SCI banquet

We had a nice little family night out at the SCI Sportmans Hunting Banquet here in town. We went 2 years in a row in Utah to support Jeff's brother Josh (who was the SCI president for the Southern Utah Chapter) so we thought we would give our support here in Alaska. The seats weren't cheap but the company, auction, and dinner made up for it. We had Filet Mignon and Alaskan Halibut, veggies and dessert... AMAZING dinner. We had a blast walking around the silent auction, even bid on a few things and walked away after winning a basket for Harper. I was battling this one lady back and forth and at one point she wrote off to the side of her bid "For my first grand baby due next week" (So in other words she just expected me to feel sorry I was bidding against her and let her win the basket... sorry sweetie this is an auction and I just had my first baby so I want it just as much as you do :) It came with a stuffed animal, a nice thick Grizzly bear blanket and a spinnig lamp with alaskan animals on it. Seems dumb but the lamp alone was worth it, it's pretty cool :) Then we had dinner and enjoyed the live auction. Jeff started bidding on a New Zealand hunt but it went up to high, maybe next year. But, all the hunts were a steal. Not one hunt was over $6000 (which is killer cheap) Overall it was a great night out and Harpers first banquet. She was so pleasant and wide awake the whole time and everyone kept asking how old she was, how adorable she was, and if she was part of the auction :) Oh we just love her and it is so fun taking her out and about to various activities.

This pic doesn't do the lamp justice, obviously, but you can only see the animals when the light is on

The many faces of Harper. I was trying to get a good pic of her smiling in her Sneekee onzie Jeff bought her for Christmas but she wasn't cooperating ;) But dang she is the cutest girl around, we sure love her to pieces.

Iron Dog 2013

Let the winter festivities begin!!! Iron Dog is the start of all the fun things we do to enjoy the winters here.We tried to rent a big fully furnished cabin at Big Lake and get all our friends out to enjoy the weekend but no one was available to go and then we found out the cabin was already booked. So we just drove out the morning of the races. This is our 3rd year going to these and just cuz Harper was 6 weeks old it didn't stop us. We in fact were super excited to take her out on her first Alaskan adventure. It was a balmy 20 degrees out (much much warmer than the previous 2 years which were in the negatives) So we all bundled up and headed to Big Lake for the day.

This is the team I cheer on every year, Sarah Palins husband Todd Palin and Scott Davis, starting off in the 15th position. Last year they ended in 4th after leading the whole race but got held up with sled problems.

 I love every second I get to spend with this man... he means everything to me.

When we got out there the wind chill was ridiculous. I was so nervous Harp was going to get cold, cuz I sure was and I had numerous layers on under my ski gear. She was screaming at first and I was so nervous she was cold. I had only brought 3 small blankets for her. So we were only out for an hour watching the races. Despite the fact that she was sleeping I had a little pit in my stomach that this was a daring adventure with a 6 week old. But once we got to the truck and uncovered her I realized she was plenty warm and comfy. But we saw and enjoyed all we wanted to. We drove around the rest of the afternoon looking at houses and lots for sale then we headed home and we all took a much needed nap :) We ended the day at Kari and Ryan's house for Moose burgers which were incredible. It was a great day well spent with our little family.

Harper 6 weeks old

The last 6 weeks sure have changed our lives and we have surely enjoyed every minute of it. Harper is growing up so fast. She is mommas best friend during the day. Poor Jeff works 60 hours a week, 3 different jobs. He is the assistant manager at GNC nutrition, teaches ATC labs at the college, and he has been busy as ever managing 3 different apartment complexes. By the time he is home Harper and I both want his attention but we get very little of it before he goes to bed. Someday this schedule will end and we will have our daddy back. I'm so grateful for all his hard work so that I can stay home and be a mom to our precious girl.
Harper is growing up so fast. It is so fun to watch her reach so many milestones.

• She doesn't mind tummy time. She holds her head up so well. Even when we try to burp her on our shoulders she has so much strength in her neck that she is able to hold her head and look around.
• She loves to be kissed on the lips. She always opens her mouth and at times will give us a little tongue :) We just both love kissing her.
• She is still in newborn clothes, some are getting snug. (She just has a very round belly :)
• She grew out of newborn diapers just this week (I tried to finish off the ones I had, which were only 4 left, but I was being harassed by my mom cuz they were way too tight and she was leaking out of them) So we are now in size 1's and boy they sure fit alot better :)
• She developed an umbilical hernia. It is so sad. At first it looked like she had a little outie belly button (which she didn't have before) but boy it sure is growing. Hope it resolves it self so we can avoid surgery.
• She developed the dreadful COLIC. After cutting back my dairy products and salads, attempting to treat with gripe water, I called the Dr. They suggested Colic tablets. They are all natural and dissolve under the tongue. Oh my heavens they have SAVED us. You can give them every 2 hrs if needed but I just do it before I feed her, sometimes every 3-4 hours. We can sure tell when she has gone too long without them so we try not to skip a dose.
• She is sleeping pretty good at nights. I don't believe in schedules. Jeff and I both don't want to be tide down due to a "schedule", since we enjoy life too much and love to keep up with all our Alaska adventures (camping, fishing, etc) . So we play it by ear. She is usually in bed between 9-10pm and will sleep 4-5 hrs then wake up to feed and then she is right back to sleep for another 3 hrs.
• During the day she is up a majority of the time and I just feed her on demand usually anywhere between 2-4 hrs. She is mostly awake in the mornings from 10-1 pm or so. I love this time because it's when I shower (she loves hearing the shower), we both get ready for the day, we dance to country music, I sing to her and she talks to me.
• She had her first night of "crying it out". I thought it would be alot harder than it was. She cried for about 10 min and then was out. My baby app has been a great guide for me. I am surrounded by friends and family with kids and everyone does it different but I take alot of the advice from the app on my phone. We have started laying her down when she is wide awake but showing sign of being tired so that way when she gets a little older and wakes up during the night she is able to self sooth. So far we have gone 4 nights in a row with great success.
• She is still in the bassinet next to my bed. She is becoming a much quieter sleeper so having her in the room with us isn't bothering either of us. Before too long I will start napping her in her crib and then my plan is by the time I go back to work she will be in her crib at nights.
• Biggest of all, she started smiling. She has only smiled for me a few times (usually in the mornings when I'm getting her dressed). Sadly Jeff hasn't had his moment yet but it' getting close.

