Happy Birthday Harper

One year ago from today I was hugely pregnant and feeling like the end was never in sight.  I remember thinking I would never make it another 10 days until my due date on Oct 3rd.  Being pregnant all summer had been rough while keeping up with a rambunctious 3 yr old.  I had waddled to the park with Olivia and remember being there talking with my friends that I wasn't sure if I would make it home, and that I might just go into labor right there at the park.  Well, I made it home...but that night I did start having my contractions and the following (early) morning was off to the hospital.  Labor was not long and on Sept 24 the world welcomed sweet Harper Elizabeth into our family.

This year has been amazing.  It feels like it has raced by, but on the other hand I can barely remember how it feels to not have this beautiful baby in my life.  She is such a blessing.  I have enjoyed mommyhood the second time around in a whole new light than I did the first time. I am constantly trying to slow everything down. I want these moments to stretch out in time, to make the memories last a little bit longer.   It was very bittersweet for me to rock her to sleep tonight and put her in her crib, and know that tomorrow she'll be ONE.  We had a family party and celebrated yesterday.  I had lots of fun planning her little party and all of the details to make it as sweet as possible.  Tomorrow we don't have any big plans, but I will be snuggling her up as much as possible, and whispering happy birthday wishes in her ear all day long.  She is the perfect finish to our family, and we just can't wait to see what she has in store for us.

 We love you Harper!!  You are Mommy and Daddy's sweet baby girl, you are funny, and smart and beautiful.  We can already see that you will be a best friend to your big sister, you are always ready to join in the action.  You are our snuggle bug, Harper Boo, Harpsicle  and my sunshine.  Happy Happy Birthday sweet girl!!

  Thank you for choosing me to be your Mommy and making me the luckiest girl in the world.  I promise to always do the best I can for you, I will always be there for you.  xoxoxxox
Love forever, Mommy

Birthday season

Its Birthday season around my family and today it was my turn. It was a simple day from start to finish and it has been perfect.  Olivia army crawled into my room and jumped up and shouted "surprise Happy Birthday!" and we stumbled through the day from there on.  I shopped with Harper while Olivia was at school, had a picnic lunch with the girls and some friends, and then went out to dinner with Jon. Now I have feet up, computer on my lap and wine in hand.  perfection. 

Weekly Koepke updates :

Olivia seems to have stopped napping!  Its been 6 days in a row of not taking a nap.  We have some downtime in the afternoon, but no actual sleep.  She is doing pretty well, but tonight at dinner she completely crashed.  I am thankful for the 4 1/2 years of napping that she blessed me with, but I really was hoping for a few more months.  maybe this is just a phase, and we'll go back to the normal nap routine next week?? yes? yes?

Harper's latest form of entertainment is to "wrestle" and then try to steam roll you.  Its sweet and hilarious.  I will try and post a video.  She will roll about ten times in a row across the room into you. If you lay on the floor she will crawl at a high speed towards you and then throw herself onto your stomach.  She just wants to play the way she sees Jon and Olivia wrestle around.  

Harper used her first signs this week.  I have been signing to her a few basic signs (more, all done, drink) and a few days ago she signed "more", and today she signed "all done".   She was just sitting in her highchair having her snack , and I was walking around, and when I looked at her she was sitting there making jazz hands at me.  oh, yes...all done!  It's so amazing to experience all of these moments. Yes baby girl, we just had a conversation.  You are all done with your snack, you told me and I understood, no one cried or shouted or threw food on the floor, you made jazz hands and I knew what you meant.  God, I am so grateful for these moment and that I am present to experience them first hand.  

Olivia's sweetest thing lately is her constant writing of love letters.  She will sit and compose a note and then write it out to the best of her ability using her own inventive spelling.  She cuts out these notes, folds them up very very small and puts them into an envelope.  She tapes it closed and brings them to me, daily, every few hours, they are covered with hearts and I love yous . It is the best, I keep them and will put them in a shoe box.  Whenever I am blue, I have a box filled to the brim of love notes from the sweetest 4 year old on the planet.  This is the best medicine to cure any sadness.  I know that I am so sappy, and overly sentimental, but time marches on and waits for no one, but I am definitely here and enjoying it all.  I promise not to turn into a hoarder, but for now I have to keep these little love letters proclaiming that Olivia and I are BSTFRDSFREVR  

Well, I am off to bed.  Tomorrow I am going to spend the day baking and decorating a fancy cake for Harper's first Birthday.  Her Birthday is in four days!! Her family party is Saturday, I am in denial of my baby turning one.  But yes, sweet Harper, in this birthday season your next!!  Tag, you're it.  xoxo