Harper's Christmas List

With less than two weeks until Christmas, its time to finish all my shopping, wrapping and stocking stuffing and start enjoying the last little bit of Christmas festivities. I still have some big things on my to-do list such as baking Christmas cookies, taking Harper to see Santa at the mall, and going to look at Christmas lights. This truly is my favorite time of year! I love, love, love giving gifts and so I'm especially excited that I get to play Santa this year!

 I know Harper will not remember this year but that doesn't mean I'm not starting her Christmas traditions anyway. I can't wait to watch her rip open her presents (which will probably be her favorite part) and see her face when she gets all her new toys and books. I don't think I've ever mentioned it, but Harper looooooves books. She will sit in my lap and let me read to her for an eternity. Plus she loves to play with them and just turn the pages and point to things over and over and over. She is getting a few new books for Christmas that I think will be a big hit.

Something that Tyler and I are starting this year is the "Christmas Eve" present, which contains new pj's, a new Christmas book, and maybe a movie that we can all watch together before bed that night. Also, we have decided that, aside from Santa Claus's gifts, Harper will always only get 4 gifts from us. They are "Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read." She can make us a list each year of what she wants but ultimately will only get those 4 presents. Like I said, she will of course still get stuff from Santa and her grandparents and the rest of our families but from Mama and Daddy, it will only be the 4 things. I think it will teach her to be appreciative and thankful and she will really have to think about what she wants or needs when making her list each year. I also plan to always adopt a Christmas Angel with her to teach her about giving to others who are less fortunate than she is. After all, I think that is the true spirit of Christmas. Giving to others.

So here are most of the things that will be under Harper's tree this year. This is stuff from both Santa, and the 4 things from us. Let me say, shopping for her first Christmas has been soooo fun! I could have easily kept on and kept on shopping, but I had to listen to my own lesson for Harper and show a little restraint, and be appreciative for all that we already have. She is truly one blessed little girl that doesn't ever really need anything and for that I am very thankful. So without further ado, Harper's list!

Farm puzzle, Keys, Whale spout cover, Dress, Cow knit doll, Ugg boots, Pride and Prejudice book, Grinch book, PJ's, Drum, Backpack

Things I'm Thankful For

With Thanksgiving coming up next week, I've been thinking a lot about all the things I'm thankful for. I truly am so blessed and I know I take it for granted on a daily basis. So I made a list and thought it would be nice to share it with you.

I'm thankful for...

1. My relationship with God. He blesses me beyond measure everyday and I am so thankful for Him. He has given me all the other things in this list and so much more! Nothing in my life would have meaning if it weren't for Him. He loves me even when I don't deserve it because I am His child. He feels the same way about you :)

2. Being a wife and mother. I cannot imagine my life without Tyler and Harper in it, nor do I want to. They make me who I am and they will never know how much I love them. I'm so beyond thankful for Tyler and all he does for our family. He works hard everyday so that I can stay home and raise our daughter and he will never understand how much that means to me. I look forward to so many years of memories with him. I can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for our baby girl. For many years I was told I might not get pregnant and after months of trying, I decided to let it go and if God wanted to give us a baby He would. The very next month we found out I was pregnant! I was blessed with a healthy pregnancy and a complication free birth and, most importantly, a healthy baby. She has been the light of my life since the moment I saw her and she will be for the rest of her life. She made me a mama, which is the only thing I've ever dreamed of being. I know there will be hard days ahead (terrible twos, teenage years) but there is nothing she could ever do to make me stop loving her. 

3. My family. I know I take this one for granted in a major way. It usually isn't until I see or read about other families who don't get along or even intentionally hurt or turn their backs on each other, that I am reminded of what a rare blessing my family is. We are close-knit, supportive and genuinely enjoy being with each other. Not a week goes by that we don't ALL eat lunch together at my grandparents house. Some families only are able to gather like that for holidays and I get to do it every single Sunday. I wish I got to spend more time with my family who live out of town. But I'm very thankful for the times we do share together! I'm also thankful for my husbands family who have become my family too. They have always treated me like one of their own and I love them like they are mine :)

4. Things I have that I may sometimes wish were more. I know that sounds strange but what I mean is, for example, even though I sometimes dream of having a big house with a fireplace and a breakfast nook and a two-car garage, I'm still so thankful for my little one-bathroom, no dining room, no storage space house that I have. It was the first house Tyler and I bought together, it's where we brought our baby home from the hospital, it's where we've celebrated Christmas and made family dinners and watched our favorite shows together. It's our home, and it always will be, even when we one day don't live here anymore. There are times when I feel like this about a lot of things but I am still so thankful for all the things I do have and all the special meaning they hold. 

