Christmas in Reedsport

What a fun-filled crazy time we had in Reedsport with Ben's family this Christmas break! We left a day later than we had intended to because our kiddos both had runny noses and weren't feeling quite up to par. When we got down there and Ben's brother and his family showed up we breathed a sigh of relief as Byron's kids had snotty noses too! So, let the snot run and we'll still have fun we decided! - and we did. However, instead of getting better, Easton daily got worse and worse and more and more fussy. So, on Saturday we left in the morning and had a rough car ride home. We left the car running in the driveway as we unloaded and I took Easton to the doctor only to find out he had a double ear infection! I was relieved in a way because we were able to get him on some meds and knew relief would be in sight! - and today - finally, he's starting to get back to his smiley self! - Praise the Lord!!

All that to say, we had a fun, relaxing time hang'n with our wonderful family, playing games and letting the kiddos run wild! Thanks Nana and Pops for a fun Christmas!!

Raquelle, Ryder and Bella...ALL blankie and finger suckers - must run in the Harris family! :) Although, I had a blankie and sucked my thumb too...so, there might be a little Albert in there too! Here they are taking a break watching Charlotte's Web.

My new little "nephew" (Ben's cousin Levi's son) Lincoln - such a cutie-pie and sweet baby!! Poor Levi and Ashley have had a rough few months with this little guy - he's been soo soo colicky...so many tears, but yet such a blessing all at the same time!

Byron and Kim brought "Hi-ho Cherry-o" for the kiddos and they had such a fun time! - although I don't think they played it the correct way but a few times...but hey, kids don't care!

Raquelle got to take a dip in the spa with Ryder, Nana and Pops...you can see she loved it and was quite the little prune when she got out!

Answered Prayers

Ben's cousin Jamie and her husband have been praying for their second baby for a while now...the adoption process has been long and full of many challenges. However, we are soo happy to say that 3 weeks ago they arrived back in the USA from Liberia with the most amazing little boy who they've named Micah. We've had the pleasure to stand with Jamie and Corey in prayer as they have waited for this little guy since before he was born on March 26, 2007. And, the Lord has answered their prayers! We were able to meet him for the first time in Reedsport over Christmas and wow, what an amazingly happy and content baby Micah is! He definitely competes with Easton as the happiest baby ever!! When God answers prayers it's awesome to see how His hand was covering every tiny part of this process and hand picked Micah for Jamie, Corey and Kendra's family! - now they are complete and we are soo happy to have them home! Praise God!

The whole family together: Corey, Kendra, Micah and Jamie

A video for techie's

The first time in TWO years!

For the past two days our family has been down in Salem visiting with my brother Jared (top middle), his wife Shannon (the beauty in the middle), and their two beautiful kiddos Ethan (standing between my mom and dad) and Brady (on my dad's lap). This is the first time all my family has gathered together in two years...and the first time I got to meet Brady! What a sweet, sweet baby he is...so much like Easton! We hung out and had a big sleepover at my sister Stacie (on the left holding Easton) and Brother-in-law Todd's (above Stacie) house. Thanks for hosting the whole family! It was fun, lots of games and lots of junk food (Shannon and I left thinking we probably gained 3lbs each)! I thank the Lord for such a wonderful family!


I get a kick out of Raquelle's pose (on my mom's lap) - click on the pic for a close-up. She looks like she's modeling! Silly girl!! Anyhoo...Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Easton's stats are in!

We had Easton's 6 month well-baby check up today! He's in the 50th percentile for pretty much everything! He's close to 70th for height. He weighs 17lbs 5oz and is almost 28"long. The doctor said he (and I quote), "is perfect!" :) I think so too! The doctor notice his top two tooth-gums are swollen, so he should be getting his top two teeth here pretty soon! :( Plus, he had to get FOUR shots today too...poor little guy - it's tough to grow up! He didn't like that much, but after he settled down, fell right to sleep on the way home. Raquelle got her flu shot today too...so, LOTS of shot! BUT, she did sooo good - not one tear! She grabbed her blankie when all was done, but didn't cry! I was so proud of her! - mommy would have cried - I HATE shots! :) Here's a pic of the kiddos playing on the couch the other night...looks like Easton knows how to give "wet willies" in Raquelle's ear! Got to have one pic for the post! :) Hugs to all!

The Harris Family Dancers

I think I sent this link to about everyone in my address book...but incase you haven't seen it, check out the Harris-elf Family Dancers! :) Copy and paste the address below into your browser:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1118760857

A Fun Comparison

This morning I saw Easton "strike a pose" as he was grabbing at his toes! It totally reminded me of a "pose" I had seen of Raquelle at his age. So, I quickly took a picture of him and went back in my Rocky archives and found it! Here is Easton just a few weeks older than his sister, striking a very similar pose! It's a little weird, but to me they look a lot alike...except Raquelle has those dark eyes and that narrow forehead (before surgery)...and Easton is HUGE compared to her!! :) He's a little slumped down and not looking at the completly same angle...but, what do you all think?

Look at how much longer he is! Big boy! :)

A princess project

It was a dark and cold morning and we needed something to do! So, we created a princess crown hat! It was fun...and I got a few pics in the process!

