The Holiday Spirit

The Christmas cookies are done, the holiday cards are in the mail and Santa already made a visit to our house.....we are in the holiday spirit.
Santa came a little early this year because we are headed to Rockford to celebrate Christmas and my Dad's 60th birthday with my family. Harrison did not really understand that Santa was coming but he was very excited because Todd and I were making such a big deal about it. When he woke up Sunday morning there was a Thomas the train track in front of the tree and a little pint sized table full of presents. He said 'Woah, choo choo!'.  There have a been a stream of packages arriving this week and now when he sees a present he starting jumping up and down saying 'present, present'....I think he maybe ruined:)  I keep saying, 'Jesus is the Reason for the Season' - I am turning into my mom:).

Harrison is at such a fun age!  Starting to have a few melt downs here and there but overall so fun!  He is talking more and getting really excited about things. This morning I had on a sparkley shirt for our holiday party at work and he said 'ooooh, pretty mommy!'....so cute! 

Merry Christmas everyone!

Back at it...

Here I go again. Getting back in the swing of things with the blog. Things have been a little crazy in our house since my last post. While I typically would not consider myself a 'super mom', Todd and I have been 'super parents' coordinating schedules to make all of our work obligations happen and still have lots of fun. Harrison is at a really fun age -running around non-stop and talking our ears off. We have been in PA for the thanksgiving holiday so I will post some pics when we get back. I am so thankful for our wonderful family and friends! You all know who you are:) Xoxo

To blog or not to blog.....

I have come to a dilemma. I have not written on my blog since the beginning of May - mainly because I forgot my camera on the charger (ugh!) when we went back to Philly and Rockford. Since our return there has been a lot going on with family, work, etc and I have been waiting to get pics from other people. Therefore I waited to post anything to the blog. Now here we are a month and a half later.....no one is really protesting the lack of posts.

I am wondering - to blog or not to blog? That is the question?

I do actually enjoy documenting Harrison's growth and development and sitting down to think about our day to day life....but I am not just doing this for my health. Ya know.

Anyway, input anyone?

Couldn't resist a few recent pics from a trip to the zoo and then to the beach for Father's day (a little foggy in the morning but it ended up being a beautiful day).

First hair cut

Yesterday Harrison got his first haircut. We talked about it at home and even pretended playing with his hair and cutting it with pretend scissors. We came equipped with 'paci' and 'doggie'. But, when we actually sat down in the salon chair it didn't quite feel like home. Carolyn, the hairdresser, was great!  She has four kids of her own and lots of experience - so she got right down to business.  Harrison was a little scared but overall a great sport. AND, we were really lucky because Daddy took a little time out of his busy day to join us. The added support and distraction that Daddy provided was just what we needed:)

Before

During

After

Harrison Certificate

The 'celebration' after - splashing in the fountain

In other news...we have had a busy couple of weeks with a quick trip to San Diego for Easter and then a visit from Nana after that. Here are a few highlights!

frolicking on the beach - edited by Uncle Tony

Hanging on the patio at Aunt Diane and Captain Dave's

Boat ride on Mission Bay - That is Todd's white leg in the picture. Had it been mine you may have been blinded:)

Easter

Easter Sunday at the SD Yacht Club

Hiking with Nana

First hike out of the stroller

The trip to San Diego, while quick, was nice and relaxing. Harrison seemed to love it and Todd and I always have fun visiting Diane and Dave.

My Mom's visit was also really nice. It was great to have her here to spend time with Harrison in his element. He loves having visitors and it is always nice for me to have my Mom around. Love you Mom. Happy Mother's Day!  You are the best!

Only two weeks from today until Aunt Kristi's wedding. We are looking forward to it.

15 months

Harrison went to the pediatrician today to celebrate his 15 month birthday!  Well it wasn't much of a celebration while we were there - this was definitely the most crying that Harrison has ever done at the doctors office. While in the waiting room he was making friends and by the time they called his name he had a girlfriend - but once he realized we were walking down the hall to the exam room he tried to run the other way - and the crying began!  Needless to say, we both survived and he even showed off his talking for the doctor.

The stats -
height - 31.5inches (75%)
weight - 27.5lbs (from the 50% up to the 70% since his last visit - he continues to eat like a horse)

In other news, Harrison recently received a Schneider family heirloom from his Great Grandpa Schneider who lives in Florida. The specially built plywood box housing a beautifully refinished rocking chair arrived late last week. The rocking chair was given to Todd's grandmother when she was a child and now is passed on to the first grandchild of the next generation. What a special gift!  Here is Harrison's reaction when he first saw it - I think he likes it!  Thank you Great Grandpa Schneider for the chair and for all of your work to get it to our doorstep safely.

