Thursday, April 16, 2009

Eight Years

I recently finished a tile for a fellow blogger's daughter's room. It really turned out sweet! Thanks for your business, Kelley!




Harbor William and daddy David~





Since my mom loves to spend time outside, she requested a rocker on the back porch. David and I loved this simple black rocker we found at Lowes. We have all enjoyed the back porch a little more now that we have a place to "rock-a-bye-baby."







Harbor loves being on his tummy more and more now that he has figured out to move around a bit. He is trying so hard to sit up, and we usually get a chuckle out of him when he succeeds in rolling toward whatever it is he wants. Free entertainment in this recession- priceless!





Harbor ADORES teething rings! I put them in the 'fridge for him and when he loses or drops them out of his hands, he protests with a scream! It cracks me up! I love that he is getting more and more verbal. When he has one in his mouth, he reminds me of a door knocker. : )





I like a man who knows how to do his own laundry.




Harbor has a pretty extensive hat collection. Mom loves to dress him up in his hats and take pictures. And what is a boy without his trusty dog?





His feet have been discovered!






I found this perfectly perfect new pillow for HW's rocker. It copies the star motiff and is full of color.



Harbor has two wonderful grandmothers in his life- Grandma "M" and Gigi.






After work, I spend my time asking Harbor about his day! He is such a happy little person.







The Bumbo seat is, like, the best invention ever!! We recently bought a tray at Target to snap on the front. Harbor likes to bang on it and make beautiful music. : )





I teach with an incredible group of women. As a 5th grade team, we always try to go above and beyond to make the school year special for our students. This year we have taken them to see Hotel For Dogs at the theater, have plans next week to see a semi-professional baseball team play (The Arkansas Naturals), bowling, ice cream truck on campus, skating rink, going to the community parks to play, sonic lunches,etc.. Today the local police officers came with their German Shepherd K9 unit to do a live demonstration. We have lots of fun planning fun activites. A few weeks ago, the 5th grade put on a Family Night and we had an incredible turnout. I am so blessed to work in the community that I do. We have wonderful families in our district.







After Family Night, we went to dinner with my parents.



The Bumbo seat makes its appearance out in the great big world. Well, the front yard, anyway. Can you tell we are just itching for warm weather here??






On the 14th of this month, we celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. Eight years has passed in a hurry! David is such a romantic fella, let me just tell you. He had a whole weekend get-away planned months in advance without my knowledge and told me only a week before hand that we would be going out of town with Harbor. He wouldn't tell me where we were going, only to pack for walking and going out on the town. Packing with Harbor was a struggle, only becasue he wouldn't spill the beans on where we were going.

As we drove closer and closer, I realized we were headed to Kansas City, which is my childhood home. I grew up outside of Kansas City and spent many, many weekends there shopping with my family. I was very excited to take Harbor for the first time.

David totally splured on an incredible hotel. He reserved the entire penthouse suite, The Kansas City room, at the Hotel Phillips downtown. The Hotel Phillips is located in the Power and Lights district. It was the very first luxury hotel ever built in Kansas City and was the first building in Kansas City period to have working elevators back in the 1920's. I LOVE LOVE LOVE art deco style and the Hotel Phillips is just dripping in it.

Our suite was unreal... full bedroom with bathroom, an office, a living room, and a second full bathroom off the living room. We had five windows total, and each one overlooked a different skyline of the downtown. The two bathrooms really worked out well- we used one to get ready in and the other to clean H's bottles. My favorite part was using the valet. They took great care of our jeep and organized my makeup in the bathroom for me. Ha! I'm not sure we tipped him enough, but he seemed nice enough. I felt like Pretty Woman when they let her shop. : )

David planned a zoo trip Saturday morning, the Plaza Club Saturday night, and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Sunday, we visited the Nelson- Adkins Museum of Art, which was by far the most emotional place ever! I sat on a bench in front of Monet's Water Lillies for a full 10 minutes and teared over. I love Monet, Pollock, and Renoir, and was thrilled to see their original pieces on display. They also had an incredible selection of Egyptian art. David didn't like the modern art, but enjoyed the lawn sculptures.

