Thanksgiving Weekend

We survived another weekend FULL of delicious food and quality time with family. I love the holidays because I enjoy getting together with our families. I believe that family is what makes the holidays. Adam, Harper and I spent Thanksgiving day alone this year because Adam had to work. It seriously felt like any other day of the week - didn't even seem like Thanksgiving. Family is truly what makes the holidays special :) We had a great time with everyone. Thanks for everything!

On our way to Northwood (hoarding as much as she could)

Harper very 1st homemade noodle - a Bachtle holiday tradition


mmmmm - these deviled eggs are GOOD!

Harper with her 2nd cousins - Kaylyn and Jenna

In between our Thanksgivings, we managed to squeeze in a little visit to visit the Christianson's! The kids had fun playing together. (so did the adults later on that night!) This is the best shot of Harper, Kennedy and Brady sitting together. It's challenging trying to get a 14 month old, 2 1/2 yr old, and 5 yr old to sit together for a picture!

Harper with her 'Nerlien' cousins - Abby, Nicole, and Cody

Harper and Abby rocking in the chair - Harper has always loved her cousin Abby!

Harper rocking with Grandpa Gary

Check back later this week for a blog about our Christmas tree!

Photo Cards

SeeHere is offering 25 photo cards for only $4.99 shipped!

I took advantage of a deal similar to this last year and ordered our cards from this website. They don't have as big or as cute of a selection as other websites, but you can't beat the price. Last year, I found the most basic template and changed the colors, saying, and font to personalize it to my style. Here's how to snag this great deal:

go to www.seehere.com

create a 4 x 8 single flat photo card

select 25 cards to add to your cart

use coupon code: 25cards when checking out

It should only charge you the shipping, which is $4.99!

Happy Black Friday to you!

{thankful}

Enough said!

We have been blessed again this year; we have so much to be thankful for!

• great friends
• supportive family
• our home
• our jobs that we both love
• finding time to go back to school
• our health
• the most AMAZING little girl that we could ask for!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you all count your blessings today, and every day!

**Adam has to work the Thanksgiving holiday, so we will be traveling to Northwood on Saturday to eat LOTS and LOTS of comfort food! I will be cooking our little family a Jeanie-O Turkey loaf, mashed potatoes, and stove top stuffing. Fabulous, huh?!?!

**Also, tomorrow we are going to go pick out our first REAL Christmas tree as a family!! So excited!!!!

Harper the Hoarder

Harper has turned into a full blown hoarder! She hoards everything ~ food, toys, clothes, toothbrushes, etc. She thinks she needs to have her hands as absolutely full as they can get, with whatever it may be. It's pretty comical - not sure what started this phase, but it makes us laugh.

Hoarding her pieces of PB sandwich

....and her snacks

The rest of the pictures are just for fun. Here is Harper attempting to eat a big girl sandwich. Let's just say it was cut up in no time b/c she tried shoveling it ALL into her mouth!

Finally starting to smile again for the camera!

Being SILLY ~

Congrats Abby & Aaron!

This past weekend I headed down to Des Moines to celebrate with a very special friend. One of my best friends from high school is getting married next October and there was an 'informal engagement' party for Abby and Aaron in West Des Moines. But before the party, Abby asked me if I'd like to go wedding dress shopping with her and her mom. Well DUH - who doesn't like to look at wedding dresses?!?! So I met up with Abby and her mom, along with a few other of Abby's' friends. While trying on dresses, Abby asked us all to be part of her big day! It was very special. I am very honored to be a bridesmaid in Abby and Aaron's wedding. They both are wonderful people.

With the Bride-to-Be

OH YEAH ~ Abby also asked me if Harper could be one of her FLOWERGIRLS?!!!!! Of course I said, "YES!" Harper will look sooooooooooooo cute! We can't wait for October 8th to get here!

Harper with Abby and Aaron :)

CONGRATS ABBY AND AARON!!!!!!!!!!

Crazy Week

This week has been CRAZY! Adam has worked every night since Sunday. [tonight is his last night until Monday :)] I have had a test EVERY day this week. I have one more tomorrow. It has been hard to find time study because I'm in class or work during the day and then I'm home alone at night while Adam is at work. Luckily Harper goes to bed around 8, so that is when I study. This Friday is my last day of clinical for the semester, YIPPEE!!!!!! I hate waking up at 5:45 am.
Things won't slow down much this weekend either because I have yet another big test next Monday that I need to study for. I also have a reflective paper due on Monday that sums up my clinical experiences.
I'm also squeezing in a little trip to Des Moines on Friday night to see Abby. There is an 'informal engagement' party on Friday night in West Des Moines. Can't wait to see her! Is it Thanksgiving break yet?!?!?!?!?!

new post

I finished up a post that I started a few days ago regarding Harper turning 14 months.

