Happy Easter!

   Easter is definitely a different experience when there's a kid involved! This year I was out looking for plastic Easter eggs, toys, and debating which candy to fill them with. Last year? I was just worried about getting enough food in my growing belly... Get in my belly... Austin Powers anyone? Right. 

Yeah a mommy picture! Because we don't have a lot of those!

   Anyway, we were going into Easter thinking we were going to be low key with the whole Easter Egg Hunt. We actually weren't planning on dying eggs (he's barely one, do you want to clean up that mess?). We weren't going to hide eggs or even do a basket. (One, remember?) But then we were invited to my family's Easter Dinner which included the inevitable Egg Hunt for the kids. So plan A was scrapped. I went out Saturday night (yes the night before Easter), scoured Super Target and Dollar Tree and came up with 4 big eggs filled with Weebles for Harrison and some candy filled eggs for the cousins. PS - Don't do last minute Easter shopping. The stores were a mess and everyone was in desperate mode.
   Sunday we got up super early and went to 7:30am Mass. Yes we're nuts but we only had to get there 15 minutes early and found a parking spot/seats. Plus we didn't have to parking lot stalk anyone! Harrison was pretty good. He was still sleepy but he did "dance" to every piano song! After church we went over to my parents house for Easter breakfast. We lasted maybe 1 hrs before we all wanted to go home and go back to bed! After nap time, Harrison and I enjoyed a nice walk to the park. We, of course, visited the swings!

Swinging High Five! (That's what it's supposed to be at least.)

   Late afternoon we headed over to my aunt's to enjoy an amazing food spread and do that darn Easter Egg Hunt! Easter lunch/dinner is one of those meals I wish I could eat more without feeling like I am going to explode. Between the cheesy potatoes, spinach salad and the desserts (that I didn't have room for)... YUM! I'd say our first Easter Egg Hunt was okay. Harrison's not walking so Adam carried him. Adam also found all of the eggs for him. Harrison just ate the plastic eggs and shook them because he liked to hear the toys inside rattle. So glad I carefully picked out those toys.

Yes my hair always sticks up. No I don't get these eggs.

   Maybe next year he'll get the whole hunt and be able to compete on his own! We should probably start practicing soon:0)

Happy Easter from Daddy and me!

Hope you had a Happy Easter!

~Emily

I'm a BIG boy!

   So we're there. Harrison is a ONE year old! That just sounds crazy. A lot has been going on lately. First I'll start with Harrison's big one year stats. In this corner weighing 21.12lbs (25%) and standing at 31in (85%) is the Boo Monkey! He's almost as big as some of his friends that are a good 6 months older.

Did someone say Cheese?

   Up next, Harrison's big adventures. (Picture PeeWee but without the annoying voice and with cuter clothes:0)). While our weather was nice, we enjoyed lots of outside time. Harrison and I have discovered our local park and swings! He loves swinging! In fact, he loves them so much that he has a mini-meltdown when it's time to go home. Don't mind the screaming baby....

My first time on a swing and I'm hooked!

   Harrison also visited the Easter Bunny (and didn't cry!) and has developed a knack for wearing stylish sunglasses. Okay he was only good for the Easter Bunny because I pumped him full of Cheerios and the sunglasses really only stay on for about 5 minutes and then he tries to eat them... or throw them... But still, it counts.

How you doin'?

   Lastly Harrison is a standing man. Ever since our last Parents As Teachers meeting in March, Harrison can't seem to get enough of pulling up on everything. He loves pulling up on the couch to "pet" Eddie. He loves pulling up on his toys to get a better angle and reach everything. His newest trick is letting go. Yep, my brave little man pulls up, gets a solid standing position and then just lets go. It's so fun to watch but it definitely has us on our toes!

I'm so brave now. I let go!

Next time we'll discuss this bottomless pit of a baby boy!

What will he be like when he's in his teens...?

~Emily

The big party!

   Last Saturday we had Harrison's first birthday party!

I know what you're thinking... Wow, that's a long sign.

   Yes, I was a complete meanie trying to get the house clean... Well, clean enough for visitors. But Adam was a trouper and helped clean a lot. And cooked and baked a lot (4 sets of brownies for the church bake sale and 3 dozen monkey cupcakes for the party). And then he ran a thousand errands. I couldn't help it. I had to work. Plus he was off and he asked what he could do to help. So there, it wasn't all my fault. The house was clean, the dogs were at doggy daycare and the table was set. How come I'm always the last one to be ready though?

The spread and the party favors... Gorilla Filla'!

   The party went off without a hitch. We had roughly 30 guests which consisted of family, school friends, church friends, family friends, two pregnant ladies (one about ready to pop!), and eight kids ranging from 1 month to 5 years. It was amazing! We had no spills, no messes and no crying kids! I know, that never happens!

The big boys playing with the new car toy!

   Harrison loved his first taste of cupcake. We wimped out. No big cake for him. And yes, he had a bib on. (I told you, we wimped out.) He ate the whole stinking thing! I thought he was going to lick his tray when he was done. Adam's monkey cupcakes were a huge hit as well as all the other food we had. We didn't have a lot of leftovers.

Where has this been my whole life?

   After lunch and cupcakes, we headed for the presents. The big kids were my helpers seeing as Harrison was off playing with his other toys. They were very good at waiting until we opened the cards, removing the tissue paper and cleaning up. (Where were they when we were cleaning our entire house?!) Harrison also received a lot of donations for the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City. We asked people to donate to our furry friends in place of buying gifts. Adam and Harrison are taking the donations down tomorrow. I'm sure they will be really excited to see how much Harrison is able to bring them!!

Our special gift to the puppies!

   All in all, it was a great day! I'm relieved everything went well, everyone ate well and we could all relax and enjoy! Afternoon parties are where it's at! By 3pm, we had our house back to normal and Harrison was playing with all of his new toys! By 8pm, he was passed out in bed and all of his new clothes were in the wash. It was an awesome day and we're so happy we could share it with all of our family and friends! Thank you again to everyone!

Thank you!! I'm ONE!!!

A tired momma of a one-year-old,

~Emily

*All of our paper goods were created by Chickabug. Please visit her amazing Etsy shop!!