CRASH!

Well, I can't give you all of the photos I'd like. I crashed the computer last week, and I got everything back business-wise, but I did end up losing some of my scrapbooking. Which is actually what I crashed the thing with in the first place, so I guess I deserved it. Anyway I have my photos backed up as always, but I will have to restart a lot of unfinished pages, and I'm so frustrated by it that I'm going to leave them on hold for a bit. Right now it's too irritating to think about.

We have one more week here at home, and then my vacation starts! We are going to Creation (a huge Christian music festival) with the youth group from our church. Mike and I chaperoned last year and had a great time (even though I was 5 months pregnant and miserable at times) so we thought - or rather I thought - that it would be a good idea to go again this year and take the baby. So we're going to try it! Creation starts the 25th, and Mike, Harlie, and I are actually going to be staying at my Dad's camp close by, so we are going to leave the 23rd or 24th and camp a day or two alone before the craziness begins. One day after we come back, Harlie, Mom, Aunt Bonnie, Gram and I are going to Wisconsin to visit Aunt Patty, Uncle Ned, and Jason. Jason graduated from high school, and we're going to help celebrate! After those trips, I don't think I'll have time for more vacation this summer, but I'll try!

I took the baby swimming for the very first time the other day. I've been putting her in the sink a lot lately with the extreme heat we've been having, and she loves to just splash around, so I thought she might like the pool. Anyway I just walked us right in - nothing slow about it. I expected a little fright from her at first, but nothing at all! She just started splashing and laughing right off the bat. She didn't mind the water in her eyes or anything! She's a little too fearless sometimes, I'm afraid, but this time it worked well for us! After our swim, I just HAD to take some photos of her in front of Mom's flowers. Heaven forbid she go a week without a semi-pro shoot!

Anyway, I don't think I'll have time to update this anymore before we leave, but I promise I'll post pictures of all our fun when we return. Love you all!

Memorial Day and More

Here are just a few photos of my Patriotic Cutie from her first Memorial Day.














My dear friend, Heather, had Conner right around Mother's Day. His big brother Aedan is so good with him! They look alike, right?














Harlie had a special visit from her Uncle Scott before he went away for the summer. She'll still want his love and attention when he returns, though!

Mommy's Day

Well I enjoyed my first Mother's Day from the opposite side. It certainly does feel special, doesn't it? Things are starting to get hectic around here. Work is picking up - as it usually does this time of year. Mike is done with school, though, and we are loving having him around the house more. Soon we'll be opening the pool and planting the garden and it will really start to feel like summer. Even though it's still snowing every once in a while! Anyway I never did get around to taking those 6-month photos of Harlie, but I did take a bunch of cute ones over the past few days so they will have to do. These are all from Mother's Day and the Mother/Daughter banquet at our church last night. Enjoy! As always, we love you all!

Starting to look alike?

She loves her Grandma!

Very close to sitting on her own. She fell over a second or two after this photo was taken.

My two babies and me on Mother's Day

These photos are hilarious, and they need explained. Harlie is learning to give kisses, but who do you all think she's learning it from??? You guessed it - the dog! So that is why you see her licking my mom's cheek in this photo. She'll get it right eventually!

These last photos are from our visit to Aunt Bonnie's house. In one afternoon she practiced playing the piano, and playing Phase 10!

A Short Update

I don't have much time to write today, but it has been forever and I know I need to update you all on Harlie. Well, she is now rolling over in both directions and almost sitting up on her own. She has two teeth, and her hair is starting to grow! I'll post a few photos so you can see how she's changing. I plan to take some 6-month photos over the next few days, if I have time. Wedding season starts Saturday, so pray for us. Mike and I will be away from the baby nearly every Saturday from now until October. It's going to be tough. I will have to make some serious schedule adjustments this summer so that I can see her more. Anyway here are her stats from her 6 month checkup:
Height: 26.8 inches (85%)
Weight: 16lb 6oz (60%)
Head: 17.01 inches (72%)
So she's tall and medium-weight with a big head!
Enjoy the photos and I'll try to post more soon:

My Apologies

I have to apologize for my previous post. I have been messing with it for the past half hour trying to get the captions to be where they need to be. But no such luck. I get everything perfect in my layout and as soon as I save they get all screwy. So anyway I hope you all can still read them because I'm not going to spend an hour on them. Sorry, though!

Just a Taste of Our Life!

Okay so I have a lot of pictures to show you all, but I don't think I have the time tonight to get to them all, so I'll give you a small helping. We've been having a great time. Nothing new is really happening. I'm getting a little busier with the upcoming wedding season and senior stragglers. Mike is nearing the end of his semester and I think he's only half as glad as I am that it's his last one before student teaching! We're still (we meaning the dog and I) getting antsy about getting outside to garden and run about. It's getting closer, though. Some of my bulbs (tulips and daffodils) are peeking up through the dirt and I'm so glad to see them. Once their bright colors appear I'll be in a fabulous mood. We celebrated our first Easter as a family of six the other day (counting Spike, Spooky and Cassius as a part of our whole). It was busy but wonderful. Harlie is getting cuter and funnier with each passing day. She makes us laugh so much with her silliness. She's constantly smiling, even with the teeth I know are making their way to her gums. Anyway, sorry for talking your ear off. I'll caption below the photos . Enjoy!

Playing her favorite game - "Let's Learn That Face"

Bouncing away!

I really like this page (from a template of course) - we had Russ, Jill, and the kids over for dinner one night. So nice!

She's not always this messy - I promise. This was during her raspberries stage and she also got the food all over me. She's mastered that little skill now and she's moved on to other things. Still no rolling, though!

These photos crack me up. First, Harlie grabs Spike's snout and tries to shove it in her mouth. He lets her do whatever she wants - so patient! Then Spike decides to give Harlie a bath. She makes a funny face but deals. No crying there! They are going to be so close. He's the only thing that can make her smile when she's really tired and cranky. Not even her mom can do that!

My favorite Easter-y photos. I'll probably have more of those later. I haven't had a chance to do too much with them.

Scrap Happy!

I have become so obsessed with digital scrapbooking lately. It's been taking up all of my free time, and I love it! I've even been able to scrap a little with Harlie on my lap. She loves to bang on anything I put on the computer desk, so it's easy to keep her busy. Anyway, all of my most recent photos of her are on the following layouts. She has learned to blow raspberries, and that's our latest cute thing from her. No rolling over yet for those of you who are wondering! But her laugh does get cuter and cuter each passing day.

I'm really starting to look forward to spring. I can't wait to get outside and start my garden and plant some flowers! This winter has really been beautiful, but I have cabin fever! Anyway since I've been locked up inside all this time I don't have much to report. Just enjoy the photos! Please comment if you can. I love to read what you all have to say.

If anyone is interested in the digital scrapping, I am going to post links to the places I got my materials from. Everything I've used has been free. So far I haven't spent a single penny!

This photo was taken at my Gram's surprise 80th Birthday Party.

She's really good at holding herself up on her feet. No one was helping her to do this!

Another one of my old shirts - the "Future Fisherman" shirt. And my Mom and Dad bought her the tackle box for Christmas. I love it!

Our first playdate with Amanda and Glen. Harlie's Aunt Shawna was there to play, too!