5. Opportunities I have in this life. Lastly, I'm thankful for all the things I get to see and do everyday. Many people are not as fortunate as I am. I get to travel with my family a lot and see and experience different places and try new things. I love going to new places, trying new foods, reading books, and learning new things. There is so much to experience in this life and I would love to do it all! And now that I have Harper, I love to see her experience new things too. Things we take for granted, she gets to do for the first time everyday and that is magical to see. I can't wait to take her to my favorite places and show her my favorite things and even more than that, I can't wait to see what will become her favorites. 

I'm sorry this was such a long post but I really wanted to tell you all about how truly thankful I am for all my blessings. I can't wait to celebrate Thanksgiving next week and watch Harper's face as she tastes turkey and dressing, a million different sides, and pumpkin pie for the first time! 

What are you most thankful for?

November style for Mama and Baby

Happy November! (a week late…) The weather is finally getting cool around here and its officially time for sweaters and boots. Sweaters are one of my absolute favorite things to wear since they look cute but feel like you're wearing a sweatshirt. I also love all the fun accessories that come with "sweater weather" like scarves, and fun, cozy socks!

Here are some of my favorite pieces for this month:

Puffer Vest, Fisherman Sweater, Plaid Scarf, Chunky Cardigan, Boots, Fair Isle Socks, Essie Polish, Plaid Dress, Knit Tights, Puffer Vest, Knit One Piece, Moccasin Boots, Thanksgiving Bib

I love prints like plaid and fair isle! They're just so cozy and warm looking. Any of these things would be great for a Thanksgiving outfit too. I think that cream, knit one-piece would work for a boy or a girl and would be so cute for Christmas too! But Im getting ahead of myself. Theres still plenty of time for all things Christmas! Let's save that for another (or 12) post! 

October Love List

I can't believe that October is almost over! It seriously seems like it just started. Not to mention, Harper turned 9 months old last week! Wasn't she just born, like, yesterday? Anyway, here is a list of things I'm loving this month:

1. Halloween clothes for Harper: Everyone knows by now that I love holidays, and dressing Harper accordingly. It is just so fun being festive! Ive been planning her October wardrobe for a while and Im so excited she finally gets to show it all off! Here's a few of the things she will be rocking all month.

Cat mask pjs, Boo onesie, Orange pants, Cat hat, Boo dress, Carter's outfit

2. Pumpkin Spice: Yes, I'm one of those people. I'm totally obsessed with anything and everything pumpkin spiced! Lattes, M&Ms, coffee creamer, cookies...the list goes on. Since it only comes around once a year, I definitely take advantage and go a little pumpkin crazy in October. 

3. Mom Mail Exchange: Ok, so this isn't exactly exclusive to October, but it was my first month to participate and it was so much fun! It started on Instagram as a way for mom's to meet other mom's (follow @mommailexchange for more info). You get paired with a different mom each month and get to know each other through IG and email and then exchange themed boxes of goodies worth around $30. Here's what my awesome new mom friend sent me this month!

4. The Pumpkin Patch: Harper and I tagged along with my mom's pre-k class on their field trip last week to our local pumpkin patch and had a great time! Harper loves pumpkins so I knew it would be a hit with her from the start. We rode a hayride out to the patch, picked our own pumpkin and then painted it. We also bought some mums and had a delicious chicken and dumpling lunch along with a piece of pumpkin pie! (Made with their own pumpkins of course). I can't wait to take Harper back year after year as she gets older.

5. Baby Halloween Costumes: There are so many cute costume options for babies! I have been looking on Pinterest for weeks trying to decide and finally went with the good old fashioned pumpkin. :) Its such a traditional "my first Halloween" costume in my opinion. I snapped a few pics of her in it already to use for Halloween cards to send to friends and family and I must say, she looks pretty adorable!