The plaza was done up for Easter with lifesize statues of rabbits, and it was fun since Easter fell on the Sunday we were gone. I have fond memories of visiting the plaza with my elementary school on field trips and with my parents.

It was a nice anniversary. After eight years of marriage, we have a 5-month old. Sometimes I can't believe it since we have spent so many years as just a couple, but Harbor has been such a pleasant addition to our family. I'm glad we decided to become parents and even more glad that God blessed us with the opportunity to nurture of His little lambs. : )


















The Zoo















The Plaza













The smokin' art museum












Our little family





Harbor is just thrilled at the chance to participate in another hat fashion show. : )





Mom, Harbor, and I met Rachel on the Arkansas University campus one day this week after I finished teaching. My goal was for mom to take a few candid photos of campus to use in David's graduation announcements.







Since we spent Easter in KC, Harbor received his Easter goodies when we came home. He made out like a rascaly rabbit! I also had Easter cards made by the fabulous Catherine Wilson and sent those to friends and family.








I hope you had a warm and fuzzy Easter surrounded by all the ones you love!

Love,
Jessica and family : )

32 comments:

  1. I can't believe how big he's getting, and he gets more handsome every time I see new pictures! I can't believe you've been married 8 years--where does the time go?

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  2. I'm so glad you had a fun time on your trip. That little guy of yours looks older and older every time you post pics. Almost 8 years without a kids, I can't even imagine! We had Boston 12 months and 2 weeks after we were married....not part of our plans...but God knew best I guess. We will celebrate our 13th in July. Since I will still be in treatment we are planning to take our trip in August to see Poison and Def Lepard in concert. They will be in Tulsa so we are going to hit the Zoo and Aquariam during the day and the concert that night. Glad to see you posting again!

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  3. Wow, your baby boy is really growing fast. I am jealous your Mama is his sitter. We're 1.5 hours from our family, so I don't know who'll watch the twins once they get here. Happy 8 years!

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  4. Happy 8th Anniversary to you and David. You look like you had a wonderful trip. That little Harbor is the cutest thing!! He is getting so big. The tile you made is adorable. Love it!! Hope you all have a great weekend.

    Linda

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  5. Y'all have been super busy. Glad things are going well for you all! Happy Anniversary.

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  6. What a great post! Kansas City looked like fun...

    Gosh he is just growing by the mile! So cute.

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  7. Harbor is SO long! He is going to be a tall boy! I love love that art museum's exterior! Beautiful! I am a big fan of Claes Oldenburg (the shuttlecock) and I had no idea that that museum had that piece. Also, could you not just die over that Monet. We saw one of that series in St. Louis and it was just gorgeous.

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  8. What a sweet husband planning an anniversary get-away! I'll have to have my David read this and get some ideas for our 10th this summer-he he.

    Thanks for the sweet shout-out!

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  9. I just love reading your blog!!! Congrats on the 8 years of marriage you guys really look happy!!!

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  10. Congrats on the anniversary! I am so impressed with your hubs!!! I always love looking through all your pictures of your sweet boy!!

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  11. Your husband is so incredibly sweet :)! I am so glad you got to enjoy a weekend away as a family of three!!!

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  12. Happy Easter and Happy Anniversary! What a great trip that David planned! Harbor is getting so big now. Time is flying by.......it's hard to believe that school is almost over as well. Wow!

    Can't wait to see the graduation announcements! Cute tile!

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  13. Great pictures! Happy Anniversary!

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  14. That Harbor is such a cutie!! Your anniversary weekend looks like so much fun!

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  15. I enjoyed reading your post! Happy Anniversary! What a great trip and surprise! Harbor is so cute. I enjoy seeing his expressions. I love his hats. Your house looks great from the pictures. The back porch is awesome. I didn't have a bumbo with MK. I will have to get one of those if I am blessed with a second child. Have a great weekend!

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  16. Jessica,
    So sorry it took so long to answer your comment. I teach K-2 Title 1 Reading in a small rural school district. My husband also teaches 4th grade Language Arts in the town where we live. He's teaching 5th grade math, science, & SS next year. Looks like you had a fun trip to Kansas City! I didn't know they had so many fun sites to see! Are you ready for summer yet?

