Catan, Poops and Bunny Cake :)

Do you like the title? I just had to!

Harrison is a big boy now! Two weeks ago his first tooth presented itself to the big world! And just today his second one decided that it couldn't be left behind! Harrison was the most joyful and fun boy today then he's ever been. Happy as a clam. I think it's because the pain has subsided. I honestly think it's been a crazy three months of transitions, now that this second tooth finally has cut through the gum, he can relax.

Solids are going very well. He loves EVERYTHING that we feed him. We have been trying every new food on a 3 day rotation just to make sure he's not allergic to it. So far he's had rice cereal, peas, sweet potatoes, bananas, prunes, pears and yogurt. We've been practicing drinking juice from a sippy cup too! He's all grown up! And you'll never believe it, I'm cooking, a lot! I prepare all of his food. Have you ever tasted baby food? Nasty! So, I puree everything, put it in a ice cube tray, freeze it, switch it over to a freezer bag and then when I want him to eat peas I put it in the microwave for twenty seconds and tada, Baby food! He loves it and I love knowing he's not eating anything mysterious. I can even eat the left overs.

Because of the switch to solid foods, Harrison had a traumatic event a few weeks ago and he's just now worked all the way through it, I think. Let's just say that Harrison doesn't like the feeling of the change in his diaper. We think that for the last few weeks it's made him nervous. He's doing better now though. He's not waking up in the middle of the night screaming. He doesn't scream/wale while grunting anymore either. That's enough news about that...

Nathan's parents were here for a week and it was so much fun! We went up to Breckenridge for a few days and stayed in a condo. I even got to ski a few runs while Nana watched Harrison. Nathan and I got to go on our fifth date since Harrison has been born! I know, we need to get out more. Babysitters aren't cheap though you know! We've had some amazingly gracious friends chip in but most of the time they watch him while we attend some non-baby friendly event rather then go on a date. We also played a lot of Catan (a really fun and complicated board game)! We need to find some Catan friends in the area so we can keep our addiction fed. Nathan's parents also took us out to several good restaurants. I think I gained about ten pounds while they were here, actually I'm sure of it. ON the last day Nathan's parents were here the clerk at Panera asked me when I was due! Nathan still isn't very happy with the clerk and I'm trying to schedule in a few trips to the gym SOON so I can stop crying... :( I'm just not one of those women who bounce back right away, that's ok... My goal was to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight a few months after I stop nursing. Still nursing!

Nathan is very busy planning three Prison Fellowship banquets for the first week of May. I really think he'll meet his goal. He is such a good people person! He's also, amazingly, a really good event planner. You can all pray though that attendance is high. The President will be in town to speak at each one of them.

I'm still waiting to here on whether I'll be at CCU part time come May 17th or not. There are a few things still in the works. I'll keep you all posted.

One thing we do know for sure, we are putting our townhouse on the market this May. After my last day (May 14th) I will start cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. We will get this house spick and span and staged in order to win over the heart of a buyer. Then our plan is to find a three bedroom house (Bentley needs a yard!!!!) that we can fix up and hopefully make money off of in a few years. There are a lot of forclosures around here and we've had a few friends who have successfully done what we are hoping to do. If we don't find a house before we have to move out then we'll live in a temporary place for a little while.

We love Harrison to pieces! He's growing up too fast. He's exhausting and a lot of work but it's all worth it! I can't wait to be home with him more. Very soon!

Well that's it for now. That's the recent news on us. Here are a few more updates on Harrison at least for grandma and great grandma's enjoyment:

• Harrison loves saying Momma. He has no idea what it means but he loves it.
• We introduced him to Ted a few weeks ago. Ted is a giraffe teether that's easy for him to hold. The problem is he can't teeth on it when Bentley is chewing on it too... (some of Harrison's toys cause Bentley to struggle with the discipline of self-control)
• He now sleeps with Lambert his blue lamb blanket (thanks mom!) against Doctors orders. We feel comfortable enough to let him have a tiny blanket in bed with him. He's capable of getting it out of his face if he can't breath now :)
• Just today while screaming during tummy time he brought one knee up under himself. 1/4 way there!
• He's trying his best to balance himself enough to sit on his own. He's getting the hang of catching himself with his hands when he falls over. We still have to surround him with pillows though.
• No rolling. He can do it, for sure, but Nathan and I have come to the realization that he would much rather scoot himself around, slowly then roll towards something. He throws his legs on the ground and lifts his tummy up to scoot on his back. He uses his arms while kicking his feet to scoot while on his tummy.
• Still, his favorite thing to do is to sit on the couch next to mommy and daddy and watch us read or work.
• He laughs a whole lot at everything. Now he laughs when he's about to eat. It's so cute!
• He can get his pacifier back in his mouth after it falls out. As long as it's within reach.
• He's still waking up around 4 or 5. We give him his paci and most of the time he goes back to sleep. Some nights he's been to hungry though so I'll nurse him and then get him back to bed.
• His hair is wild. Nathan always flattens it and I spike it up. That tells you a little something about us :)
• We've introduced the excersaucer and he LOVES it! Still not keen on the door jumper thingy.
• There are things he is entranced by. The computer, our cell phones and the TV. We wont be letting him watch TV for a while because he would just sit there for hours and we want him exploring :) He reaches for all of our gadgets.
• Big accomplishment: he knows his name! If you say it he'll turn to you each time even if it's in the middle of a sentence.
• He is fascinated with tags. He finds every tag on everything and plays with it forever.
• Bentley is getting more aware of him. I think he realizes he's fragile and needs to be careful around him.
• Harrison continues to be our sweet and sensitive little boy.

Here are some pictures!

Harrison's favorite activity

Harrison with Ted

Harrison scooted around 180 degrees in order to get to Bentley and pet him.

Harrison leaping off my lap to get Bentley. He didn't think it completely through before he got stuck and I had to rescue him.

Harrison getting loved on by Nana and Papa

Hanging out with Papa

Going for a walk

After bath time, sporting his ducky robe.

On our drive home from Breckenridge

Easter Sunday, taking a picture with Nanny Lindsi.

Easter (Mom, we couldn't let you down with the bunny cake. The tradition lives on.)

I keep trying to get a picture of the tooth to share with you all but he wont open big enough. I'll keep working on it though.

Love, Us