I cant wait to take this little one trick-or-treating next week! Even though she cant enjoy all the candy yet, Mama and Daddy still can ;) 

Goodbye September

Happy October! I'm so excited for this month full of football, pumpkin patches, chilly air, pumpkin spice lattes and of course, Harper's first Halloween! But first lets say goodbye to September and all the wonderful memories it brought :)

We took Harper to her first fair! We ate philly cheese steaks, homemade fries, funnel cakes and caramel apples. She loved seeing all the lights and hearing all the music! I can't wait to take her back next year and take her on the Ferris wheel! 

My baby turned eight months old! I seriously can't believe she's so old. Seems like she was just born and now she's only 4 months away from her first birthday! So crazy. 

We took a family trip to Chicago, which was so much fun! Tyler had to work and didn't get to go but we FaceTimed him every night :) Harper was so good throughout the whole trip! She went on her first airplane and train and did great on both. Here are a few pics from the trip

September was my birthday month! I had  to get a cupcake from Magnolia bakery while we were in Chicago. 

It was my first birthday as a mom and I couldn't have been happier to have my little Harper by my side as I blew out my candles :) 

Lastly, my sister-in-law got married this past weekend and Harper was the flower girl! I pulled her down the aisle in a wagon and she was so adorable. She danced and smiled and waved and loved all the attention! I think she's going to be a serious ham, that kid. We had so much fun at the wedding and reception and are so happy for Toni and Mitchem! 

September was a great month! I know October will be full of fun memories too. I especially can't wait to see a certain little baby in a tiny pumpkin costume :) 

Nail Colors for Fall

I have a serious nail polish obsession. Specifically Essie. I probably own at least 80 just from that brand, not to mention my ones from other brands. What can I say? It's my thing :)

I change my nail color all the time. At least once a week. My friends and I even used to have weekly "nail night" where we would, you guessed it, paint our nails. With fall fast approaching, I thought I'd pick some of my favorites for the season. Some colors are new and some are pretty old, but I still wear them year after year. They never go out of style! And of course, they're all my beloved Essie.

              The cast of characters.

 Little Brown Dress. A perfect chocolate brown. 

Vested Interest. A Fall 2013 color that I love! A dark slate teal. 

Wicked. And oldie but a goodie. A perfect oxblood color.

Very Structured. A burnt orange. Love it!

And clearly Harper's choice...

Smokin' Hot. Grayish purple. So pretty.

Head Mistress. A beautiful dark cherry red that's perfect for fall!

These are the colors I'm loving for fall this year. What are some of your favorite fall colors?

Fall Wish List

Next week starts the beginning of September, which to me equals the beginning of fall. I know here in Alabama it will probably still feel like the middle of summer but I won't let it crush my fall-loving dreams. Of course Im starting to plan my wish list for the season which is even more fun now that I get to also make a list for Harper! I hope she loves fall and holidays as much as her mama. Nothing thrills my soul more than a pumpkin spice latte in my hand, fringe boots on my feet and dark polish on my nails.

Here's a few of the things that  are making our list this year:

Moccasins for mama and baby | Happy Camper pullover | B&BW candles | Green tunic | Essie fall collection | Alabama jersey | Baby Gap clothes

A Summer Favorite: Fried Okra

Has anyone else been super excited about the weather the past couple days? Been feeling very fall-ish around here! But before I start pulling out my boots and hoodies, there is still technically another month of summer left to go. So tonight I made one of my favorite summer dishes for supper. Fried okra.

 My granny and mama have been making this for me all my life and now I make it for my family. It's really easy and sooooo good. I even make a few variations including my husband's favorite, what he calls "okra jubilee" which has okra, squash, and green tomatoes. Mmmmm. 

But tonight it's just plain ole okra. 

The first thing you need is okra. Duh. Wash them in a strainer and then cut the tops off with a knife and then just cut them up into small pieces and drop em in a bowl as you go. 

Then get a big gallon size Baggie and dump all the pieces in. I guess you could just skip the bowl altogether if you wanted to, and just cut your pieces right into the Baggie. But sometimes you spill some and make a mess so a bowl will catch any runaways. (My mama and granny don't use a Baggie, I just think its easier. But either way is fine).

Then dump in a couple scoops of corn meal. Some people use flour. We use corn meal. I also add some salt and pepper. Then just shake up the bag to evenly coat all the okra. 