Look mom, I can blink!

6 month photoshoot

Our sweet happy boy will be 6 months in a week! Crazy how fast time is flying with number 2! I took these pics real quick while Raquelle was napping! - too quick because it wasn't until aftewards I realized I shot the whole thing with my ISO set at 1600 (for all you photographers that's not good when you have decent lighting - it should have been around 400)!! UGH! :) - oh, well, I managed to get a couple cute shots amidst all the "noise"!

Yes, he's pretty much an independent sitter - except when he wants something out of reach - then down he goes!

He's found his tongue! This is his favorite face...with the tip of his tongue sticking out of his mouth! :) - or sucking his lower lip! :)

A project with Mimi

During Thanksgiving Day, Mimi (my mom) got a little project together to do with Raquelle...paper mache'!! She had so much fun...making a mess!! And at the end, had a cute little snowman...well, after the boys finished it for her! :)

This is her "mischievous" face!! - I said, "Raquelle, what are you doing?!" as she started playing in the liquid starch and rubbing it all over her hands!! Silly girl!

Sweet Mimi!! Thanks for a fun time!!

My First Meal

After the scrumptious dinner we all had at my mom and dads house, Easton told us he felt a bit left out just drinking milk all day long! :) So, we gave him his first meal today...yummy rice cereal! :) It was pretty funny...I think I captured 50 different faces from him as he tasted food for the first time. Well, I'm not sure I would call it food, because there's no way I would eat it! :)

"maybe I don't like food afterall"

He's looking at his sister probably thinking, "You eat this??"

Yeah, this is pretty gross...I think I'll stick to eating my bib!

Yum!

Let the sun in!

I went in to get Raquelle up from her nap today and opened up the blinds to find sun beaming into her room! It was wonderful after having so many rainy days lately! I put her up on top of her bookcase and snapped some pics while the sun was glaring through the blinds. Her hair was a bit frazzled and messy from nap, but it made for some dramatic...yet fun pics! :)

Scrunchy Nose!

We went over to Aunt Kimmy's house today to play and take pictures. We had a blast! It was funny cuz later on Kim said how much Easton scrunches his nose when he smiles because he's so happy!! I told her I did know because I have TONS of pics of him doing it!! Here's one from last night as he was hanging out on the couch with his beloved and most treasured of all his toys - his Beaver Football!! - I love it! - and in this one you can see his little "tooth dagger"! :)

Giggly Baby Boy

There is nothing better in the world than hearing your baby giggle! For some reason, Easton thought the sound of marbles in a bag was hilarious! Enjoy this video because it sure makes us laugh every time we see it!!

Kisses for Brother

Just a couple cute shots of my kiddos loving on each other! :)

A new hat

So I've been making hats and I'm loving it! SOOO easy and with sweet deals on fabric I can make a few for only a couple bucks!! Here's my little princess model showing off her new hat!! :)

My first "TOOF"

As Raquelle says, "Brother has his first toof!" Yes, he does...as small as it is (you might have to zoom in), it's there and causing fussy moments! I forgot how sharp they are too...like little daggers in their mouths...careful sticking anything in there now! :) It's come in crooked, so I'm sensing braces will be in our near future! :) Fun times!! Better start saving now!! I think he's got the one next to it coming in too, because he's not been sleeping all that well lately...LOTS of slobber, and LOTS of sucking on his paci!!

Why don't we do it in our sleeves!? :)

Thanks Jillian for this hilarious - but practical video! :)

My Cutie-pies

It's hard to take just pics of Easton because Raquelle LOVES to "see Raquelle!" So, I got her with her brother a few times and then tried to get some of just him again...to which she jumps in front of the camera and said, "see Raquelle!" - hence the second shot of her with her infamous blanket and "yellow" bear! - and brother blurrred out in the background!! :)

Nana and I went for a walk with Raquelle the other day. It was georgous outside and right when the sun was setting so I took my camera along to get some cool sun shots in the field...however, I forgot the sun sets an hour earlier now so we totally missed the sunsetting in the field and then it started to get dark...So, as cute as these pics are, I had to settle and use my on-camera flash!! Ugh, I hate doing that, but I even hate missing special moments more! - So, I had to do it cuz Raquelle wanted to rest on these steps with Nana on the way home from our walk. They were so giggly, so I got some cute shots!

My thorn is now a rose

To all who know our little home...we've been so blessed to be able to fix it up over the past 4 years. One major thing though that has always slipped down the "to-do" list was our fireplace/hearth area. It's been my little "thorn in the flesh" from the time we moved in! Always hoping to have it redone someday, that day finally came!! Here is our hearth with some beautiful new slate on it. We are so excited and happy with the results...and it was one project we DIDN'T do!! We had it done so, it only took a day...not a month! :) - or two! :) Praise the Lord because now I feel like our front room is complete! Good things do come to those who wait! :)

Our Little Lobster

Halloween isn't really a big deal in our house, but my sister-in-law let us borrow this cute lobster alfit for Easton! It was hard trying to figure out how to take pics of him because he can't sit up yet and is so long with the alfit on...so, I did my best, and they turned out pretty cute!

He's cross-eyed a bit because he's trying to look at those curly antennas! :)