KO has found a new friend that will pet him... even though all her arm movements are involuntary at this time :)

Trying to capture her cute gummy grin on camera.

This cute hat was the first clothing item Jeff and I bought her before she was born. I was hoping it would fit since our winter activities are coming up. Hopefully she'll get to wear it before she out grows it next year.

Sometimes when I think she is sleeping after burping her I go look in the mirror and see this... just chilling and soaking up some cuddle time

 Another failed attempt at trying to catch her smiling.

Now that her colic is under control she is so pleasant and so fun to have around. I just love being her mom and I love watching Jeff interact with her.

7 weeks old



 Check out all those rolls. I love that she is getting so chunky...milk definately does her body good :)

Jeff was playing the guitar for her one night and she sure enjoyed it... so much that she gave us the cutest grin. Sooo glad I caught it on camera cuz Jeff wasn't watching and would have missed it.

We had to go to the temple for youth baptisms for mutual. Kari and Ryan so kindly babysat for us. It was the first time anyone has watched her, besides when my mom was here. She smiled at Kamdin and I just love this photo Kari sent me.

One of my favorite outfits. She only had it on for a few hours and then had her first MASSIVE blowout. Oh the joys!!!

Jeff had a scout campout one weekend and had to work right before and right after. I was not looking forward to being home alone with a newborn. (He helps so much when he is home so it was hard to swallow being a single parent for 36 straight hours). But we managed. This cute peanut wouldn't go to bed though and stayed up with mom blogging. She was so content just chilling in my arms. I think she new I wanted the company :)

Happy 1 month Harper

Where has the past month gone? I know every mother says that when watching their children grow up and know I totally understand. As I posted Harper's newborn pics, I would look down at here in my lap and realize my newborn isn't a newborn. She looks completely different now. It's amazing what a little chub can do to your baby. Now that Harper is filling out she is starting to look a little more like me, but she still has lots of her Daddy's features. I love that she is a good mix between us. So here is a little about her:

1 month stats:

Weight: 8 lb 12 oz.

Length: 20 3/4 inches

• Eyes seem to be turning blue. (I have dark brown and Jeff has hazel, not sure where the blue is from)
• Her once dark brown hair is getting much lighter :( This makes me sad! Jeff's toe head past might be in her genes.
• She is still a noisy sleeper but it seems to be getting better (or maybe I'm just numb to it now).
• She started taking a bottle at 3 weeks and took it like it was nothing. She now gets 1 bottle a day which is super convenient when we are running errands or at church.
• She laughs and smiles all the time in her sleep and sometimes I can get a partial half smile when she is awake.
• She developed reflux at 3 weeks. UGH just a headache. She also never cried until this point so I'm convinced if I can cure the reflux then my baby will never cry :) Wishful thinking!!!
• She is the GASSIEST baby ever. At times it's so loud it wakes us up in our sleep.
• She still loves her swing and bouncy/vibrating chair but only for an hour or so. We have to move her from one position to the next. (usually rotate between laying her on the couch, the bouncy chair, the swing, the boppy lounger just to keep her comfortable.)
• She still is a terrible burper. And trust us we have tried everything.
• She is awake more than I thought newborns should be. Some days she will be up for 2-3 hrs just chilling. She mostly has her awake hours from 7-midnight, not fun for mom and dad who want to be in bed at 10!

 

 

A few random pics from the past month (I tried to do it chronologically so I can see how much she has changed). We sure love little Harp and its' so crazy to look at how blessed our lives have been with her around.

3 days old: giving Momma loves on our second day home from the hospital.

Hanging out in the bathroom while momma showers. She loves hearing the water run... it's now a daily routine.

10 days old: A friend in the ward made us a few beanies. I can't wait for all our winter activities here in Alaska so we can dress her up in some of the warmer stuff we have for her.

Not sure what KO was doing here... either watching over Harper or about ready to sit on her and suffocate her because he is no longer momma's baby now that she is around :) KO really is fascinated with her though, Chewy on the other hand pays no attention and mind his own business.

2 weeks: She is the most alert little newborn ever. And I love dressing her, head to toe ;)

 3 weeks: Oh heavens, already sticking her tongue out at her mom... we are in trouble.

She loves loves the bath. One night, after being awake for 8 HOURS STRAIGHT during the day we put her in the tub and she passed out. She didn't even wake up when we lifted her out of the tub or when I dressed her and put on lotion. Needless to say we had a rough day that day so she zonked out.

4 weeks: This was her first day to church. She did so good and it was so fun to show her off.

Yes my daughter has on white furry boots. She totally is my daughter. Can't have enough boots in Alaska.