First word

Harper spoke her first word last night...
Ty walked in from work and she just smiled and said "dada." Thinking we were hearing things we asked her to say it again and she did. Our high praise then overwhelmed her and she turned bright red and started crying. It was a funny moment, but a sweet one!
Until...
I realized.
"Dada."
In point of fact, the same exact first word as our first born. And although that's special, it leaves me a tad miffed. That's right, ignore the poor sap who feeds you, changes you, plays with you for 12 plus hours a day. What's a girl got to do to get some appreciation from a baby around here? Oh, I remember. Wait for that baby to grow up and make you a Grandma. That said, my girls absolutely love their daddy and for good reason!
Still, Babe H your babyhood is flying by so no matter the real or imagined connotations of your first word I'm celebrating your accomplishment! Go Harper.
Xoxo.

3 1/2!

Today you are 3 and 1/2 Miss Pearson! Almost 4, unbelievable. Right now you're favorite thing is Rapunzel, dancing, playing Candyland, playing band, and the impending excitement of your first trip to Disneyland. We love your beautiful brown eyes and your unexpected comments and the fact that you're ours!
Two things of note: I love how she's holding up four fingers in these pictures; wasn't planned & that happens to say "cat people" on our door because she wanted to see how those words were spelled. Ironic, no?

For Kicks

Surprise package on my door step from Mr. B today. He's dazzling...

It's Always Sunny in...

Maple Valley.
I am peppy beyond reason today! It's been sunny (and mind you, freezing cold) all week my spirits are buoyed by the fact that I get to wear new sunglasses in winter.
It's the little things, am I right?
In addition, I can't help but to be excited for the next few months. Wonderful things are on the horizon and it's such a stark contrast to last year that I'm consciously sitting in the good feeling. Here's a look at what January, February, and March bring!
January: The RETURN of preschool, Dinner with friends, Andi's Sprinkle, and Harper's baby dedication.
February: Ty's 29th birthday, Friends visiting, Valentines Day, Chicago trip with my dad, and the hopeful arrival of our new niece!
March: Repeat of the last (said neice may arrive this month too), Spring, and the kicker: Disneyland with Pea. We cannot wait to take her, she will love love love it.
What's on the horizon for you?

"Mom, she's like freaking out."

I LOVE how you can hear Pea say the above in the background of this mini video and I LOVE that this is Harp's new thing...simply funny. The mini joys of parenthood!

Nancy Drew

At your service. I love love love mysteries. They are definitely a vice of mine. Digging into a good mystery (or even a bad one, let's be honest) can entertain me for hours.
Hours.
Like Nancy, part of my job as mom is to play detective; which as I've alluded to earlier is basically my entire role as mom to the tight-lipped Miss Pea. I've already enlisted my personal George Fayne in the form of my niece Heidi who is at the moment an excellent source of pertinent information. I intent to shamelessly exploit this gold mine until she catches on, which I might add may be soon since she's a clever one.
I don't go around solving significant socially sensitive crimes of national importance; I normally solve crimes against domesticity like the following:
The Curious Case of the Missing Pants.
The Secret Hiding Spot.
The Phantom Tooth Brush.
You get the point. Anyone hot on a domestic case of right now? Would love to hear them...
Yours peering through a looking glass,

Zoolights

Despite fighting a cold and hyped up on cough medicine, we had a fun time with my family at Zoolights. Pea absolutely loves animals did not understand that since it was dark most of them were "sleeping." However, she did get to see the meerkats and a jaguar (her favs) so we were in luck there! There were amazing lights and music which Babe H "danced" to. Folks, it's time to retire the famed Snuggie. Harp is too heavy as I discovered last night whilst hiking with her strapped to my body at low breathing capacity (see first sentence). Kind of makes me sad, but such is life...
Both my girls are getting quality face time with their Uncle Chase who will have to be leaving us bound for his home in San Diego Sunday. Sort of sad because Pea is having a fun time with her namesake (i.e. super fun stroller rides and laughing at all her antics). However, he's told us he'll meet us in Disneyland when we go this spring so she can have that to look forward to!