I am not sure either Don or I could have imagined how our lives were going to change a year ago. I mean we knew things would never be the same, but we couldn't have known how such a small little person would bring so much love into our lives. Over the past year we have had lots of laughs, smiles, tender sweet moments, we changed lots of dirty diapers, made lots of bottles, struggled through the frustration of trying to figure things out, we have lost countless hours of sleep, spent many hours at the doctor's office, I have learned that Baby Gap is now my first stop on any shopping trip, that even though two entire walls of our house are dedicated to pictures of Harper I still want more, and most of all we have realized that it is possible to love someone more than your heart ever knew it was capable of.Harper's personality is developing more and more each day.
- Since she started walking a couple of months ago she hasn't slowed down. She practically runs through the house. In fact one of her favorite games is running around the couch trying to catch Daddy. She will start laughing so hard she can hardly stand up.
- She is slowly trying new things to eat. She still won't eat one single veggie, but she has branched out to eating ground beef now. At one she loves to eat: chicken apple sausage, cheesy scrambled eggs, blueberry waffles, turkey dogs, grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches, grilled chicken, mangoes, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. Not much variety, but it is actually getting better. For a while she would only eat strawberries and turkey dogs. So we are making progress!
- She is crazy about Layla and Bosco. She doesn't like it when they are outside and she is inside. She stands at the back door and points at them through the glass. She loves "petting" and feeding Layla. Mealtime goes like this: Harper gets a bite, Layla gets a bite. Bosco is usually off sleeping somewhere or outside hunting creatures.
- She loves balls. She is learning to roll and throw them.
- Her most favorite book is Goodnight Gorilla. We read it every night.
- She has 6 teeth. Four on the top and two on the bottom.
- She has become fascinated with mermaids. Recently while we were at a store shopping she dug out several other stuffed dolls to get to the mermaid one. She proceeded to carry it around hugging it the whole time we were there.
- And she has started talking up a storm! I love to hear those sweet babbles each day. There really aren't many "words" yet, BUT she did finally start saying mama! WAHOO! These days she is babbling non-stop and we wouldn't change a thing!
As fast as this year as gone I know that each year will probably go faster. As Harper continues to grow Don and I pray that she will come to know Christ at an early age and her love for Him will grow stronger each day. We pray that she will use her talents and kind heart to help others know Christ. That she always reaches for her dreams and doesn't let fear hold her back, that she finds truelove without heartache, that she will have the courage to follow her heart, and that we as parents will know how to guide her.
~For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again. ~ Benjamin Button
