Happy Birthday Harper!

Got her first Birthday card in the mail on Friday...

Being silly with Daddy + our squinty "happy face" :)

ahhh, the Birthday tutu!

family portrait

BJ & Jackie came over Saturday afternoon to visit Harper & help out with the official birthday portrait. Jackie has been wonderful in helping us capture Harper throughout her first year, we cannot wait to see the magic she created on Saturday!

Harper was a great sport with the tutu and photo session. After it was finished she was happily changed into some comfy's to hang out with her Aunt & Uncle.

The sight of Harper's 1st birthday party, Harrison Hills. Lovely birthday banner hand-painted by her babysitter Michelle.

Harper enjoyed her first balloon on her birthday too - pure magic!

Harper & Eva always have a fun time playing together, what a good "big sis" :)

Harper's birthday weekend was wonderful! She had an overnight on Saturday night with Meme & Grandpa Gorder so Mike & I could celebrate with the other birthday girl of the weekend (my dear friend Sara turned 30!). On Sunday, Harper had a great turn-out for her first birthday brunch & was a fabulous hostess! She enjoyed all of the company, balloons, her first cupcake & everyone's generous birthday gifts. Mike & I celebrated how much we love our beautiful, sweet baby girl. She is everything we could have hoped for and is a very loved & celebrated young lady. Happy First Birthday Harper Grace and may you have many more!

Our Happy Hearts Weekend

We kicked off the weekend in our usual style, playing in the living room!

Think this is Harper's new model look! The squinty eyes...very fashionable!

Working on scootch-ing all around the floors - so much fun to go backwards!

And roll over...

I can't bring myself to trim her bangs which now hang in her face, so for a while we'll be embracing the "pebbles" look!

Daddy took his girls to Wheatfields for Valentine's breakfast....yummy!

Harper always looks like she's screaming with this face...in real life, it's totally silent, this is how we "pose" for all pictures now - heehee...

Such a big girl in her high chair!

Can't believe her birthday is this Sunday! ONE year, holy moly....

What an incredible ride it's been, so filled with joy... LOVE you so much - our dear sweetheart!

Enjoying the Small Things: Nella Cordelia: A Birth Story

Enjoying the Small Things: Nella Cordelia: A Birth Story

I found a link to this the other day on a Down Syndrome blog group I belong to.
(I warn you to have a kleenex close by if you read it.) It's amazing how similar & yet
different I felt to this woman when we received Harper's diagnosis.
She's an amazing photographer & has a great way with words.
Just something I thought I'd share, enjoy! Jaeme

February Fun!

While winter slowly passes by we find lots to do inside!

Harper's new moves include knocking down block towers that mama builds as quickly as she can, signaling to us (with hands up in the air) when she's ready to be picked up & scootching backwards on any hard surface!

She's an absolute riot, a total giggle-fest! Oh, Harper what did we do before you were here? Can't believe your first birthday is less than two weeks away, time goes by so quickly!