So long, 2013. We're ready for a prosperous 2014!

Here it is, the end of 2013. (I won't make this a long blog post, I promise.)
2013 was a bittersweet year. It was incredible in that my sweet Harper Adelle was born. It was heart wrenching in that there was so much loss. Jobs, loved ones, beloved pets. . .the list goes on.

I was just looking through the photos I've posted throughout 2013, mostly on Facebook. All wonderful moments captured, of course. We took a few trips, fixed up our backyard (which is lush and green; a sight I never thought we'd see!), and had a busy, yet perfect holiday season. I had (have?) the great fortune of not only being raised by two awesome parents but I married into a really cool, fun family. This makes all the difference in holiday and family gatherings. I'm so thankful that Harper will be growing up with a strong sense of family and love.

Tonight we are leaving her at home with my mother-in-law. Taylor and I will be in a private box in Atlanta at the Widespread Panic concert at Philips Arena with some good friends. (That was a lot of prepositions for one sentence.) I can't think of a better way to ring in the new year. We get to dress up, eat delicious food, and party all night long. Okay, that's a bit of a lie. Hanging out with our almost one-year old would be pretty freaking fantastic too. But mama and daddy need alone time sometimes. Its been almost six months since we've spent a night apart from the baby. I know she's in great hands - her own grandmother, who also happens to be a nurse! So we can rest easy (in our swanky hotel room) and relax and enjoy each other and good music. That's not to say I won't miss her. Its only natural.

By the way, Harper turns one in exactly two weeks. Its so odd to think at this time last year she was still in my tummy and we hadn't even met her yet. We really lucked out in the baby department. Yes, the first few months were really hard. REALLY hard. Having a baby is a huge adjustment. After all, this is our first time being parents and her first time being a baby. But she is beautiful. She is healthy. She makes me laugh every day. She is SO HAPPY all of the time. She completes me.

Happy NYE, everyone. Stay safe and I hope you all have a happy, joyous new year!

8, 9, 10 months + holidays

Hi, world. Or, well, all three of you (possibly fewer) who really read my updates.

Harper and I have embarked on a new adventure. I am now the lead teacher for ages 12-18 months at Stepping Stones Academy. Harper is in the baby class right around the corner. She has been doing incredibly well in her new environment which makes me so happy! She has a fantastic group of teachers who love her almost as much as I do. She's so CUTE when interacting with other babies. She's sleeping much longer at night since there's so much stimulation during the day. Plus, with daylight saving time having happened in November, she's going to bed around 7:30 every night now. What a difference for mom and dad! Sometimes she still wakes up just once, but luckily that's few and far between.

Baby girl has been learning to feed herself over the past few months. She's done a superb job with picking up food and aiming it straight in her mouth, and she eats pretty much anything given to her. For about two months now she's been able to hold her own bottle and drink all of it without mama's help. It's really helpful adorable.

And she has EIGHT teeth! Two came in the last week of September, and then two weeks later three came in almost within the same week. It was rough, but we made it. As of last weekend her eighth tooth started coming in. (I'm pretty sure I should own stock in infant Tylenol and ibuprofen, baby Orajel, and teething tablets.)

My mom came back in town for a quick visit. We miss her!

Harper has also experienced her first major holiday: Halloween! First, we went to Kinsey Family Farms up in Dawsonville. It is SUCH a pretty piece of property. They've got farm animals to feed and a hayride in addition to the mass quantities of pumpkins, gourds, and canned goods. 

 I had decided that I wanted to buy her a little pink monster suit weeks in advance. But real life happened and I totally forgot. Then we found out Taylor was going to be in Dallas that entire week and we were both pretty bummed. I know she's not going to remember, but still. It was a big "first" for her. Anyway, I went to Party City only to find that it was a MADHOUSE and they didn't even have half of the baby costumes that were advertised online. We headed over to Babies-R-Us and I bought shoes, tights, and a tutu all for about $20. I spent another $15 at Hobby Lobby on a headband, a onesie, googly eyes, fabric glue, and pipe cleaners. I glued the googly eyes to the shoes and all over her onesie. I looped the pipe cleaners into the headband and turned them into monster horns. She was SO STINKIN' ADORABLE!! Best costume ever. We went to my dad's house and had pizza before I took her trick-or-treating. Aaaaaaand then we made it to about five houses before she threw up all over her costume. Ha. Such is life.

I went as a redneck mom, or as my dad likes to say, "one of the neighbors." Ha.

We went to cousin Nolan's 5th birthday party at Catch Air last weekend. Its basically a big room with blow up bouncy castles, slides, and toys. Harper LOVED it. So many bright colors and things to do!

Thanksgiving happened! Second major holiday, and yes, Taylor was here.
Because I love food so much, I'm going to post our menu.

Jealous? You should be. It was excellent. I cooked for TWO DAYS.

Look.

And look at all the fun we had.

And lastly, Harper met Santa Claus! She loved him, but that's no surprise since she loves meeting new people anyway. :)

Congrats to all of the new mamas, by the way!! I feel as thought my Facebook newsfeed is full of photos of newborns and it makes me so happy!

. . . Mama's moment . . . 

New moms: I have discovered something that I thought would be really hard to, well, do. Only because of the guilt I thought I'd experience. Its called "alone time." Or "me time." Or "time for margaritas." You understand what I mean. Time away from the baby to do what you want. It doesn't have to be a trip. It doesn't even have to be a whole day. (Oh, and the guilt? It never happened. When I get time alone I cherish it and I'm not sorry about that!)

It can be as simple as a trip to the store alone.

Or it can be a fun run, like this:

It can be getting dressed up and fancy with one of your BFFs to see one of your other best friends say "I do" to the man of her dreams.

It can be time to yourself to just SHOWER IN PEACE.

It can be time to enjoy a whole bottle of wine to yourself.

It can be time to go shopping on Black Friday ALONE.

Or, it can be time to see your FAVORITE BOY BAND FROM THE 90'S AND THEN GET DRUNK AND MEET THEM AFTER THE SHOW.

I must say, alone time is pretty great. I love my sweet girl so much I can't even express it in words, but sometimes mama needs a short break. To do something other than listen to Disney Jr., shower in 5 minutes, or eatasfastaspossible.

So, new moms, DO IT. Don't feel guilty. There's no need. Your baby will be waiting for you when you get back. After all, babies need "daddy time" too!

Just have fun. Relax. Sip that giant margarita and order another.