Because I started it on the 10th, it posted BEFORE my Veterans Day post. So please scroll down to read the 'newest' post.

Thanks.

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you to all who have served our country! A BIG THANK to Adam, who dedicated 4 years of his life to serve the USA. It was a LONG 4 years, but I am so thankful for them! We both created a lot of great memories in those 4 years and gained new friends and a different prospective on life. We are BOTH stronger people because of the military!

Remember to thank a Veteran today, young and old. I'd also like to thank my father-in-law (Vietnam) and my brother-in-law (Operation Induring Freedom/Iraq War). Both of my grandfathers served in the Army, and my uncle in the Marines. Thank you!

Unfortunately, Veterans only get thanked one day a year. I think it should be EVERY day!

14 Months

Weight: 22.8 lbs

Diaper Size: 3

Clothing Size: 18 months

Teeth: Hard telling b/c she always bites when we stick our fingers in her mouth! Do you blame her though?! Harper has had a rough month in the teething department. I'm pretty sure she cut 4 molars all in a two week time span, making her total 12-14???? Only 6-8 to go! She's cutting a few on the bottom right now....poor thing!

Speech: Her first 'real' word is "hi!" She says "Hi" to strangers at the grocery store, doctors office, Target, etc. Anyone that walks by is fair game - she gives them a big grin and then says "Hi." I'll have to teach her about 'Stranger Danger' when she gets older :) She is also making lots of other sounds and speaks her own little language to us. She learned to sign milk and please this month too!

Eating Habits: Harper's new favorite are the Jeanie-O Turkey Franks. She eats all table food. We are still working on using silverware. It is such a mess that I dislike the idea of practicing, so we only practice with the less messy foods. Harper still drinks a bottle before bed and if she wakes up in the morning. She only has 1/2 can of formula left and then she'll have a sippy cup of milk before bed.

Sleeping Habits: Harper had a few nearly sleepless nights a few weeks ago because of her teeth. She was seriously up every hour - it was pure hell! Now she is back to her regular sleeping pattern of waking up usually b/w 5 and 6 for a bottle, and then back to bed until 8. Bedtime is still around 8 pm. She still takes a morning and afternoon nap, about 1.5-2 hrs each. Luckily, she adjusted to Daylight Savings time with a day or two.

Favorite Toy: Baby Elmo and accessories (blanket, bib, bottles, pacifier)

Favorite Activity: Harper LOVES music and dancing! I think her favorite song is the ABC's. Her newest dance move is twirling in circles.

New Things:

• doesn't cry at daycare anymore!!!!!
• when I tell her that I have to go potty, she runs to the bathroom and lifts up the toilet seat for me :)

I'm sure there is so much more that I am forgetting, it seems like she can do something new every day!

Playing in the leaves

We took advantage of the gorgeous fall weather today and played in the leaves! A new first for Harper. She loved it! Enjoy the pictures.

"Can I really jump into all of these leaves?!"

This is fun!

Mommy played in the leaves too

Time to bury mommy!

Daddy's turn to play with me!

School Update

It's hard to believe that I only have 5 weeks left of this semester! I guess it's a good thing that I think it's going fast, better too fast than too slow. I have learned a ton of stuff already in just my first semester of the nursing program. The most exciting skill I've learned recently is how to give injections. I was able to give my first shot on Friday! Scary but so much fun at the same time. I am enjoying every minute of school so far. And I am pleased with my grades at this point:
Fundamentals of Nursing - 90%
Medication Administration - 100%
Anatomy and Physiology II - 95%

I hope I am able to maintain my grades for the remainder of the semester. I hear that each semester gets more and more difficult and requires more studying. I hope my success will follow me along my journey.

..JUMP!....

Harper is turning into a silly and VERY active girl these days! Walking is a thing of the past - she usually RUNS everywhere. I often wonder why she feels the need to run from room to room or toy to toy. Good exercise I guess. She also knows how to climb on furniture, go up AND down the stairs, and get down from the chair/couch/bed. Her newest skill is JUMPING! Or so she thinks that she is jumping. I'm not really sure how she learned the concept of jumping. I think I was acting like a bunny one night to entertain her and the rest is history. Yes, I was hopping around like a bunny. If only you could be a fly on our wall!!!!! Enjoy the video :)

PS - It took 24 hour for the video to load - I promise I was trying to keep on on my blog.

Trick-or-Treat

Sorry the Halloween blog is a little late, I am very busy with school these days. I took Harper trick-or-treating for her first time on Sunday and it went well. We only went to 4 houses though ;) She didn't mind her costume one bit! Isn't she the cutest little puppy you've ever seen?!

She loved playing in the candy bowl!

All of Harper's treats that she accumulated at only 4 houses!

I'm cutting this blog short - I'm tired and have homework and housework to do while Harper is napping. Happy Wednesday!

PS - Is it really already NOVEMBER?!