Now heat up a skillet (preferably cast iron) and add about a half inch of oil. I use Wesson Oil and White Lily corn meal because that's what Granny uses. 

Once the oil is hot, add in the okra. I use a slotted spoon to scoop it out of the Baggie so I don't add too much extra corn meal. Don't mess with it too much at first or it will get mushy. Just let it be for a couple minutes until you see it start to brown and then give it a toss. After its golden brown and smells like heaven, you need to have plate with a few paper towels and your slotted spoon ready because it will burn quick. 

Scoop it out onto the paper towels to let it drain. At this point, while its still really hot, I like to sprinkle on a little more salt.

 While it drains I usually take my pan outside, dump out the grease, rinse it with a little cool water and then put it back in the stove on low. Once it's dry and warm, I'll put the okra back in to keep it warm until the rest of supper is ready. Plus it kind of crisps it up a little extra. Then it's ready to eat! 

This is one of my family's favorite summer dishes and its especially good if the okra is right out of the garden. I can remember being at my grandparents house when I was a kid and seeing Granddaddy bring in a huge basket of okra, tomatoes, squash, corn and peas from his garden and then Granny would cook it all up supper. Sometimes the simplest meals are the most delicious!

Harper's 6 month pics

I haven't gotten any professional pictures of Harper yet (I want to soon though) so this week I took a few myself for her 6 months. My mom helped me and took a few herself. We went to my parents house because they have a lot of land that would make the perfect backdrop for my summer themed ideas. Harper did such a good job and didn't fuss at all! These are a few of my favorite shots:

I love them all so much! I have to order a canvas of at least one I think. I was pretty happy with how they turned out for just taking them myself. I definitely want to get some professional ones made for fall and Christmas but I jjust had to share these sweet summer pics of my babe! 

Our week

This week is "Handy Week" here in Florence which is definitely one of the best weeks of the year to us locals. This year has been a little different for us though since Harper is here. We've just had to do more day things and not go out as late. Which these days is fine with us since we go to bed a lot earlier than we used to. It's been so much fun taking Harper to her first Handy events! 

We started the week by walking in the Handy 5k. We only did the 1 mile fun run though because it was miserably hot, even at 8:30 in the morning. Harper sat in her stroller and ate some mangos while we sweated it out in the blazing sun. She even wore her sunglasses for the occasion! 

We also went to dinner, and heard some great bands and are planning on taking her to the parade on Saturday that closes out the events. Also this week I have started sorting through all of Harper's clothes for fall and winter. I wanted to see what we have and what we still need, but mostly I'm just beyond excited for fall and was wanting a little preview of her adorable wardrobe! Last year when i was still pregnant, I got her the cutest poncho on sale at JC Penny's so I had to try it on her to see if it was going to fit for fall. 

I can't wait to see this sweet little nugget in her poncho, leggings and moccasin booties playing in the leaves in a few months! Fall is most definitely my favorite season and I'm sure I will blog about it probably a million times. Until then I'm trying to stay in the summer spirit and not get too far ahead of myself! Maybe a trip to the drive-in or the splash pad is in order :)

Hospital Bag Must-Haves

I remember when I was pregnant and getting close to the end, I started thinking about what I was supposed to bring to the hospital. Being my first baby obviously I had no experience and no clue about what all I would need. Then I read some stuff on Pinterest (of course) and saw that some hospitals provide this or that and some don't. A few blogs warned me to over pack and a few said to absolutely under pack. So that was helpful. In the end I took way more than I needed and will definitely know better for next time. Trust me, when you're leaving the hospital with your brand new baby, a huge carseat, and about 5 giant flower arrangements the last thing you want is to do is wag around a load of luggage big enough to last a week at the beach. So, here is a list of the things you really, truly need to bring. I'll also list the stuff to forget about, most of which the hospital will give you anyway.

1. The essentials: After a long day (or days) of being in labor/giving birth, that first shower feels like pure heaven. Bring your own shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face soap, and deodorant. The hospital will have that generic bar soap wrapped in paper like hotels have but you will probably want your own.

2. The other essentials: Toothbrush and toothpaste, for obvious reasons, and your makeup. You may not feel like getting glammed up right after pushing out a human being, but there will be pictures and lots of them, so a few swipes of mascara and a dash of lip gloss won't hurt. You'll be glad you did it when you see all those pics.

