Bossy?

Some call it bossy, but I prefer to say she just knows exactly what she wants and she's not afraid to tell you exactly how to make it happen for her.

Tonight after accidentally dropping her pacifier on the floor she picked it up, handed it to me and said, "wash it."

Easter

Easter was a bit early this year so in protest, I am just now posting Easter pics.
Harper had a fantastic weekend. She discovered that she loves Easter crafts at Cheekwood, the Easter egg dying process and subsequent hunt and that she's still crazy about Cousin Collin.

School update

I am so pleased to report that Harper is absolutely loving her new school this week! We've had four consecutive drop-offs without any tears.

The first two weeks were so rough I was concerned that her teachers were going to think she was just a miserable little gal, which would inevitably result in her getting less attention and then blaming me for the rest of her life for how miserable her childhood was. (I am only slightly exaggerating how far I went with this in my head.) Anyway, it's all moot now because her lovely new director, Karen, has taken such a shine to Harper and vice-versa that when I picked her up this evening Harper was hanging out with Karen as her "special office helper." Harper was in charge of such chores as helping to lock the filing cabinet and putting the cordless phone on to its cradle. Needless to say, Harper was absolutely loving her new found responsibilities, and I breathed a heavy sigh of relief that they too have discovered her boundless charm.

P.S. Daddy, we miss you.

This morning...

So, this morning Harper walks out of her bedroom and says, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy (rarely is this word used if not in rapid succession) 'ook, cute coat!"

Every time she wears this precious Flavia hand-me-down, people tell her how cute she looks in it. Apparently, she's been listening. And, for the record, those pants are pedal pushers, not just too short.

Welcome to the world, Sweet Hazel

Hazel Suzette, The world is suddenly a sweeter place.

We love you.

Amanda, Buster & Harper

Hang in there, Harper

Harper's beloved "school" recently announced that they will be closing this summer. After an intense few weeks of searching for a new center, we found a wonderful new school called Holly Street. It's lovely. She's taking dance classes (she has a recital in May), she's working with new craft mediums like crepe paper, she's taking tumbling, she has a teacher who plays the guitar in class and her best friend, Ridge, has joined her there. It's wonderful, however, she's going through a bit of a rough time. When I drop her off in the mornings she acts as if I am dumping her at the gates of hell - I'm talking intense separation anxiety. Apparently, not even 10 minutes after I am gone she's laughing it up with the best of them. So, send her and us a little extra love right now.

Oh the things kids say...

Scene: Harper, Buster and I sitting in the bathroom floor while she identifies parts of our faces.
It goes a little something like this...

Harper points to my lips and says, "lips."
Harper points to my cheeks and says, "cheeks."
Harper points to my eye and says, "eye."
Harper points to my eyebrow and says, "eyebrow."
Harper points to my nose and says, "nose."
Harper points right underneath my nose and says, "boogers."

I didn't really realize how often she has had a runny nose until she identified "boogers" as a permanent part of the body.

Odds and Ends

Hey. Hope the Ides of March treated everyone well and that spring wherever you are is lacing up its new sneakers and putting its bulky sweaters away. Things in Harpertown are going swimmingly. And actually, when spring finally does get its act together, Harper herself will be going swimmingly. Stay tuned for what promise to be entertaining tales of the newly amphibian Phillips.

No real theme to this collection of shots, just some assorted pics to flip through while you're waiting on the mercury to rise. Enjoy.

Oh -- and while we hope to blow your mind with a video soon, I would like to let you know that Harper now counts to 12.

What's that they say about the weather?

What's that they say about the weather in Nashville? If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute. It's not only hilarious but true! The following pictures were taken less than a week a part. No fooling.

The Zoo.

Harper and Cate have finally bridged the age gap! AJ and I watching our daughters grasps hands and tour the zoo as official friends is not a moment we will soon forget. As a brief aside, Harper's teacher told me today that she and her friend, Ridge, (who happens to be a boy) spent most of the day holding hands. It seems a little young to us too. Anyway...

