The Last Supper

Tonight was our last dinner as a family or 3 - we are blessed to have Grammy here this month - She is the greatest help to our family in millions of ways.
As the dinner conversation shifted from how everyone's day was, I asked Noah... what is the 1st thing you are going to say to the baby tom'w. I expected him to answer "I don't know" or "hi" - boy do I not give him enough credit. He immediately said "I will say I love you" - don't think for a second I didn't cry.


FYI - this picture is Noah and Daddy's backyard camping adventure this past Labor Day Weekend - yes I sleep in my bed :)

Is it a boy or is it a girl?

Noah's response to my mixed up mani/pedi was nothing but love. "Mommy your toes are gorgeous!" Is he truly getting sweeter and more loving with each day?!!

Helping Daddy in my "Big Boy Room"

Noah has moved out of the nursery - which is now awaiting the baby's arrival.
He is in his Big Boy "Surfer Room" - complete with giant flip flop and personalized surfboard. Noah did alot of the work himself to get his Surfer just how he wanted it!

Our Friends!

You know how people always say they have great friends, or how they love their friends, their friends are the best...Well when the Harper's say that they really mean it. Although I know alot of people, I believe that my friendships are based on quality and not quantity. And although I am grateful for the many people that I have met and become friends with over the years from H.S, college and of course my SLC friends, I am most grateful for the group of women that I spend time with or talk to each each week, that pray for me and my family and would do anything for us, anywhere, anytime and I the same for them. What makes it even sweeter is that I love there children and I am not one that is SO into other peoples kids, but I do I love there children and my child loves their children and even better I like their husbands and my husband like their husbands etc etc etc. It is special and I am grateful!
These are some random pictures of Noah and his friends. Of course the Mommies I love are close by :)

1st Day of Preschool!

August 8th was Noah's 1st Day of preschool. He was so excited and has been even more excited everyday since. He is going 3 days a week and asks why he can't go everyday. I tell him the truth "Mommy would miss you too much". He is such a big boy - getting his snack, homework and show and tell altogether in his backpack. Most days he is very good at telling me what he has learned and done, especially when I let the conversation flow naturally and don't ask him a million questions. Every morning in carpool line he reminds me of what he is "incharge off" "obeying his teacher and showing kindness to others" I have to brag because he even gives examples of how he will do both of these things. Lately he is very interested in what he is in charge of since we talk about Daddy being in charge of fixing things and replacing batteries in toys, taking out trash and going to work, etc and Mommy being in charge of making his breakfast and lunch, going to the grocery store, growing the baby in her tummy, etc. He always wants to know what he is in charge of... as of today his list is - obeying his teacher and his parents, showing kindness to others, making his bed, putting away his books, putting dirty clothes in his hamper, feeding his fish (whose name changes daily) and his dog Addison. Recently he said to me Mommy "that's alot of stuff I am in charge of I need help to remember it all" - which of course we help him, but he really does it all well! I am so proud of him!
As he is getting older we have been talking about school, big kids and what you get to you as you get older. Ask Noah when you get to stay home alone and when you get to drive a car and he will tell "oh around 35"! Leave for college "around 37!"
Precious! Precious! Precious! things he says.

Summer fun at the Lake

It is hard to believe how fast this summer has come and gone. Especially thinking that being pregnant would make it feel long and draggy. The Harper's had so much fun this summer going to Hilton Head and making some great trips to the Lake and almost daily heading to our neighborhood pool. At 3 years old Noah is swimming extremely well, he has even mastered the diving board - jumping into the 9 feet and swimming over to the ladder (no floaties required) just alot of practice.
Last month our highlight was our time at the Lake with our close friends aka or Community Group or CG.
Noah, Mommy and Daddy all experienced many firsts. 1st fish Noah and Mommy ever caught, 1st time water skiing for Daddy,(took Daddy about a week to heal for being sore in all sorts of places from his many attempts) 1st time tubing,sailing and riding a jet ski for Noah, 1st 4 wheeling ride and 1st time catching and releasing a racoon. Has this 3 year got it made!! He is doing things at 3 that I didn't get a chance to try until 20 or even 30.
We enjoyed our time swimming and mommy was in her happy place reading books on the dock. We have such special friends to enjoy these memories and for that we are most grateful.

3 1/2 !!!

Noah is almost 3 1/2 and I have get to post some details and pictures from his 3rd Birthday Party. Again I blame morning sickness (although grateful for it) that lasted about 16-18 weeks not 12!! My sympathy and prayers to those of you are are sick fo 40 weeks!

Back in February I was about 3 weeks pregnant at Noah's 3rd birthday and thrilled but cautious about sharing the news. We choose Dr Suess as our theme and went all out with serving Green Eggs and Ham, Red Fish Blue Fish Punch, A Cat in the Hat Cake,(check out the pics of the cake to see the whole process) sandwiches and cheeses in the shape of feet (The Foot Book) Phillip filled the house with huge Balloons (A Great Day for Up). All of Noah's friends played so well together and got to take a Dr Suess book!

The following day it snowed (odd for Altanta that late in the winter or even at all for that matter) but made some great pics

3rd Trimester Already!

A special friend reminded me recently that I have not blogged anything about my pregnancy. As I contemplated why - my thoughts were the following : "This is Noah's Blog", or "I am still in shock/denial that we are having a baby in about 11 weeks!". But again I was reminded how the baby will feel years from know (when they are no longer a baby) reading all of this with no mention of him or her.

