Strawberrylicious

I'm pretty sure I've cracked the "kid vs food" code! If your child doesn't like a food...make them pick it themselves.

Harper has always been anti-strawberry. I know what you're thinking, "how can a kid hate strawberries?" Well let me tell you, she's not your average bird. I had, in the past, snuck a bite or 2 into her, so I know she's not allergic or anything, just didn't like all the little seeds (her words). But despite this unprovoked hostility toward this delightful little fruit, we decided to take her out to the fields to pick her own. There is plenty of love for the strawberry in this family without her, so no worries about waste. Well, I don't know how to explain it, but as soon as that little hand got a hold of that bucket, she was off!! Picking berries left and right and LOVING every minute of it. This, in our minds, was all well and good, but it didn't mean she would eat them.

By the time we got home we had had lunch and a very filling trip to the frozen yogurt shop, you know the kind with the do it yourself toppings:) It never occurred to me she would want ANYTHING else to eat let alone strawberries. Not 2 minutes after we walked in the door she's asking for one. Well come on, this is total kid manipulation, right?? So anyway, I wash one for her and continued about my activities. 2 seconds later, she's throwing the top in the trash and asking for another, then another, then another. At this point I washed a bunch and gave her a bowl.

She hasn't gone a meal without having one yet! Code cracked:)

"Cheese" smile.

Some of our coolest finds.

Miss Harper enjoying the "fruits" of her labor:)

aaannnnddd mom & dad enjoying the fruits of her labor:)

It's Easter! Now somebody hand me a soda before I die!!

Lent bites!

I know whatever minuscule thing I decide to give up (soda this time) is nothing compared to what HE gave up for us. However, this knowledge aside, I struggle every year. I was hoping that, by giving up those sugary carbonated drinks I have become utterly addicted to, it would start a trend in my daily habits. Not so much:( I'm pretty sure my desire to crack open an ice cold can and hear that familiar refreshing sound, only grew over those 40 grueling days. By the time Easter came around, I was throwing them back like I just walked the Sahara. I surely made up for every single one I had missed over my personal Lent experience.

And now on the the festivities...

This was Harper's second Easter egg hunt of the season. It was the most perfect day in downtown Raleigh.

Checking out her goods.

I don't even need to tell her to pose anymore!

My little bug and buddy on Easter morning after church.

The image...

...the reality:)

Nothing but a catch up (i.e. pictures galore)

Missing the kids? Well soak up the sweetness because HERE...THEY...ARE!!

Ok, this one deserves a story. Harper was finishing her breakfast while I was upstairs changing Stratton. I came down and found this scene in the kitchen. She had pulled out the vacuum, moved the gallon of juice from the floor of the pantry up to the kitchen table (how she lifted it I will never know) then tipped over the paper towels to stand on. All this to get herself ONE candy heart:) She is definitely our daughter.

In case anyone asks, we simply had another baby to give Harper a purpose in life...or so she thinks

Obviously, Stratton will have no choice but to comply.

My sweet Stratton's 3 month photo shoot.

Well hello there buddy...The limelight looks good on you!

I can tell already the blog is going to shift into survival mode. Soon to consist only of long breaks followed by huge posts in a desperate attempt to catch up. Oh well, life will go on, the world will still spin, and my kids will continue to grown like they're in a race against time.

So take off that coat, grab a hot toddy, and get comfortable, it's gonna be a long one:)

Stratton is almost 4 months old!!!!

I know, WHAT??!! Crazy how fast it went. You would think after having one kid who went from 0 to 3 in 8 seconds I would know how it worked right? Well no, still shocks me. I have been so slack with the blog, and as you all know, baby's change so much in their first year, so here is the complete run down of my sweet babe's first 1/3 of a year...through his eyes:)

First...I came home.

Then I stayed pretty lazy for the first little while.

Different position, still lazy.

I hung out with my sister some.

Met a new friend:)

Hung out with my sister again.

Bummed around the skate park.

That made me really tired.

Anxiously awaited the arrival of the big man.

Still had time to look really cute:)

Dressed like a lumberjack.

Started sleeping in my crib. I was scared at first.

Spent some time with Dad.

Spread the word.

Got all dressed up, having no place to go.

What? It keeps me warm!

I started smiling and I haven't stopped:)

I looked really cute again.

Oh yeah, and then I made this face!

Got to meet my Aunt Valerie! She came all the way from Vermont just to see me!!

I met a girl.

Stole her right away from this (unsuspecting) character.

That made me tired again.

I figured out how to get this blasted thing into my mouth.

Spent more time with my sister.

This is embarrassing...once again, looking cute.

Wore a hat.

Tested out the bumbo seat and was quite happy about it.

Then I got tired.

I'm so sorry about this, I don't know how these keep sneaking in...cute AGAIN!

Holy crap, it's like she's ALWAYS there!!

Sometimes I sat alone...

...sometimes with friends.

Found time to run for office at the Shady Pines retirement community.

Squeezed in a bath or 2.

Did I mention spending time with my sister?

Went faster than a speeding bullet.

Needless to say...that also made me VERY tired:)