(P.S. Harrison's hairdo is a little reminiscent of Donald Trump - he was playing outside all day and just recently awoke from a nap - it went from curls to 'fro'. Not to worry we will get that cleaned up before Aunt Kristi's wedding:))

 

That's Murphy's home

Harrison is really turning into a wild man. He is all over the place and I am constantly amazed at how fast he can move - especially when it comes to splashing in Murphy's water bowl, playing with the garbage in the bathroom. or taking off the vent cover and trying throw things down there. Today he was playing outside on the slide and leaned over the edge waving to Murphy on the hill. I about had a heart attack. I guess this is just the beginning.

Harrison is now  - well actually about two weeks ago - officially weened. He seems to have adjusted well. As have I. I must admit it was a little sad at first but it was time for both of us to move on. I have made sure to add a little extra cuddle time daily and that seems to have avoided any issues. But truly, we have been so busy that it seems like it has been longer than two weeks. One of our recent lessons is regarding Murphy's home. While Murphy seems content to share his cage with Harrison at times, we thought it would be better for the cage to be Murphy's haven - where he always knows he can get a little quiet time. Needless to say this has been a feat. Harrison would much rather crawl inside with Murph and close the door so that they can have a little bonding time. We are constantly leading Harrison out and saying 'that is Murphy's home'. So yesterday I built Harrison 'a home' out of a big box. It still seems like more fun to be hanging out with Murphy his home but it seems like Harrison's new home might be helping, at least a little.

March Madness

Harrison and Daddy are bonding over all of the basketball this month (the hours and hours and hours)!

i think we have a toddler on our hands.

It has been a while since my last post. Harrison was sick on and off for the last few weeks and it was tough to get a good pic or video and even tougher to steal a bit of time to put my thoughts together to write something to post to the blog. I was also on antibiotics and I think Todd was sick too at some point in there. Anyway, it is currently the first sick free week that I can remember (at least for a while) :)  Yay!! 

Harrison now has 8 teeth (teething only added salt to the wounds when he was sick). He is walking around like a mad man and getting into everything. Yesterday morning we had friends over for brunch. While we were talking at the table he was walking in and out from the kitchen to the deck - there was millisecond of silence when he was out of my sight line and the next thing we see it a mouth full of dirt and a huge grin!

He is chattering up a storm - what we speech pathologists call jargoning - he is now saying 'doggie' and pointing to every doggie, 'dada', 'mama' occasionally, 'uh-oh', bye-bye, 'all done'. He is also beginning to have a mind of his own. He wants to do things by himself and walk everywhere. He tries to squirm right out of my arms while we are walking down the stairs in the morning to go to school, he screams if we try to offer him assistance with food or a toy and then proceeds to launch it across the room....I think this means he is a toddler - so help me God!

the budding walker

Harrison is really beginning to take off by foot. He scales along the walls and will suddenly come around the corner to check out what it going on. He surprised me in the kitchen the other day with this huge smile!  He was so proud of himself. He cruises around throughout the house using whatever he can rest his little hand on. He is getting braver by the day - we will see him bend his legs, find his balance, and then launch himself from the table to the couch or to the wall whatever is the best mode to get him where he wants to go. And, he definitely has an agenda - walk, walk, walk!  (side note - he is a little tired in this video - it was at the end of a long day at daycare just before getting ready for bed)

life's a game

Harrison is Mr. Happy lately. He is laughing all of the time and everything has become a little game. Todd and I are walking around making funny faces and constantly playing peek-a-boo because it is so cute to hear Harrison laugh and see him smile. His seems to be understanding more and more words and he is giving the signs for 'more' and 'all done' ALL of the time.  If he thinks a book is boring he signs 'all done!'

He is playing his favorite new game that we call 'nite nite baby'.

Oh yeah, Harrison just started saying 'uh-oh'  - it is so cute!  We were driving to school today, I am not sure what happened, but a resounding 'uh-oh' came from the back seat. I turned around and he smiled!

harrison's new software

 Our trip to the doctor today yielded a new soft cast for Harrison's arm. He cooperated like a champ to get the necessary x-rays and there was no evidence of a fracture. The doctor thought he likely bruised a bone and she thought it would be best to have a soft cast for the next 10 days to take the pressure off of his arm while it heals.

It's taking a little time for Harrison to get used to the weight of the cast and not being able to straighten his arm or grab small pieces of food. But overall he actually seems more comfortable - no pain getting dressed or into his sleep sack for bed. What a relief. It seems like we are on the right track. Now we just have to figure out a way to keep the food out of his cast!  Wish us luck:)

The stats are in....

