Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011

This holiday season was so special to see it through the eyes of a 2 year old. She thoroughly enjoyed talking to Buddy Patch (Elf on the Shelf) each day to understand if he had been watching over her, all the holiday celebrations with family and the cookies that were served, she was desperately afraid of this Santa character, and absolutely enjoyed all the gift opening.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning were spent right here in our home, just the four of us and we couldn't have enjoyed the rest and relaxation it provided.

Since Auntie Stephanie sent her gifts first, we decided to open just one before Christmas. We were thrilled we did! She flipped over this ensemble and it was fabulous watching her be a fairy princess for a day, and another, and another!

I captured this pose because it is one I often see and I suppose I hadn't stopped to get it yet . She loves to wait by the window for Daddy or watch Moss go outside and make sure she comes back in:)

Merry Christmas Eve!

We celebrated that evening at a neighbor's annual Christamas Eve Bash with friendly faces, good food, and lots and lots of cookies! Harp did not venture upstairs with all the kids but decided to stay close to Mom and the dessert table.

Christmas Morning

I found these two at the top of the stairs ready and waiting to see what Santa had brought.

No paparazzi, no thank you!

"My own Market"! I think Harper was surprised to get this because all she asked Santa for was a Pink Cupcake!

Christmas from New York

We did not make it up to New York for the holidays, but they definitely came to Nashville! Harper had so many gifts from Grandpa Bob and Grammie, Aunt Mo, and Auntie Stephanie....she couldn't have been more spoiled from New York! We skyped and opened our gifts and after plenty of earrings, rings, princess crowns, American Girl boxes, books, movies and a monogrammed backpack....Harper had no idea where to begin. We are so thankful to be able to see the family, even when they can't be here and I know Harper will stay so connected to them.

Thanks for everything and Harper thanks you even more!

Was Harper a good girl this year?

YES!

She got her Pink Cupcake from Santa and enjoyed every last bite of it.

Merry Merry Christmas.........

Milestones

Mini Mommy

Harper loves to "Mother" her babies, take them to the market, change their diapers, and place them in random areas throughout the house. This particular morning, I walked into the playroom and they all had their spots for Harper to figure out who was going to the park, who needed to eat, and of course...who was being naughty!

Dressing Herself

Do you love it, this is her ensemble for a day outside!

First Haircut

Yes, it was time. Some may have disagreed. I couldn't resist this fancy little kids place "Divas and Dudes" for the first snip. I knew it may be a struggle but I turned out to be wrong once again. She was mesmorized by all the beautiful little girls getting mani's and pedi's, walking on the runway with their hair and makeup, and braids galore. She wanted braids but after I got her in the chair, a blowout is all she could really handle. Obviously the princess crown made her day!

Getting Ready for Christmas

Break out the Advent Calendar

We had so much to be thankful at Thanksgiving this year! Bob, Harper Elle, Moss, and I snuggled up for a couple of days of much needed family time and our first Thanksgiving at home. I think it certainly put us in the holiday spirit and here is some pictures to prove it!

Montessori Breakfast with Santa

Harper will start the Montessori School of Franklin in February and what better way to get to know the staff then to attend their largest fundraiser of the year. They hosted a breakfast with Santa, storytime by Mrs. Claus, decorating Christmas ornaments, an amazing song and dance show that Harper adored, and a silent auction! It was so much fun and who knows, we may be working it next year!

Merry Madagascar

The crew from Madagascar flew into Nashville at Opryland and of course we were front row to see them. Harper is obsessed with Madagascar and I have to say they are still not that bad the 1,467th time you see them. These characters were life size and made of ice. It was magical and quite scary for Harper and we were blown away of how the carvings were so life like!

Gingerbread House Decorating

Ingredients:

Pizza

Lemonade

Paper Plates

2 Gingerbread Kits

Extra Extra Candy for Squishing, Eating, and Decorating

Plenty of Small Dishes for Everybody

1 Huge Table

1 Movie ... Finding Nemo

Hot Chocolate

Special Ingredient: Very adorable kids eager to decorate, dance, and dine by the names of;

Cashen, Madeline, and Harper Elle

Recipe:

Put it all together, in a huge room, and turn them loose.

Our night was so fun and very productive, I must say so myself.

Cashen actually left with an intact, very cool Gingerbread House for

"Show and Tell" at school. Harper and Madeline did bore easy with the gigantic house so they completed a Gingerbread Cookie... to their surprise was not worth eating.

Me and Bob.....had a lot fun with these crazy kids.

Christmas Dresses

My cousin Michelle has an adorable little girl Leah, one year older than Harper, that sends us regular shipments of clothes and these adorable fancy dresses that Harps is totally noticing these days. As I started decorating the tree for Christmas, Harper slipped a dress on and entertained Moss as part of her usual harassment!

The Gardner School's Christmas Program

Harper and friends attempted to sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" in front of about 200 people!!!! She smiled, sported the Santa hat quite fashionably, and just sort of walked around on stage. Not sure she ever sang but we were overwhelmed with her performance...no crying, desperate leaps off the stage, or feet digging into the ground. Bob and I could not have been more proud of her, as well as the other 200 Moms, Dads, and Grandparents gooing and gaaing over their little ones!

I think the highlight for Harper was seeing herself on her Daddy's phone or running the aisles with Isabella, her bestie!

Big Girl Bed for Bedtime Bliss

Welcome to Harper Elle's Haven

After several sleepless nights in her toddler bed and many trips up and down the stairs to my bed, to the guest bed, on the floor. I caved.

One weekend in November, during a nap, I decided to take over this room and create a little haven for Harper. This little one had been waking up so much I thought I would surprise her and create a special place for just her.

Would this work? Will she really sleep in here and like it? I had no idea but I was about to have a lot of fun trying.

I broke down the toddler bed, pulled in the very old nobody wants to sleep on bed from the extra guest room and fixed her up! I also brought in a ton of decoration for Christmas, including Buddy Patch, our Elf on the Shelf! She truly flipped out. I have never seen her smile so big with excitement for something that she was surprised by. She looked, she touched, she jumped, and she started fast talking. And I mean fast!

Her mouth could not keep up with her thoughts. She was fascinated by Buddy Patch and did not remember him from last year of course. As I was trying to patiently and excitedly read her the story of the Elf on the Shelf, she was buzzing around as if she was Alice in Wonderland. Abruptly interrupting my story, she looks over to me and says, "Mom! I love my new room!" With a tiny screech and a huge grin.

Her pure joy melted my heart and I had realized at that moment she had experienced her first love.

Somehow, I accomplished something I had no idea I was looking for it. Her expressions and happiness gave me some of my firsts and the cool place for her to hang out and sleep was a bonus. I love when this happens but I have to be careful and really enjoy it when it is right in front of me. And on this day, it was very easy to do.

The Velvet Trunk

The Velvet Trunk

Back in October, I received an email from Melanie (owner of The Velvet Trunk) for a discount for her favorite client list to rally some final shots before she MOVED to Texas! I immediately felt very selfish and thought how can she do this to all of us. I noticed her work when I moved to Nashville in 2000 displayed in one of the sweetest stores I have loved for all these years, Social Graces. I thought to myself, I will meet this lady someday when I get enough money and have a great reason to have myself photographed! Well, that time came in 2010 and I had Harper's 8 month shots done and we had a blast. I thought, her 2 year old shots would be great and these would be the last since she is leaving to go home.

After 2 re-scheduled appointments, one very very sick husband, and a shy unsettled toddler.....we got a few very sweet memories to display and store in our precious photo books.

This is her website and for inspiration and courage, please visit her blog:)

http://thevelvettrunk.com/