Baby Molan!: ...Fall 2010...

I never thought I would title a post by the season. I am so upset with my lacking posts lately. In my defense, I am without a computer and have been for about five weeks. Updating from my phone sounds like a headache more than anything, and honestly, I am exhausted! Gus has been gone for eleven weeks on Tuesday, and hopefully he wont be much longer. I feel like writing is impossible. I'm so tired by the end of the day I can't get very creative. I have never known tired until now. You think you are exhausted when you first get pregnant (and you are!), and then you feel even more tired those first few wonderful weeks home with your newborn (and you are more tired!), and finally, being without a husband amisdt crawling, first birthdays, teething molars (they are the worst!), days and or weeks of constipation (the babe, not me!), not to mention every day life for three months takes the cake!

...So here I am. In bed, just me and my baby boy...wishing we had one more person snuggling us, and that my sticky note in my cell phone titled, "Harper's Happenings" wasn't so stinking long! It haunts me each evening! So to save my sanity, I think I will just list what my sweet little man has been up to since his awesome first birthday and include some photos. I'll try to come back well versed when Gus gets home! As I said before, I don't have my computer up and running, so I don't have any of my photos...My parents have some, and I'll add more when Gus fixes my computer!

Here goes nothing....

For the past two weeks, instead of crawling everywhere Harper has been standing! Walking his push toys around where he used to crawl with them! He stood for six seconds a week ago all alone and just looked at me with a huge smile! And last Friday when we got to music class (more on this later) he stood for a long time!! I couldn't even count, I was too excited! He looks so happy when he does it, I'm so proud of him!
Last week Harper swam to me! We have video, don't worry! He can float (with floaties) all by himself now and he'll kick his legs to get to me. He does all of this while laughing. I can't get enough of him! I am such a proud Momma. For what a great little fish he is, and for always finding a reason to smile.
His words consist of, "hi", "Momma", "Dada", "dog", "woof", "vroom", "bad" (sounds like ba), "hot".
He associates "lala" sound with Ellie, and Lily (the dogs)
He plays fetch with the dogs. He gets their toys and shakes them or squeaks them and plays tug-of-war with them. He loves to do this!!
He laughs all.the.time!!!
Harper has attended church three times since he turned one! He loves worship! He's a little too animated for the message just yet! And I love his animation!
His hair is officially blonde...Strawberry blonde!!!
He helps his Momma brush his teeth every single time. We have introduced his electric toothbrush, but prefers it in the off mode!
Most mornings Harper wakes me with a kiss on the lips. He is extremely affectionate, especially first thing in the morning and before bed and there isn't much sweeter than his kisses and hugs.
He also blows kisses and waves bye bye. As he is waving, he opens and closes his hand and points it towards himself! It's more than cute!
Before bed most evenings he gets very silly. He laughs at everything and has such a fun time. We were over at my girlfriend Pamela's home one evening a little too late and she and her husband got quite the show! I wish I had my video camera!
He loves animals! We need to go to the zoo!! (I wanted to wait for his Daddy!)
Harper responds to things we ask him. Examples, "Where is the ball?", "Go get your guitar", "Shake the dog toy", "Do you want milkies", "Say bye bye", and much much more!
He searches for his toys by looking under the coffee table....his bum is on the floor, and he lays his cheek on the floor as well. It's so adorable!
He has started asking for things by pointing and saying "uuhh uhhhuhhh"!
He gives the best hugs in the whole entire world!
Since his nine month doc appointment he only gained 1.5 ounces!
Harper weighs 23 pounds 13.5 ounces and is 31" (75% for both! He's thinning out and staying tall...just like his handsome daddy!)
We started a music class two Fridays ago in Nehalem. It's so much fun and Harper adores it! We were given two cd's of the songs we sing and dance to in class. In the car he loves to clap and move his hands to the beat as we drive!
We are still trying to make it to Cannon Beach Library on Mondays at 11am for storytime. He is always napping during that time! I think we will have to wait until he drops to one nap (he's trying to drop, but still desperately needs the two, so hopefully we dont see the library for a few more months anyway!)
He gets off the bed and couches with such ease these days. It's adorable...but is somewhat hindering his ability to jump off the diving board at swimming!
Grandma Molan was home for almost two weeks and Harper and I were able to spend lots of fun time with her! We loved it. He began reaching out for her to hold him and it made my heart swell. He loves his grandparents!
Harper supported his Great Aunt Nancy at the Race for the Cure this September.
He has begun dancing! He doesn't do it very often, but it's just too cute when it does happen...which is the reason my computer is broken!! We were having a dance party one afternoon...bummer! But so much fun!
Harper's great grandpa Keith came down for a visit one afternoon! He had so much fun with him and it was great seeing them together. I love hearing how he reminds Keith of Jack and Gustav, etc...It's so sweet! Makes for one proud Momma! Keith came bearing gifts...A truck for Harper's birthday. Anything with wheels makes this boy smile!
Harper got his first professional photos taken...He's such a ~~cheeser~~ charmer!
We had another playdate with Harper's due date buddy Ethan! He is walking so the following two days after our date, Harper was more prone to standing like his friend! It was so much fun to see how similar the boys are. And they're so cute together!
Harper blows on his food like his Momma does, whether it's hot or cold! He's seen me cooling off his food before I put it on his tray! He's so silly!
Around the stove or crockpot in the kitchen Harper holds his hands out (like for a high five) and says "hot" all the time! It's too cute! Sadly, the crockpot was a little warm and he grabbed it the other day. It didn't burn him but startled him...for the rest of the day he would get upset when he saw it! Now it's just "hot" with his hands out!

Well, I'm sure I'm forgetting something (like his 12 and 13 month photo shoot....on my computer...will get them as soon as I can) and I will fill in the blanks when I get back to my computer, but for now I'll leave with photos of my sweet boy in the last month!! Thanks for your patience, and for loving me and my family!!

My best girls with one of my best boys at his birthday party! (He's munching on a cracker)

Harper loves his birthday and his Auntie Kristi!

Cupcakes! Chocolate and Banana with cream cheese frosting...and fish on top (of course!)

Only part of the food...There was way too much!

Harper and I with my parents and dear friend Jan!

Harper and his buddies! Jack Alexander (born 8/28/09, Harper's Grandpa Jack Alexander was born on 8/29!), Harper (born 9/5/09), and Ethan (born 9/9/09)

Harper and his birthday cake! His obsession with blueberries still holds true...while the cake was barely touched!

Harper and I at Race for the Cure! Isn't he cute with his little race number on his belly??!

Harper sacked out after an afternoon at the park with Grammy! I met them there after a baby shower!

Big boy Harper swimming with his floaties!

One of Harper's favorite toys! His cozy coupe that he got from his Grandma Jo and Grandpa Jack for his birthday! Isn't he cute??! He can't get enough of anything that has wheels!