Harrison has his one year appointment on Monday. Here are the stats.....

Height - 30 1/4 in (75th)
Weight - 22lbs 15oz (50th)
Head -18 3/4 in (75th)

We had a bit of surprise this weekend when Harrison stopped bearing weight on his left arm - he is still eating with it (because, of course, he loves to eat and it only requires a back and forth movement) but he will not use it to crawl or pull up. Todd has taken to calling him Igor because of his one armed hunch back crawl. The pediatrician on Monday thought that it may be whats called 'nurse maids elbow', which means that one of the tendons in the elbow is displaced, that likely occurred during a fall. Unfortunately I have idea when it happened - he seems to be falling a lot with cruising around and pulling up on everything. The doctor manipulated his arm but it has not improved. So, we are making our way to the orthopod for evaluation and probably some x-rays tomorrow morning. Kind of crazy, the poor guy could have fractured his elbow!!  One of the nurses told us that this is so common that they call it 'toddler's fracture'.  I guess we will just take it as it comes and wait to see what happens.

Despite the gimpy arm Harrison is as happy as can be lately. He laughs at everything, is babbling away in his own little language, and basically loves life!  

Happy First Birthday!

There are so many amazing memories from the last year - from rushing to the hospital, only to labor for about 20 hours before Harrison's birth, to his first steps that he just took today (totally unexpectedly). We have grown as a family with a love for Harrison that we never new and a deeper love and appreciation for each other in our marriage. Todd has become such a wonderful Daddy and I love watching him play with and teach Harrison. I know that we have so many more memories to make! I can't imagine our lives without this little guy!


Here is Harrison's first year in pictures...

 birthday - 2 hours old

 1 month

 2 months

 3 months

4 months

5 months

                                                  

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

1 year old!!!

We had a little birthday celebration at our house this weekend - it ended up that about 30 people came - 9 kids and the rest adults. It was a houseful!  My Mom and sister made the trip to SF from Rockford. They were a huge help. With Todd, my mom and sis the set up and clean up seemed like a piece of cake (pun intended). The party was a lot of fun - besides Harrison being a little cranky with a cold/teething - everything worked out great!  Love you guys!  Thanks for making the trip - what a fun weekend!

Welcoming a new decade.

Happy Holidays!

I am finally getting to upload pictures from the holidays. Sorry it has been a while since my last post. It seems like Thanksgiving bled right into Christmas and then New Years and here we are.

It has been a busy holiday season. We were in IL for Thanksgiving/Marx Christmas/Harrison's baptism. It was a whirlwind trip with a special event everyday...Harrison was sick the whole time but was a great sport. We spent time with family and it was a lot of fun! Thanks Mom and Dad for your help fitting everything into such a short time. xo

Thanksgiving Day

Exploring Christmas presents (at Thanksgiving - Harrison is going to think that Christmas lasts for 6 weeks)

Harrison with his Godparents - Uncle Tony and Aunt Stacey on his Baptism day

Nana, Opa, Great Nana and Great Nano

Then Aunt Diane and Uncle Dave came for a weekend visit from San Diego. We discovered a new Italian restaurant that we all loved and went on a brief yacht club tour in the area. Somehow in the mix of things I forgot my camera. So just imagine sitting at the window of a yacht club bar overlooking the sunny San Francisco Bay - imagining Harrison taking sailing lessons in about 5 years - all while playing cards:)



Then Christmas decorating, shopping, cookie baking, holiday partying, and then packing to head to PA for Christmas/New years/Harrison's early birthday celebration.

My Mom and Nana were baking cookies in IL the same day that I was finishing up my cookies.....what a plethora of Italian cookies.

This is from our first family Christmas at home. As you can see, Harrison was having a great time and Murphy could not miss out on the fun.

Christmas morning on Harrison's First Christmas (that hat did not last long). He loved the Christmas tree and in his cute little voice would point and say 'eeee'.

The Schneider Family on Christmas day


early first birthday celebration with Great Grandpa Schneider

We had a great time at Todd's parents for the holidays with lots of time to hangout with family and friends, relax and play. Thanks for the great time Donna and Bruce. Harrison's first Christmas was a special time that we will always remember:)

2010 was such an amazing year, welcoming Harrison into the world and seeing him grow and become the happy little guy he is today.

I am trying to insert a video here:)

It's hard to believe that he will be one year old in less than a week! At this time last year I had just finished work and was thinking 'Wow, I have two full weeks to get everything done'...little did we know that Harrison would be joining us a little early! Really, who cares about getting things done:)