The Harris Family

Mara will be 6 months old this month and while that is now the recommended age for starting foods she shows no interest in them at all. That is OK with me because she is a great nurser and sleeper so I’m not pushing it.

 

However it does seem strange to me that Ellie was ready and willing to go at 4 months old Mara chokes and gags if you put anything non boob related into her mouth. But this IS the story of her first food… so you know something has gone down. Literally.

 

Yesterday afternoon Ellie, Emily, Mara and I were sitting around wondering what we could do with our day. Ellie had tooth fairy money burning a hole in her pocket and we just needed an idea. While putzing around online I pulled up a trailer for the new Disney move “Up”. They ran over to watch the preview and it was quickly decided. We were going to see Up!

 

We packed into the car so we could make the 4:50 showing. But first, a quick stop to get some cheaper candy to hide in my purse! Oh you know do it too. After all, if they didn’t want me to smuggle in candy they wouldn’t charge me $5 for twizzlers.

 

And off we went. Mara was hypnotized by the big screen. And I patted myself on the back. Great idea I had to bring her! She will love this experience, it will be so magical! And it was! It really really was. For 10 minutes. After the first big noise she was startled and quickly declined into grunts and fusses.

 

Who’s stupid idea was it to bring a baby to the movies anyway? I grabbed for my purse knowing there was a baby toy in there hoping it would amuse her. I dug around for a minute and then “OILA!” baby toy found. Mara seemed content and we went on watching our movie.

 

It didn’t even occure to me after 10 minutes had passed that Mara had been absolutely enamored with her toy. Moreso than ever before. It didn’t occur to me in the least until I felt her hand touch my arm. Her little sticky… incredibly wet hand. I whipped her around expecting to see her covered in spit up. But it wasn’t spit up. Her whole face, torso, hands and arms were covered in a dark substance. I almost freaked out until I realized the smell… it was… it was… Twix. Mara (and now I) was covered it chocolate. Even though I was smart enough to leave a purse full of candy next to a baby I wasn’t smart enough to have brought my diaper bag of course. No wipes to be found in my purse. I wiped her down best I could and returned to the movie.

 

My baby’s first food was chocolate. A chocolate caramel twix bar. Of course pictures as soon as we got home from our memorable first trip to the movie theater which turned out to be memorable in a whole new way.

Ellie’s 2 bottom teeth have had a little “give” to them for several weeks if not a few months. She’s been aching to lose a tooth! The idea of a cute little fairy leaving her money is just too good to pass up!

After school Ellie prompted me to “feel how loose it is NOW mom!” and after hearing that for weeks and weeks I wasn’t expecting much. But whoooaa was that little sucker rocking! I felt it… I knew it was going to happen. (Moms have keen instincts about these sorts of things.

It was this lil guy right here… see him all tilted forward?

That little bugger was coming out! We pushed it, we pulled it, we twisted it… it was on it’s way. Daddy got home and after he felt it his eyes got wide! He knew it too. I guess daddies have a few of those instincts too. We even let her stay up late knowing all it needed was a little more time.

Finally all the pushing, pulling and twisting was getting a little old. I told Ellie to go get an apple. And if that tooth didn’t pop out on the first bite!

Here is the heroic apple.

 

And the cute little fairy paid us a visit! She was mighty generous, this being her first tooth and all. I hope that doesn’t set the bar for future teeth… I don’t know how the fairy will afford groceries or gas when teeth start popping out left and right in a couple years.

 

I must admit she looks mighty adorable. My big girl!!! I remember watching that tooth make it’s way through her gums over 5 years ago. I loved that little tooth. I stared at it in awe. And now it’s gone. I’ll miss you little tooth!!! I’ll miss you.

We took a little trip to Chuck E. Cheese last night because Ellie’s school was doing a promotion where kids get 10 free tokens.

 

Turns out it wasn’t THAT night that they were it… whoops.  Oh well, Ellie was ready for games and it was Mara’s first trip to CEC. So we stayed and Ellie punched ducks and smacked gophers and whacked bees…. Hmm I never realized how violent those games are. And Mara stared in amazement at all the lights and sounds going on around her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Afterwards we remembered Ellie still had a Barnes and Noble gift certificate from her birthday so we went and picked out a couple things. She got a Princess tea party cookbook and a cool journal.

 

We were heading home and I was just thinking random boring thoughts when from the backseat Ellie leaned forward and said, “Thank you, thank you mommy! This was the best most special night I ever had!”

 

It’s always those random moments I least expect it that make an impression on her.

It was a lot of fun!

 

The only bummer was you weren’t allowed to take photos. Like this one here.

 

See that? That wasn’t allowed. So I couldn’t take anymore pictures. Nope no more pictures at all.

Like this one here that I wanted to take. I couldn’t take it.

 

And this one here… I certainly could not take it after a serious man in a red coat came over and tapped me on the shoulder and waggled his finger in my face and said “No pictures!”

 

I sure wish I could have taken some pictures to show you all.  But rules are rules. No pictures.

Hey where’d that come from?

Certainly not from me! I wouldn’t have taken pictures after all those signs saying not to take photos. AND certainly not after that second man in a red coat came and waggled his finger at me.

 

 

And then that third man.

 

There was a lot of finger waggling going on that night.

 

But it was worth it!

Just girl in this world! Just a girl…. GOING TO A NO DOUBT CONCERT!!!

