A Little Chat with Harper

Happy New Year!

Happy 2011 everyone!  Our New Year's plans consisted of going to bed at 8:30.  Evidently Harper had some plans of her own because she didn't go to sleep until the ball dropped on the east coast.  I think that's the latest she has ever stayed up!
Kyle and I made resolutions to go to church more and put Harper in her crib.  We've tried several times to move her to the nursery, but unfortunately we are just as attached to her as she is to us.  We love having her in our room, but I know she will sleep better in her own comfy crib.
This morning we went to church and I discovered the "Mom's Room."  How nice!  The Mom's room was full of gliders, cribs, a changing table and nursing Moms.  There was a TV showing the service and low lights to set the mood.  I may be leaving Kyle alone in the sanctuary every Sunday:)
On December 29th, we celebrated Harper's two months birthday!  I can't believe I have only had her for two months.  It seems like I have known her my whole life.  We started off our day with a trip to the doctor.  I love our pediatrician.  He is always so sweet and encouraging.  Harper weighed 10 pounds, 9 ounces and she is 23 and 1/2 inches long.  She's in the 50th percentile for her weight and 95th for her height!  I guess she is going to be built like her Dad.  She had to receive six vaccines.  One was oral, but the other were shots in her sweet little thighs.  I may have shed a few tears.  She cried a little and then we both napped for over 3 hours when we got home!  She was pretty cranky and wanted to be held the rest of the day, but I didn't mind too much:)
Kyle and I have really started to notice how big she's getting lately.  Some days I cannot wait for her to only eat three square meals a day and entertain herself, but at the same time I want her to stay this little forever. 

Christmas!

Kyle and I were blessed this year to have most of my family and his parents visit us for Harper's first Christmas.  Kyle and I started our day video taping Harper coming down the stairs.  Hopefully this will become a tradition and get more and more fun each year.  Since I still have young brothers and sisters, we got down to business right away opening stockings and distributing gifts.  We went around the room in the order of youngest to oldest and opened gifts one by one.  After we were all done, I opened all of Harper's gifts.  She had more than anyone!  She got lots of toys, several cute outfits and her first baby doll. 
After we were done opening gifts we enjoyed a nice breakfast.  Every year my Mom makes eggs benedict and cinnamon rolls.  This year she made an eggs benedict casserole.  I think it was much easier than the real thing.  Kyle's parents arrived as we were opening presents.  They brought a honey baked ham, a delicious beef tenderloin and lots of gifts for everyone. 

The rest of day consisted of lots of laziness.  Harper enjoyed laying on her new play mat, getting passed around and taking a nice, long nap on Grandpa's chest. 

We enjoyed a big, delicious dinner.  After dinner, we said "Goodbye" to Kyle's parents and wrapped up the day with a little bit of catchphrase. 

My family headed home to Colorado today.  I was sad to see them go.  It was nice to have all the extra hands around.  

I felt so blessed to be sharing the holiday season with my daughter this year and I am looking forward to making many more Christmas memories with her! 

Late Entry: Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving with Kyle's family in Houston.  It was our first road trip with Harper (and Moose).  We had to take so much stuff for Harper!  I felt like we were moving in with Kyle's parents:)  Harper did pretty well in the car.  She only had one outburst on our way down to Houston.  It was solved with a bottle and she slept the rest of the way.  On the way back, I was prepared with a bottle as soon as she woke up:)
Harper got to meet a lot of Kyle's family while in town, including Kyle's older brother and his girlfriend, who flew in from NYC and VA.  Harper also got to meet both of Kyle's grandmothers, his twin sisters, his oldest brother and some other relatives and family friends.  Our niece Lucy joined us for lunch.  Both Kyle and I wish we could see Lucy more often.  She is so cute, even if she does look just like her Dad:)  Lucy and Harper share the same birthday (4 years apart), which I think is so fun!

Kyle's paternal grandmother, Grandma Jean, is about to turn 98.  She is the most in shape 97 year old I have ever met!

I feel like I spent most of our trip in the back room feeding Harper.  Between feedings I did manage to eat some delicious meals, play Catch Phrase and eat some more.  Kyle got to enjoy a much needed night out with his brothers and his best friend from high school. 

We really enjoyed our time in Houston.  My mother-in-law, Sandra, was the perfect hostess.  We loved introducing Harper to everyone and feel so blessed to be bringing her into such a great family!

Our Second Anniversary

Yesterday, Kyle and I celebrated our second anniversary!  I can't believe it has only been two years.  So much has changed over the past two years of our lives, especially now that we're parents. 
Blair was so gracious to watch Harper so we could go to dinner on Sunday night.  We went to a restaurant called Bess Bistro here in Austin.  It's actually owned by Sandra Bullock.  I had bacon shrimp and grits, which was delicious.  Kyle got the filet.  He was very pleased with his choice as well.  We finished our meal with pumpkin cheesecake for me and bread pudding for Kyle.

On Sunday we also decorated our Christmas tree.  Harper's first Christmas tree!  We got a real tree again this year.  I wish we could have it up all year.  I love to sit in the living room and just enjoy it.  Kyle and I stopped on our way to dinner to pick up some gifts for Harper.  Although she won't be able to unwrap them, or even remember them, I'm excited about having some things for her under the tree.

Harper gave us a great anniversary gift; she has slept for a good 4 hours straight for the past two nights!  Here's a picture of her in my favorite pajamas.  She is about to outgrow them, along with some other newborn things, which makes me so sad.  It also makes me realize that I have not taken enough pictures of her.  I'm going to try to do a better job of that, which I sure will lead to a little more blogging!

Newborn Pictures

Harper's first photo shoot was with Tyler about a week ago.  Tyler did such a great job and we're so pleased with the pictures.  Here are some of my favorites:

It's a Girl!

Harper Leigh Kamrath arrived on October 29th at 10:02pm.  She weight 7lbs. 14oz., was 21 inches long and perfectly healthy.  I think Kyle and I were both expecting a boy, so we were pleasantly surprised when they announced "it's a girl."  We couldn't be more thrilled!

We came home on Halloween excited for our first year with trick-or-treaters.  We only had 3, but we were still so happy to be out of the hospital.



  

We're settling in at home okay.  We have been blessed to have my Mom here taking care of all the cleaning and laundry so Kyle and I can sleep when able and enjoy our sweet baby.  My Mom and Blair have also been working on Harper's girly wardrobe:)  I'm not looking forward to my Mom leaving tomorrow or Kyle going back to work on Monday:(  I promise to keep the updates coming as Harper grows!