Playdates

Lately, we have had tons of playdates!  They are so fun.  It's cute to see how big all our friends' kids are getting.  Plus, it's cool to see what's in store for Harper!

One of her first playdates was with some of my girlfriends from high school.  I have known these girls for most of my life.  We all cheered together in school, and Ana and I were roommates at A&M our freshman year.   Kelli has a little boy named Ryder who is SO cute.  He is this adorable, blonde headed little boy with spunk.  I think he'll be trouble one day!

Kelli and Harper (not sure where Ryder was)

Ana is pregnant with a little girl they are going to name Ellie.  She is going to be a very lucky little girl!  This was definitely a good time for Ana to practice holding a little baby.  At one point, Harper squirmed a bit and ended up a little upside down.  Ana just looked at us and said "Is this ok?"  Kelli and I had a good laugh at that one!  But no worries, she's gonna be a GREAT mom!

Ana (and Ellie) and Harper

 We also got to visit with my other roommates from A&M.  Staci, Kara, Stephanie, and I lived together for my junior and senior year.  I am lucky because they all grew up in different areas of Texas but all moved to Dallas to be closer to me!  Their husbands and jobs might have had something to do with it too...  So Stephanie and Jeff had a little boy a few weeks ago and we went to meet him.  His name is Grant Dean Harrison and he is so so so adorable.  He already looks so serious and smart.  He's going to be just like his dad!  Stephanie is doing great and I am so proud of her!  It was so fun holding a newborn again.  I already forgot how small they are!  Crazy how big Harper is already and it's only been 4 months!

Kara and Harper, Stephanie, Me and Grant, Staci

Me and Grant

Kara and Harper

We also had playdates with other friends.  We went to Quinlan Hunt's 2nd birthday party and got to play with Avinley.  Something I learned - open the boring presents first.  If they open a fun one first, they don't care about anything else!

We play with my friend Jill and her little girl Alyssa once a week.  Alyssa is very good about sharing and loves to find all of Harper's stuff and bring it to me.  While we are there, the girls nap and the moms get to craft.  It's a nice outlet!  

This past weekend we got to hang with cousin Grayson.  He absolutely loves Harper and likes to give her kisses (head butts).  He has learned tons of new words which include "AJ" and "Baby".  Such a big boy!  He likes to poke her and smile up at his mom like he just loves her.  I am so excited that they get to grow up together!  I love that Harper has so many friends close to her age.  It's going to make growing up so much fun!!!

Growth Groups and God

I teach a bible study on Wednesday nights with my friend Chelsea for senior girls.  Our girls are amazing, much more amazing than I was at their age.  They make me laugh, smile, and remember why I signed up in the first place.

Tonight, we watched a Nooma video on hiding sin from God.  I sat there and listened to Rob Bell talk about how he had to tell his son that no matter what, he would never love him any less.  No matter what he did.  There was nothing that could separate his love from his son.  And I just felt overwhelmed.  My initial thoughts were of Harper.  My precious baby.  It's funny how she's the first thought that pops into my head nowadays.  I thought, I hope that she grows up always knowing how much I love her.  And that nothing can ever separate her from my love.  My second thought was that I want her to know that God loves her this way too.  And that no matter how bad she might mess up, He will never love her less.  I felt very peaceful to know this about her.  I can rest in the fact that God loves my little girl even more than I do.

Later on in the evening, I asked the girls if they truly believed God loved them and would never leave them.  I am pretty sure all of them said yes.  But I was thinking, I don't know that I truly believe that about me.  It's funny that I can trust that truth for Harper and for my bible study girls, but not myself.  Sometimes I forget to let go of my past and let the Cross by my salvation.  I forget that Jesus is not a temporary fix or a circumstantial helper.  He's a permanent solution to a fallen world.  He's the only way to salvation.  And it's not something that He has to continuously do for you.  He died once.  For all.  And if we could just trust in that truth, we could stop trying to earn it, work for it, or atone for it.  We would have peace.  We would know love.  We would have eternity with Him.  And that would change our world.

It's funny how much life has changed in the last 16 weeks.  It's funny how sleep doesn't matter so much anymore.  Neither does how I look or what I wear.  What matters is my husband and my daughter.  They are my world now.  And without Christ, I would be nothing.  I would be a huge mess.  But because of Him, I have hope, peace, and truth.  I have eternity.  (Oh how stinking sentimental I have gotten in the last 16 weeks too!)

I need to remember...my love for Him may fail, but His love for me never will.
Romans 8:38-39

Our Little Pumpkin

This past weekend, we went the the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch.  It was so fun to celebrate a holiday with a new baby.  Of course, she couldn't do much, but it was still fun.  And a definite photo opportunity!

Almost sitting up!

Daddy and Harper

Mommy and Harper

Our first GOOD family photo.  Finally!

My sister, Kristen, and her husband were out of town for a wedding.  So my parents and sisters were babysitting my nephew Grayson.  He had a ball of course because he is at an age to appreciate the fun! He even went in the bounce house.  I was a little nervous at first but he really liked it.  We kept telling him to dance, which means stand still and bounce up and down.  He was so cute!

He was a little big for it, but still funny!

Hanging on a fence looking at some horses.  And all he kept saying was that a lion goes ROAR!

Such a big boy.  He rode the kiddy train and the wagon, and then wanted to push the wagon himself!

It was Harper's naptime so we thought she would sleep in her jogging stroller.  She didn't sleep but didn't fuss either!  She absolutely loves being outside in her jogging stroller.  Such a blessing!

Harper and her cute leg warmers :)

Harper getting some Grayson love

Harper getting some more Grayson love.  

It's so cute how he loves her!

Aunt Taylor and her amazing ability to lift two pumpkins at once

Aunt Carleigh trying to find the most perfectly round pumpkin

We almost bought a pumpkin and then realized it would be $40.  Definitely not worth it!  We will just get the best one we can find at WalMart for $5.

It was so fun to hang out with Harper and Grayson too.  I miss my little buddy!  He's at an age where he likes me some days and then it's Stranger Danger some days.  But he will always be my first buddy.  It's crazy how much I love him!  And now I have Harper, whom I would do anything for.  It's so much more than I ever expected.  And for that, I am greatly blessed!