3. Carter's one-piece pj's: Don't bring a hundred outfits for your baby. For the first day they will probably just wear a diaper and the little shirt/blanket/hat combo that the hospital provides. After that you really just want them to be in something comfy. These pj's are the way to go. Save the frills for the "going home outfit" if you want to.

4. Camera, phone, and chargers: In todays world social media rules, so make sure you stay charged and take a lot of pictures. Not only for your news feeds but also for yourself. Those early days go by in a blur and you'll want to look back and remember just how tiny that little bundle really was!

5. Snacks: You cannot eat while you're in labor, so after you get the green light you want to feast! And that hospital food isn't anything to brag about. Pack some of your favorite drinks and snacks so you can gorge yourself ASAP.

6. Comfy clothes for Mama: I pretty much stayed in my hospital gown and yoga pants the whole 3 days I was in the hospital. I kept the gown on just because it was so easy to nurse in. You could pack a pj set but I'm just not that into long sleeves when I sleep. Bring some comfy slippers or flip flops or something like that to walk around in. They will want you to walk a little bit everyday so you don't get blood clots. Plus, your feet will be swollen and may not fit into any real shoes. 

7. A notebook: People will most likely be popping in to visit you and may bring gifts. A notebook will make it easy to write down who brought what so you can write thank-you notes later. Also you can keep up with your baby's feedings and diaper changes. The nurses will want you to do this anyway to make sure the baby is digestive system is working correctly. 

Things the hospital provided: Diapers, wipes, maxi pads, blankets, hats, paci's, nipple cream, breast pump, bottles (if you're planning on formula feeding), baby shampoo and lotion. I'm sure I'm forgetting something else here.

Hopefully this post will be helpful to some of you expectant and future expectant moms out there! Here's some pics of the day sweet little Harper was born :)

Harper is 6 months!

I can't believe my little baby is half a year old! It seriously feels like I brought her home yesterday. She is such a good baby and her little personality is really starting to show as she's getting older. So much has changed from month 5 to now. She sits up by herself, eats solid foods and drinks from a sippy cup. She also growls when she wants something. (Can we say diva?) Also, yesterday I went through her closet and replaced most of her 3-6 stuff with 6-9. While it makes me a little sad to see all her tiny stuff get packed away, it also makes me really excited for all the cute new stuff that takes its place! Her tiny feet are still in the same newborn/size 1 shoe she's worn since birth, so no new shoes have made an appearance yet. (Im holding out for baby Uggs, and Minnetonka moccasins for fall anyway)

                          Tommee Tippee sippy cup, Sophie the Giraffe, Swimways baby float, Octoplush , Plum Organics pouches, Graco highchair



Our 6 month favorites are:

Tommee Tippee sippy cups: I seriously can't believe she's old enough for these. She never took a bottle (just breastfed) so she didn't really get the concept of the beginner cups, which are more like a bottle, so I went ahead and gave her the stage 2 cup, which sips for like a regular sippy cup. I can already tell I need to buy more of these because I feel like I'm constantly washing them!
Sophie the Giraffe: I LOVE THIS TOY! She has had this since birth and it is great for so many stages. At first she'd just swat at it, then grab it, then grab it and put it in her mouth and now she's squeaking it herself and chewing all over it. Great for teething and she can hold it herself!
Swimways baby float: I got this for our beach trip last month and it was perfect! She can sit up in it and play and I know she won't get sunburned because of the canopy. Plus it collapses down and stores easy.
Baby Einstein Octoplush: Another toy she's had forever. She never gets tired of it though! It plays a few songs and teaches color and you can also play it in Spanish and French.
Plum Organics pouches: I make all of her food myself when she eats at home but for on the go these things are great! They don't take too much space in my diaper bag and I like the fact that they are just the fruit or veg, and water. No additives.
Graco highchair: This was a gift from her grandparents and she's really just now started using it the past month. Its great! The seat is comfy and the tray is easy to remove. Also it has those straps that give you the option of just waist or waist and shoulders.


Since I'm starting this blog when Harper is already 6 months, I plan on going back and doing her past months too. A 6 month rewind, if you will. Until then, I'll leave you with this little sweetie.