Birthday Parties are Wonderful Things

What a cool day. This was Dan's and my official entrance into the world of social parenting. This is a world altogether seperate from the parenting we've done up to this point....and I think it was a success. Dan started feeling the pressure when he saw how much I was working on the invitations and party favors and cupcakes, so he stepped up to the plate and made a darling little barn for the babes to play in at the party. Can you believe he just whipped that up? He's quite a man--and resourceful too; it didn't cost a penny.

These are the finger puppets our guests took home as party favors. They were a hit.

Harrison's uber-cool friend Camden showed up with this sweet John Deere and was kind enough to take Harrison for a spin.

The birthday boy got his first taste of frosting and LOVED it. After he had his official birthday cupcake, I found him a while later with another one. He was polishing it off and looking for more. I'm sensing another major eater on the rise in the family.

Everyone was a little standoffish at first to get in the barn, but eventually it was the center of the action.


All in all, it really was a fabulous time. I'm glad we did it and it was fantastic to have so many wonderful friends that could come and celebrate with us. Of course, we missed our grandmas and grandpas, but we're doing the best we can when they're not around.

Okay, it's FOR REAL this time

So what has been on Jen's mind lately? Appropriately enough, Harrison. Well, at least his maturation and how it impacts me. He's turning one this week and it's hard to believe that this is my life. I am a mother to a little boy. We hang out all the time and only rarely do we get sick of one another.

When we're having a hard day, there are a couple different things that we can do together and pretty much always have success. Right around the nine month mark, he suddenly loved reading. I've mentioned his serious face before, and he pulls it out in full force for reading time. He quickly figured out how to turn the pages (we're partial to the board-book genre), listens, and intently contemplates each page and then turns when he is ready. It amazes me that he has favorites. In our book about gratitude (gotta keep him humble), he consistantly pauses for at least twice the length of time on the page about being thankful for a trip to the zoo. What's going on in that head?

The other thing that (knock on wood) has never failed to perk us up when we're grumpy is going on a walk. The kid loves his stroller. Several times a week we go visit the horses at the end of our street. Sometimes we bring them an apple or a carrot. Mostly we come empty handed just to look. Earlier this week we went and it was one of those gorgeous fall days. There are only a handful of non-winter days that can be described with the modifier "crisp" and it was one of them. Harrison seemed to sense the magic of the season. A little butterfly honestly fluttered in front of him, teasing him for at least half a minute. When we got to the horses, they were in the far pasture so we just stood on the bridge over the tiny creek for a few minutes and inhaled the day. The breeze was perfect and kept enticing leaves off the trees. When I picked one up and gave it to H for closer inspection, his little serious mask slid off for a minute and I could tell he likes fall as much as his mommy does.

***I started to worry as I was typing and I naturally gravitated back to the subject of Harrison. What if I become only this? What if this is all I can talk about? But no, I'm cool with this for now. I think that society pushes that idea on us--I better be careful so that I don't let motherhood take my identity. I don't want to be JUST A MOM. Please. I put aside parts of my old self so that he could come into this family. Of course he's a huge part of my thoughts; what kind of mother would I be if he wasn't? But I haven't lost anything. I've just gained a different perspective. And a squishier tummy.

Things have got to change

I've been humbled. Truly. I just checked out my friend's blog and I feel like I need to commit to making some changes to mine before I let her look at it. Up front, I'd like to state that I do not feel shame for what is included on here right now. First and foremost, this is a way for me to show family how amazingly smokin hot and witty my baby boy Harrison is. Done.

With that being said, I have to admit that my blog is kind of lame and makes me feel old. I am 27 years old right now. I never had an email account until I went to college. I really have never gotten into the text messaging thing. This year I even (gasp) got rid of my cell phone. To top it all off, I somehow missed the whole blog boat too. Sure, I technically have a blog, but I do not update it very regularly. When I do, it's really about the pictures and maybe a short blurb. I feel like I'm missing out! Maybe I wouldn't feel like my brain was in a semi-advanced stage of mommy rot if I did a little more fanciful introspection on here.

So here's to my new idea--use my blog to dump a little bit out of my head now and then. We'll see how it goes. I feel like I should really start with a new post to really kick this off....

This is how we roll...

Harrison is never happier than when he's doing big boy stuff with Daddy. A couple of weeks ago he was lucky enough to get to ride on a BIG TRACTOR with Daddy while he pushed some dirt around. I was watching and his face looked about like it does in this picture. Naturally, I assumed that maybe he wasn't having a particularly good time, and I had the AUDACITY to try to take him off Daddy's lap to a quieter place. Foolish Mommy. When will I learn that he just has a stoic face? Under that somber mask is pure delight. Pure delight.

The Big ONE is coming!

Most of our little friends have RSVP'd, and we're getting excited about Harrison's birthday party on Saturday. I made the invitations and I'm putting a picture of one of them on here. The barn doors open with the party information inside. I've been getting all creative with the party favors--little handmade barnyard animal finger puppets. Grandma Viv, you'd be proud of me. I'll put a picture of them up when they're all done. So far I've done 6 chickens, 6 piggies, 1 goat, 1 duck, 3 horses (I'm struggling with those, they all look weird), 3 frogs, and 6 lions. I acknowledge that lions do not belong in the barnyard category, but please don't tell the children. They're so darn cute. Dan and I are going to try to build a little barn for the little ones to crawl through tonight. Wish us luck

Got anything good to eat?

Harrison is starting to take matters into his own hands when it comes to solid foods. He's obviously looking forward to his looming birthday when he can start cow milk and other yummy things.

Picture Power!!

I spent a lot of money today, so I'll feel a little better if these get oohed and aahed over....and over. The handsome-ness speaks for itself.