Our little decorator

Apparently, Lainey thought we needed some decorating tips. She thought the chair to the kitchen table would be better placed next to the wine cabinet. She pushed it all the way over to its new home; she's quite a determined little thing. She worked and worked at pushing it until she had it exactly where she wanted it (or the wall and cabinet prevented her from pushing it any further). 

Funny video

So, I am stealing this from my friend Jenny's blog site (Anna Claire's mom). It's hilarious!! And I think most of us can relate! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKvG8wb-Mpw

Cute

Again, I didn't take this great picture! It was graciously sent to us by Mike Newman, photographer for the Plano Profile.

Ben's kickoff party: March 5th, 2009

Last night we "kicked off" Ben's campaign at the Angelika Film Center in Plano. It was a great success!! I will admit, though, that I am perhaps the worst historian of all time. I did not take too many pictures. And the good ones that I did manage to get on my camera - I didn't even take! I need to improve. Anyway, thank you to my amazing and dedicated family members who drove up to celebrate with us (Pam, Mark, Mom, and Dad) and my family members who were there in spirit (my brother and all of my cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents). Thank you to my wonderful in-laws (mother- and father- and sisters- and brothers-) and my little nieces and nephew for being so supportive and behind us 100% (and more!). Thank you to the many Plano residents and voters who attended. Ben, we for are so proud of you and all for which you stand. Go get 'em!

Beth Webb introducing Ben

Ben awaiting his turn to speak

"Can we go in this store? I see a dog that I'd like to play with...and maybe take home with me."

"Still waiting for you guys to let me in..." (Emmy eventually did let her inside to play with the dog!)

with Jessica and tiny 5-week-old Cooper (our regular community and campaign event buddies, along with Nathan and Alisha and baby 11-week-old Palmer)



Ben giving his speech

John Longstreet with his final remarks

cute Ella

Kate, Brooke, and Cally (No Collin! Sorry bud. Can't believe I missed him in a picture!)

family photo

Update on little Keegan

This picture was taken about a week and a half ago when I went to visit Maddie and Keegan at the hospital. He was ALL smiles when I visited him, and he continues to be a total ham. :) He got his first big-boy haircut in the hospital (his hair had been growing in thick and dark due to the immunosuppressant he had been taking!) and he's looking SO grown up and handsome. :) Anyway - onto the update part of this post. Keegan and his mom and dad are now at the Children's Hospital in Boston hoping to get some answers for the little man. They flew out today (Keegan and Dad Gray on a hospital plane and Mom Maddie on a commercial flight) and safely arrived and hope that the doctors get up to speed quickly so they can start (again) searching for answers to Keegan's struggles (to name a few: an enlarged spleen, a fast heart rate, a liver who isn't feeling well, low white blood cell counts, and - of course - the constant GI problems and vomiting). Keegan, Maddie, and Gray - we miss you and are thinking and praying for you guys. We hope you get some answers soon. 

Caroline's baby shower

This weekend seven girls and I threw a baby shower for one of my dearest friends. Caroline was a roommate of mine in college and she is pregnant with her first baby, a girl, due in April. Friends and family showered Caroline with SO many cute things - sweet clothes, useful items, and beautiful decorations for her little room. I cannot wait to meet this little baby. She is so lucky to have Caroline and Jason as parents. :)

Nicole and Caroline opening gifts

Hostess Amy with baby Andres and Hostess April with baby RoryCate

College girls! Kristi, Kourtny, Nicole, Caroline, Emily, and Brandy

Andres (Em's baby), Kourtny, and Emily

Porter Roomies - Nicole, Caroline, Amy, and me

I LOVED seeing you Nicole and Amy - I'm so glad y'all were able to come in town. I miss you two!!!

Lainey vs. Ben

cute baby Ben on his first birthday...

little Lainey at 10 months...

Notice the CRAZY similarities! The hair, for one. The face shape and structure (cheeks!). And even the way their little mouths are shaped! And their eyes. Anyway, had to share. Cute!

10 months old!!

Lainey Cathryn is 10 months old!! I think she is doing a lot of fun things these days and every day she seems to get bigger and more aware of her surroundings. I'm going to note some of the sweet things she does at this age and stage.

L - loves to "play toys" as her Yiyia says. She will play alone or with kids or adults - as long as she can play.

A - always crosses her little feet when she sits on the ground. Sometimes she'll uncross them to clap her feet together but then they'll go right back to being crossed.

I - interested in books, but she's quite particular about which ones. Current favorites are There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and Ten Little Ladybugs (thanks Pam!) and Elmo's Book of Love.

N - never, ever quiet, unless she's sleeping. She constantly makes noise and it's so funny. When I was on the phone once with her Aunt Allyson, she likened Lainey to a canary in the background. So true!

E - everyone is her friend. She'll sometimes cry in the nursery at church and one of the ladies in there says that she "doesn't like short hair". She would go to the long-haired women, but not the ones with short hair. And apparently she can tell the women from the men because she has no problem around men for some reason.