 

Wooohooo!! Tonight is the night and you know I’m excited because usually I refrain from using Woohoos and Woots in this blog but today I just don’t care! CUZ I’M GOING TO NO DOUBT!!!

 

Tonight is the big night! The sitter is got! The tickets are bought! Wow that rhymes! I could totally write songs! Maybe I’ll show off for Gwen tonight and she will be so amazed at my awesome talent that she will ask me to come be her personal song writer! And then I’ll be rich and famous and I’ll get to travel around with No Doubt!

OH MY GOSH this is all happening so fast!!

 

Wait perhaps I’m getting a tad carried away. No matter… anywho Will and I are going with a couple friends to see No doubt tonight… Oh have I mentioned that already? Oh really, hmm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh hey look there’s a picture of No doubt! Did you know I’m going to see them in concert tonight? Lucky me!

 

Oh my gosh!! Lucky me!! That’s a reference to a line in her song ”Just a girl”.

 

OK I’m going to stop being a dork just long enough to go get things ready for tonight.

Poor poor mommy!! I have it soooo hard!

 

It’s a battle. I am constantly trying to figure out how to give each of my daughters enough time and attention. I agonize over providing them with enough quality mommy time. “HOW can I divide myself equally among the two and also give them together time all the while trying to be a good wife and find personal time as well?” I ask myself.

 

It’s tough I tells ya. While Ellie is away at school I take Mara and snuggle and cuddle her. I kiss and hug her and nurse her and caress her sweet face. I curl up on the couch and play with her and make her smile and laugh. I lay her down in bed and watch her sweetly sleep.

You’re seeing my point now aren’t you? Yes. My life is so so hard.

I have to deal with all this cuteness. ALL BY MYSELF!

 

And while Mara is sleeping soundly in the mornings or late afternoon I have to get Ellie and spend quality time with her. I have to set all else aside so we can spend time… just the two of us… time to work hard at bonding and…. making… monkey bread. Chewy delicious yummy… hard working monkey bread.

 

Yes it takes a special kind of woman to do this job. A special woman who doesn’t mind the extra calories.

Today Mara decided she was going to sit up. And so she did!

 

She’s been doing this all day long. I’m really very impressed with her. And I think she’s pretty impressed with herself.

Theeeeere’s dancing time and laughing time and playing time and now it is our favorite time. SIGNING TIME!!!

When we heard Rachel was coming to Vegas again this year for another signing time show we were soooo excited! Last year was so fun we couldn’t wait to do it again.

 

We got there early this year so we could sit closer this time. Although it wouldn’t have hurt to get there a little earlier because all the middle section was taken so we were shoved to the side a little.

 

When you get there early you have to find things to do to keep yourself busy.

Jumping off rocks is always a fun option. It’s important to show off at the end.

Last year they gave out Hopkins hats.. and this year they had new ones! I like the tongue, nice detail.

 

Waiting for the show to start.

 

Mara enjoyed the outside experience.

 

And the hat experience.

 

The grass was wet but it didn’t seem to bother anyone.

 

We spotted Lucy on the other side of the lawn. That was pretty cool. Ellie loves Lucy!

We are officially ready for the show to start.

 

It’s Rachel!

 

AND Alex and Leah!! What a surprise! They didn’t come last year.

 

Ellie got to go up and be the signer for “green” in the Rainbow song”. She was pretty much the best kid up there… and I’m not saying that cuz she’s my kid. She totally rocked that green sign!

 

She got a free T-shirt for being the best helper! The other kids got T-shirts too. (Just to not hurt feelings I’m sure).

 

Afterwards the line to meet Rachel, Alex and Leah was pretty long and Mara was pooped. But Ellie BEGGED to go up and see them. Ellie won because she has the ability to hold a grudge a little longer than Mara. Hey fair is fair!

Ellie found ways to keep herself occupied during this waiting period as well.

And the long waited for pic…

 

Hopefully they decide to come next year as well!

Happy Mother’s day to all those hard working mamas out there!

I’m off to eat my cheerios sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Oh ya- it’s one of the perks!

 

Where do I even begin? There’s so many things I love about this picture.

 

The first thing you should know about this photo is that Ellie and Mara were playing on our bed this morning. Mara threw her arms around Ellie and Ellie squealed, “She’s huggin me mama!.” Well if that wasn’t pure cuteness in itself… My dear little girl looked up and whispered (my dear little 6 year old girl who hides whenever I get the camera… who whenever I beg to take her picture runs away and who if by chance doesn’t run or hide she frowns and pouts and fusses over it) “Mama” she whispered “… you should take a picture.”

 

She didn’t need to ask me twice.

 

It might just be the mom in me talking but I just love this photo. The Doofus look on my little 4 month old’s face as she tries to grab her sissy. Her mussy hair sticking every which way because of her recent bath and the fact I didn’t even attempt to comb it.

 

I love her little hand hooked on her sister’s mouth as she tries so hard to get that girl’s attention. Because she is the coolest… the most incredible… the absolute hight of awesomeness… the best thing that has ever walked the planet. Oh yes. Around here Miss Ellie is hot stuff and Mara just loves her to bits and pieces.

 

I love my Ellie’s happy stare. I love that she wanted for me to take a picture. I love that she smiled for me and showed me how much she was enjoying the moment. A moment she was playing with her sister and wanted to remember forever.

 

I love her silky morning hair, not yet brushed but still so soft and sweet. Her arms around her baby sister.

 

Yes, maybe it’s just the mom in me but moments like these are what I live for.