The "Winter Event" 2008

So, as most of you know, we don't get a lot of snow in the South. When we do, it's a really big deal. The following pictures - featuring a whooping four inches of snow - were repeatedly referred to by the newscasters as "the biggest winter weather event in more than five years." Regardless, I finally got Harper in her snowsuit (once again, thank you Ava for the many, many wonderful hand-me-downs). She was...ahem...just ok with the whole ordeal. We had a lot of fun watching it fall and talking about it, but once we actually ventured outside she wasn't really that in to it. We persevered. She was most interested in the frozen gutter pipe (is that what it is called?) and this stick. She did get a chance to play with her neighbor friend, Jane, who is a year older and a whole lot more tolerant of sledding and snowman building despite BP's best efforts.


As you can tell, Carmie loved every second of it.

The ABCs

It's the best trick yet. Everyone household-wide has been raving about it. Maybe too much because now when we ask Harper to sing her ABCs, she clams up. Especially when there's a camera around.

So this is a paparazzi-style video, made inconspicuously at arm's length while walking in the park.

Enjoy.

Recap - especially for Dad

We had a very busy weekend. BP is out of town so this recap is especially for him (others are allowed to look too).

First, we celebrated Collin's 5th birthday like cowboy rock stars with a hay ride, face painting and cowboy cake...


Next, we decorated Sophie...

Then, I worked a puzzle with Collin and Uncle Ryan...





Then, I petted some horses and looked at some llamas...
And, finally, Nana and I just chilled for a while.


All the while, we were wishing you were with us.

Sponge Brain Square Pants

Harper's vocabulary is exploding! I swear she is saying 25 new words a day. It's so fun to witness.

Last night we were driving by the grocery store and she said, "KROGER!" She now says things like "Mama, more toast" and "Sit down!" and "Watch TV?" I know, I wish she didn't know what the TV was too, but please save your judgement because sometimes the TV is very helpful. It just is. The "sit down" is especially cute because she pats the ground next to her as she says it.

Another favorite is "monkey" which is what is responsible for the delight above. An real-live monkey from the zoo, not just the word.

Whaaa Daddy?

Good luck in LA, Daddy. We miss you here.

Potty Training

So, our pediatrician recently suggested that we put a "Harper-sized potty" in our bathroom to gauge her interest in potty training. Last week I found her telling Puppy and Michael* to "tee-tee." See below. *(Michael not pictured.)




She seems pretty proud of herself. I think she suspects she's figured it all out...

Ahem...

This morning I walked into the kitchen and witnessed Harper open the kitchen drawer where I keep the napkins, carefully remove one, wipe her nose with it and then gently return it to the package of napkins.

Harper Goes to the Art Museum

What?! The weekend's over? Dang.

OK, I'll get to it. This is from last week. Just a little something to keep the wolves at bay. And by wolves we mean you guys and your voracious appetite for the latest from the littlest Phillips.

Last week we went to an art museum and spent some time in the interactive kids portion where Harper did some drawing and some building and some abstracting and some light redefining of the very nature of art itself.

Here are some not especially good pics of her doing that.

Joy to the world. All the boys and girls.
--Us

A Little Something Cute for a Friday

Harper Hates Empty Calories/Capitol H.

We tried last May with cupcakes and this past weekend Amanda tried again when she enlisted Harper's help in making cookies. But there's something about sweets that sends Harper into hysterics.



In other news, we took Harper down to the park in front of the Capitol to play. She was enthralled with stories of the Tennessee Militia of 1908. Or maybe just her reflection.

Do not freak out

I know we haven't seen many of you in a while, but don't be alarmed: This is not a new sibling that we have failed to tell you about. Regular shoppers here at the Harper Hut will recognize this lovely little stunt double as Aneliese from our sister store "Bug and Bit."

Though their ages differ, they have roughly as much hair and probably the same number of teeth and, when you dress them up in matching pink pajamas, hilarity and similarity ensue.

We hope wherever you are you are also dressed in matching pajamas and hugging someone cute.

Urban Babies Wear Black