellow.

A little cousin love.

Harris Fam #1

Harris Fam #2

Gram & Gramp in grandkid heaven.

Loves.

Gram and Sydney.

Christa and the girls.

Grandpa and Sydney.

Those three smiles make me smile.

Lake Geneva beach....soft and sandy and seaweed free!

A waterbug in the making.

Floating should be easy for her---she's very bouyant.

Morgan and Nate.

Building a sand castle.

Cloudy mornings are awfully fun when you're playing Candyland.

Gavin's first time with paint...it went how you'd expect...messy.

Mid-lake swimmers.

Mean Uncle Chad--such a big tease.