Y - yells, screams, and cries when we take her out of the bathtub. That is her all-time favorite place to be. She loves it. The yelling and screaming isn't sweet, but the fact that she is so blissfully happy in the tub is. :)

In a lot of my pictures, Lainey gives this exact, gummy smile. Her mouth opens really big, and her eyes get crinkly, and she laughs and smiles for the camera. A total ham.

in the cute hat that her Emmy gave her...


Usually Lainey likes the swing, but on this day she seemed a little unsure.

Other fun things to note about our 10-month-old:

1. She pulls up on things, cruises along furniture, and can stand for short periods of time. I still don't think walking is in the near future, but maybe before her first birthday.

2. She tries to climb upon things and crawl between spaces that really aren't meant (or wide enough) for babies.

3. Strawberries are a wonderful food - she looooovveeesss them. But when she gets full she'll just squish them all over the place and make a giant mess.

4. I think she would happily climb up the stairs if we would let her. She's made it to the first landing before we intervene - she's fast. And Reagan's food and water are on the first landing and we've had to clean up several dumped waterbowls and scattered food pieces.

5. She has a lot of teeth! Two for sure on the bottom, and two for sure on the top, with one more on the bottom breaking through and the other two on the top almost-breaking-through.

We love you, Lainey! Thanks for making our hearts smile every single day. :)

Using the lion walker

We managed to capture the little one using her lion walker. She is crazy fast and so loud. And it's funny - whenever we say "Yay, Lainey" she'll stop whatever she's doing and clap her hands and smile. Cracks us up every time. Sometimes she'll even clap when she's proud of herself, like when she's exploring in the entertainment center or the pantry or digging out the moss from the ficus tree! You'll notice that she passes by her clothes on the floor - she had pulled them off the stairs and decided to play with them.

Valentine's Weekend Fun

We started off the weekend playing at my friend Tracy's house on Friday. Tate is Tracy's 2-1/2 year old, and he's SUCH a sweet boy. He's so loving and kind with Lainey - and that's hard to do with a little friend who grabs at any toy you have. Tate showed Lainey his wipe-out moves on his scooter and motorcycle, shared his baseball hat with her, and even engaged her in a very loud conversation over lunch about "dadadadada" and "aaaahhhh". Thanks Tracy and Tate for having us over to play!

Tate's pants disappeared sometime during the playdate. He is saying "Cheeeeeeese" while posing with his scooter. Classic picture.

Lainey lost her bow at some point during the playdate.

Loving on McCarney... the Sievers' sweet, lovable and loving chocolate lab.

___________________________

On Saturday, we went to to a Valentine's playdate at April and Tate's house. April went all out for this party - she was so sweet to open her home to about 10 families and their kids. She had cookies, cupcakes, candies, and Valentine bags for all the kids. Thank you Gorman family for hosting such a fun and lively party! I managed to get pictures of their daughter RoryCate, but none of their son John. He was a busy host! Lots of people to see and things to do. It was great to see you guys! :)

sweet RoryCate Gorman eating her shoe...

my best picture of Lainey and RoryCate...

Beads!!

Lainey and Miss Elizabeth (big sister Ava was also there)

back at home, wishing I could go outside...


Please?

We miss you, Nan!

Yesterday marked the first anniversary of Ben's grandmother Nana's passing. Nana had a way of making everyone laugh...she would say and do the funniest things. Everyone has a "Nana" story, and each one has made (and still makes) me giggle. She was a great friend to many and a wonderful grandmother/great-grandmother to us and the kids, and we are constantly reminded of her presence in our lives. I am grateful for the time I got to spend with her and feel blessed that I got to know this incredible woman, even if for a short time. We miss you, Nana!!

Happenings around the Harris house

a cute, curious baby...and a very disinterested dog

a slightly blurry picture of good friends and babies (and thanks to Casey, Reagan didn't feel left out)

a much calmer picture without the kids

the current state of our garage

Go Ben! :)

So proud ;)

Lainey and Eleni

My good friend Cyndi and her precious little baby named Eleni (7 mos.) were in town this past week from Baltimore. We got to introduce Lainey and Eleni, and despite Lainey trying to "push around" little Eleni, they seemed happy to be in each other's company! Eleni is absolutely beautiful - and so, so sweet. Just a cutie pie!! Can't wait to see you guys again - come back soon! 

Daughter like Dog

What is it with toilet paper? Dogs and babies (and kids, too, I'm sure) love unrolling it! Lainey was quite pleased with herself and her accomplishment. Not sure what's going on with the first picture - I think we caught some light from the window!

Lainey, January 31, 2009

And, sorry, this next picture is gross. Reagan really decorated her bathroom. I truly remember coming home to this after work one day four years ago. Reagan was just a puppy and had totally destroyed the bathroom. I'm sure she had fun, too.

Reagan, January 18, 2005