Progress

Harper's 15 month check up was this morning and thinking about how much she's grown since a year ago is amazing.  She's now 18 lbs, 9.5 oz and 30 inches tall.  It's incredible to think about how much she has changed, not only physically.  She now walks (and is trying to run); signs "more", "milk", and more; has 5 words and can feed herself.  She also sleeps through the night now (most nights), which is very important for her development as well as my sanity!

Here she is at gymnastics class yesterday:

I have made progress lately as well, striving to complete some tasks I've been meaning to get to for awhile.  One major goal has been getting under my pre-pregnancy weight and working towards healthier habits, not only for myself but for Harper's sake as well.  So about 2 months ago I started exercising regularly and trying to eat less and healthier.  As a result, I've lost 12 pounds!  I've also gotten into the routine of taking Harper for a jog after we each eat breakfast.  I get some much needed exercise, we both get fresh air and a dose of sunshine and I feel better each time I run.  Today I ran a 10:54 mile, which meant I achieved one of the goals I set in my mind: running a mile in under 11 minutes.

I also registered for a beginning sewing class on September 10th.  I have fabric and an online tutorial for my first project, and as soon as I learn the basics, I'll be ready to jump right in.  This is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Here's to making progress!

Being a mother

Now that our home improvements have slowed down (Michael is still working on our front yard area) and Harper is growing like a weed, there are so many projects I have going.  None of them seem to come to fruition.

Free 8x8 photo book from Shutterfly?!  I'm all over that . . . for all of 2 1/2 minutes.  Printing and organizing photos for the baby book so that Harper can lovingly look back on the first days and months of her life?!  Of course! . . . until I find another pile of laundry that needs folding and all of those photos either sit in a queue on Walgreens.com or in a stack in the spare bedroom/office closet.  Keeping up on my blog so family members and friends can enjoy pictures and anecdotes from our lives?!  Ahhh, you get the picture.

My mother-in-law gave me a brand new sewing machine for Christmas almost 3 years ago and guess how many times it has been used?  Twice.  I see all of these cute patterns and ideas for little girls' dresses and rompers on pinterest and think, I'll get out the sewing machine and make tons of cute outfits for Harper, for my friends' children . . . Yeah, right; my child will probably be 14 by the time I sit down long enough to figure the sewing machine out.

Now that Harper is here and I spent all of my days with her, I wonder what I did before her and really kick myself for not getting organized.  Why didn't I figure out the sewing machine in the almost 6 months I owned it before I gave birth?  Why didn't I fill in the baby book while my child was a newborn and slept the majority of the day?  Why didn't I keep up on the blog during nap time so I don't have to email all of my relatives and friends the link for the 147th time?!  

Harper's a TODDLER!

My Harper is a smart, funny, beautiful toddler!  We are almost at the 15 month mark.  She's walking, tumbling, talking, signing, laughing and exploring.