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  17. Happy Anniversary! I can't believe it has been 8 years! It looks like you all had such a good trip! I still have your Easter card up on our refrigerator! I love getting to see little Harbor's face everyday! I hope you all are doing well!

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  18. hey I just had to comment because we had tons of funny coincidences! Jonah has the same color bimbo with the tray and the same book Harbor had sitting on his tray. Ok not so strange, but my family lived outside of KC, Mo when I was young too and Jeremy and I love visiting there for our anniversary. We've also stayed in the Hotel Phillip before too. Funny stuff!

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  19. Ha I just saw that my predictive text put 'bimbo' instead of 'bumbo'.

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  20. Your posts are always chockful of fun information and cute, cute pictures!! Harbor looks like he is getting so tall! I guess that's not surprising seeing David!!

    Swanky hotel!! How fun!

    How's it going being back at work?? Looks like you have a great group of teachers to work with!

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  21. Ha I just saw that my predictive text put 'bimbo' instead of 'bumbo'.

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  22. Ok Harbor is so tall!!! He is a precious little fellow to. Love all his hats! 8 years way to go!!! Looks like it was a great anniversary weekend. What a sweet husband. Hope the weather gets warm soon for you guys so you can play in the yard and enjoy that rocker!!! Oh and I loved the EASTER card!!!! Too cute. Have a great week at school I am so behind on blogging and catching up to everyones. Are you on FB???? If so look me up Cyndi Cox Johnson.

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  23. What a wonderful Anniversary trip! David did a great job planning that! Cade also likes those teething rings:) I just got the tray for his bumbo seat out this weekend--he wanted to chew on it:)

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  24. Love your Zebra print shirt for the zoo!!! Are you sure you didn't know you were going there?!? Too funny!

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  25. I love, love, love the KC pictures!! Your Zebra shirt was perfect for the zoo. =) Harbor is such a sweet heart!

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  26. Looks like you had a great trip to KC. Did you see the goat that didn't have any ears. haha! I love the sea lions, they are my favorite. Happy Anniversary!

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  27. Jessica,
    You have such a beautiful family. Harbor is getting so big and is just as precious as can be. My sister's last baby lived in the Bumbo...its just perfect for everything.

    Oh, and can I just say that I LOVE your tiles!!! As soon as I have children, I'll be placing an order!!!!

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  28. Love Harbor's little shoes and your red cardigan! Where did you find it at? I've been looking for cute cardigans lately.

    You're one lucky woman! That hotel is beautiful.

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  29. I'm really behind on reading this! Sorry! That was so sweet of David to go all out for your anniversary! Happy 8th! Go check out my blog, I gave you an award!

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  30. Hey Jessica! I have actually been "spying" on you through your blog for a few months now. You and Brittney inspired me to make a blog because I enjoyed so much reading about what was going on in your lives! It has been SO LONG since all of us have been together! 8 years married!?!? Unbelievable isn't it? Greg and I will be married 8 years also in a little less then a month (May 26th)! Man how time flies! Someone else made the comment about it being almost 8 years for you two as a couple and no kids.....that thought is completely foreign to me. I can't remember what it was like just Greg and I. Of course we found out we were 6 1/2 wks pregnant when we had been married exactly 8 wks! =) Nothing like waiting a little bit huh? ;) Well, I hope you can stop by my blog sometime. I will try to update more often and maybe put in a little history for all the friends I haven't talked to in AGES! God Bless!

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  31. Hey Jess! Fun pictures- lots of great memories as a family! I got your comment- we're doing good- Josiah is a lot of fun! Can't wait to see his little personality come out more. He's giving us smiles now. That's the best=)
    Hugs!

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  32. Wow, he did a great job for your anniversary! The place looks amazing. I love the plaza. And that is the very first Cheesecake Factory I had ever been too. I have been hooked since! I love your easter card, you are so creative. And Harbor looks adorable with the little bunny ears!!

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