Really all can come come up with after further thought - is Noah your time up buddy and he is so excited to be a big brother and share his life and his blog too with "His Baby".

After wanting another child for awhile now I am so grateful and overwhelmed with how God has blessed us. I can not wait to meet our healthy baby. I am often asked do we want a boy or girl. Or decision to not find out the sex of the baby I believe is because we TRULY don't care. A happy healthy baby Harper is what we want and have believed God for and are thanking Him in advance for.

Hiton Head 2009

This year was our families 3rd Summer vacationing at the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort (our home away from home).
Noah seems to have the time of his life while we are on vacation. Here a few highlights, surfing, ice cream and singing at his favorite local hot spots!

Has it been this long???

I am not going to even attempt to figure out how many months it has been since I blogged. My excuses....facebook, pregnancy and my own personal internet/technology strike.

I realize that just because I paused Noah keeps going going going!!!

Here are a few Noah Fun Facts!

Noah loved "summer camp" VBS at Powers Ferry UMC
He can swim!!!
He loves to help Mommy clean (like Mother like son I guess)
Starts Preschool in less than a month
He is still holding on by a thread to a long afternoon nap
Dresses himself in the morning and comes down to "the big bed" (Mommy & Daddy's room) with his Devotional Book!
He threw the moon about being a big brother soon!
Can be the sweetest kindest boy and at the same time challenging!
Has the longest curliest head of hair and is very clear that he DOES NOT want a haircut!
Can read all of "When you give a Mouse a Cookie"
Believes there is a very distinct different between an Icee and an Ice Pop (I have no idea what he means by this)
And is napping today for the 1st time without a diaper or a pull-up - After being potty trained for over 7 months he finally agreed to ditch he diaper at nap today!!!

NOAH is 3!

I can not believe that my baby turns 3 tom'w. I am sure most parents say this but 3 years have really gone by in a blink! I just look at Noah and can not believe the big boy he has become. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed with how amazing and sweet Noah is that I am speechless (at least that is my excuse for not blogging in over 2 weeks). Lately he simply just cracks me up. The boy is a chatter box, constantly talking, dancing, singing and giggling. Noah out of no where has a new ritual - that includes putting his hands on my face and kissing me on both cheeks and then the lips, chin and forehead. I have no idea where he got this from - but it blesses me so!

The Letter "L"

This past week I thought our little preschool. Ty and Noah studied the in's and out's of the letter L and learned all about God Love and Ladybugs!
We traced our letters and of course used our bodies to make the letter "L"! They are absolutely precious. I am so grateful that Noah has some great friends that he calls his best buddies and what do you Phillip and I love their parents too. We are blessed!!!

Inauguration Day!

The Harper family watched the festivities of the day. No matter what are political views and beliefs we know we are called to pray for our leaders. Our faith and hope is in Our Lord and Savior and we pray that President Obama will be great leader. Noah has learned so much about our new president, proof that they are little sponges. He proudly says Barack Obama is the President of the United States and lives in the White House with his family. I think that is more than I knew about Politics at 2 (ok almost 3)!
Here is Noah watching history...

The Dentist YIPPEE!

Phillip has always thought it strange that over the 14 years that we have known each other I LOVE going to the dentist. I truly enjoy the whole experience of a cleaning and check-up (drilling not so much). Yesterday it was Teeth Cleaning Day for all of the Harper's. First I have to say I ABSOLUTELY love my dentist. We go to DKW Dentistry in the West Village on Atlanta Road behind 5 Guys & Starbucks (for those that are local and looking for the best dentist).

There is no need to go to a pediatric dentist for your child and than have another day for your appointment. For us it is so convenient. Phillip went 1st and headed to work when Noah and I arrived. Bare in mind as child friendly as our whole experience was, when you walk in there is a water feature, fireplace and an extremely comfortable atmosphere - very spa like, but very down to earth. Dr Kingsley White has a 4 year old and the dental hygienist has a 4 month old so they love kids and welcome them. As I got my cleaning and paraffin treatment (yes they will do your hands just for some extra pampering - does you dentist do that??) Noah sat a few feet from mom with head phones on watching PBS kids. Each room has a flat screen that the Dentist uses so you can relax and watch your favorite show and than eventually she shows you your x-rays on the screen so you can really see if you have any issues/cavities (which I am proud to say none of us did). I honestly forget Noah was in the room. I was completely relaxed and he loved having the head phones on and didn't say a word.

Than it was Noah's turn. Dr White showed him all of the tools "mr thirsty", the "tooth tickler" the "chair ride", to giving him a choice or grape or strawberry flavored toothpaste and she used grape flavored gloves (I am asking for those gloves next time) Noah did not hesitate - he hopped right in the chair, opened wide and let her check his teeth, count them and clean them with the tooth tickler he even got to hold "mr thirsty". She even commented how he had almost no plaque. He loves to brush sometimes 4x a day - I am sure it has something to do with the flavor of his toothpaste.
He never whined, complained, or looked afraid! I think he will join the short ranks of people like me that love going to the dentist and who LOVE THEIR dentist.
Noah left happy as if we had gone to Kangazoom or a Birthday party - with a goody bag with the Firefly toothbrush - that flashes for the length of time he is supposed to brush, he got some other special prizes, alligator floss, yummy flavored toothpaste and lots of hugs and praise.
Thank you Dr White and your staff!
www.dkwdentistry.com please check them out if you need a dentist that can treat the needs of your entire family and do it with love and excellence!