First Christmas continued...

Harper opened her first Christmas presents last weekend at Mac Daddy and Grammy's. She loved it! 

Gummy smile

Harper still has no teeth. I know soon enough she will have a mouth full of teeth, a head full of hair and will be bossing me and Buster around. I look forward to those times, but I'll always love this gummy smile. Who wouldn't? 

Harper's first Christmas

So, it's Harper's first Christmas and all of the sudden Buster and I have crazy opinions about how we must do things. You know, so it's all perfect for Harper. Case in point, we bought a real Christmas tree for the first time since 1998 (our first Christmas as a couple). Below are the pictures of Harper choosing her favorite.

The Pilgrimage

When you fly for the first time with your new baby, people give you a great deal of advice. Pacifier, feed the baby at takeoff and landing, lots of toys, bring more diapers than you think you need and so on. Good advices, all, and much appreciated. But for anyone who knows how I fly, you know that Amanda wasn't up for taking care of two children on Thanksgiving weekend.

So we gate-checked Harper.

But once we got to Rhode Island (the Ocean State), everything was smooth sailing. We had our Thanksgiving meal at the home of the Pipers of Warren with a few new T-day traditions. Most notably: Our Thankful group of friends now comes with scads of children. Really, they're everywhere. What was once a long, lingering day of wining, brining and dining is now a hilariously hectic circus act. (Special tip of the hat to Stephen for somehow managing to still prepare a delicious and cornucopious spread.)

Which brings me to Special New Tradition Number Two: The pre-dinner raw bar including clams, oysters and crab dip (not technically raw, Amanda is pointing out). An inspired stroke of genius.















So, the kids: Harper met some new friends her size: George, Millie, Flavia and Doyle (who is actually more my size than hers). And she also got to meet her new grown-up friends too.


Not surprisingly she loved everyone.

That's Millie who is brand new.





















Here's Harper trying to talk to George who is talking on the phone. Unfortunately, George dialed the wrong number and got the croup on the other line and spent the following days recovering but remaining in great spirits, even making a trip to Boston and going out to eat at a restaurant.

























Here's what it looks like when two dads try to put babies in Baby Bjorns to go for a walk on the bike and walking path that runs right behind Asher and Erin's house. They were nice enough to house us during our visit.














This is the view from their back porch. Not too shabby.















Here's what it looks like when the dads are done and Millie appears to have flown across the street and gotten magnetically stuck to Sam's chest.














Here's Harper in a hat and me fighting off a cold. Not the croup, though.














Here is the wonderfully curious Flavia who constantly wants to know what everything is, and then asks again to be sure. She's especially suspicious of blueberries, concerned that they may at any moment go by a different name.

"Da?"
"That's a blueberry." (Considers for a moment...)
"...Da?"
"That's a blueberry."















Here's Doyle lying on a rock and Harper looking down on him. Literally, not figuratively. Doyle is smarter than Amanda and I. Collectively. He's probably going to be the president.


So there's part one of the trip. More to follow. We hope that everyone's Thanksgiving was filled with the kind of friends we have and the kind of good times we have with them. We're very thankful for all of it.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Harper finally had the chance to meet her Uncle Nick. She loved him immediately, of course! They spoke French to each other the entire time. Who knew that all this time it was French that Harper was speaking?!

Buster, Harper and I wanted to let everyone know how thankful and grateful we are that you are all in our lives. We love you all. Happy Thanksgiving! May yours be filled with love, warmth, and wonderful times. 

So grown up

Something has happened. Harper has grown up. As you can see, she uses a highchair with the skill of a child twice her age. She sits up on her own. She giggles at Carmine. She is ticklish on her belly and under her arms. She flips through books as if she is reading! She even ALMOST sleeps through the night (thank you, thank you, thank you). Oh, and she loves carrots.
I can't believe my little little baby is a little girl. It sure is fun. 

Nick and Harper

 

Nick and Wendy come to Nashville!

Somehow, I neglected to blog our wonderful visit with Nick and Wendy. Above is the second installment of a "handsome man playing guitar and singing for Harper. " I wonder if she will be mysteriously drawn to men who can sing and play the guitar her whole life? If so, she comes by it naturally. Anyway, I apologize that is has taken me so long to get these pics up. Nick and Wendy, you deserve better. We loved having y'all here with us and Nick, you sure do make a mean pork tenderloin. 

Phillips Family Portrait

Who's that behind me?

Happy Wednesday. 

Sunday morning

Harper and Sass enjoy a chilly Sunday morning on the couch.

It's so fun to watch Harper realize that some of her toys (Carmine and Sass) move when she touches them. They haven't quite found the "fun" in it yet, but Buster and I have. 

Dad's Choice II

 

Fall in Nashville

Here's the shortest Phillips in her stoller in the park last weekend. It was a lovely day and we all had fun. We also met two of Carmine's breedmates. Amanda and I were starstruck and probably freaked out the lady with two Spinoni a little bit when we ran up frantically asking her questions. The dogs could not possibly have been less impressed.
K. Bye.

 

What a great six months it has been...

Yesterday, November 2, was Harper's six-month birthday. To say that time is flying would be the understatement of the century. Time is evaporating. Truly.

Now that Harper is six-months-old she does a few things differently. You know, more like the grown-up she is. First, she wears khakis (as pictured above). Second, she eats peas and LOVES them. Third, she flirts. I have no idea where she would have picked this up.

Anyway, we sure do love you little Miss Harper Mae. Happy six-month birthday. 

Jackie-O-Lantern II

I had to do one more Jackie-O-Lantern because, c'mon, it's really good... 

Jackie-O-Lantern

Jackie-O wishes you all a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous Halloween.

Ciao!

Jackie

Pumpkins

There are no pumpkins in sight so you'll have to trust us that this was taken at a pumpkin-carving party.

That's all really. Hope you're all well.

Viva pumpkins.

Oh, and if anyone has any ideas, we're looking for a Halloween costume for Harper.

Bring em on. 

Dad's Choice

Moms are good for a lot. Almost everything, if you really sit down and do the math on it. But dads come in handy as well.

In the blogworld--or the blogosphere as I've just decided to start calling it--moms are good for providing really cute shots, heartbreaking little smiles and overall quality baby representation.

Dads tie terrycloth belts around their heads and plop babies down on the bed for self-portrait sessions.

Well, the good ones do.

Mid-week post

I just thought you all would enjoy seeing Harper in her precious new dress. Harper has her Nana and her dear friends Flavia and Anna to thank for her Fall wardrobe. Thank you to you all for helping make Harper the cutest baby at school...and maybe all the world. 

Daddy?

Harper is looking for you! BP is out of town and Harper seems to be searching for him everytime we walk into a new room. She is definitely a Daddy's girl.