Party Like A Rock Star - Part 1

Today was Harper's birthday party - her rock star themed birthday party! It was a huge success. We set the bar way too high for all future birthday parties. I'm working on getting all of the pictures and videos uploaded. In the mean time, here's a quick one to tide you over. 

2.20.09

Dear Harper,

Happy birthday! I can’t believe you’ve been in this world a whole year. I’ve been thinking for a while about what I wanted to tell you on your birthday. Really, I don’t know where to start. I guess, when you’re older, you can read back through my blog posts to see what you’ve been up to. You’re the reason I started this blog, by the way. I wanted to have a record of your daily life and I just can’t be trusted to write in your baby book. I also wanted you to have a record of what I was thinking and doing during this time (they don’t have blanks for that kind of stuff in the baby book). Hopefully, this blog will give you some insight into who I am. At the very least, it will give you something concrete to show your therapist – because you’ll probably need one after your dad and I totally screw you up. Don’t worry, you’ll screw your kids up too. It comes with the territory.

Anyway…Today, and every day for that matter, I want you to know how much I love you. You are perfect in every way. I remember in the first couple days after you were born, looking at you and thinking that there was no way that your dad and I could have ever made anything as wonderful as you. If you didn’t look so much like your dad, I would think that we came home from the hospital with the wrong kid because you are so much sweeter and good natured than either one of us. You make people genuinely happy just by looking at them. Old men in restaurants give you money because you smile at them. I hope that you always have such a friendly and trusting disposition. The world could use more people like you.

You’ve come a long way in the last 12 months. I am so excited to see what the future holds for you. I know that all parents think their kids are destined to do great things, but I really think it’s true in your case (no pressure or anything). You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you with all my heart. The 9 months of constant puking was totally worth it. Happy birthday, deeto.

Love you,
Mama (you know, the word you refuse to say)

From The Inside Out

Harper's first birthday is tomorrow. Lately, I've been trying to remember what I was thinking and feeling this time last year. One memory that keeps coming to mind is how much I loved this song. 

Right around the time that I found out that I was pregnant, we started singing it at my church. It really spoke to me - and when I say really spoke to me, I mean it regularly reduced me to tears and snot streaming down my face. I would normally chalk that kind of thing up to pregnancy hormones, but even now, I can hardly make it through the song without getting a little misty. There is a line that says "My heart and my soul, Lord I give you control. Consume me from the inside out." That line hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt like God was speaking to me directly through that line and telling me He was going to use the little baby in my belly to teach me about Him - that He was going to consume my heart from the inside out. And man, did He ever. God has used and is still using Harper to teach me more about His love and character than I ever could have imagined. God is good. 

24 Hour Bug

Harper had a stomach bug yesterday. No fun. It sucks to be at work and know that your baby is puking her guts out without you. At least her dad was there to take good care of her - and to keep me updated regarding the puking situation. He sent me pictures of the puke on my cell phone. He's a good dad. Don't worry. Harper is feeling much better today. 

Cool Cards

My friend Heather is always on the cutting edge of hipness. She is way cooler than I am and just to prove it, she emails me the down-low on great products that she has stumbled upon. Her latest find are these awesome cards from Speckles & Weeds. I can relate. 

Monday Morning Jokes

Demetri Martin is funny - much funnier than I am on a Monday morning. 

Science Friday - Valentine's Day Edition

I like optical illusions. Look at the red and blue hearts and examine their depth with respect to the background.

Most people find that the red heart pops in front of the blue background whereas the blue heart sinks beneath the red background. 

This illusion comes about because the lenses in our eyes refract (bend) blue light more than red light. This phenomenon is called a chromatic aberration - which basically means that our lenses fail to focus all colors to the same point. The brain deals with this sensory aberration by imagining depth—the red heart is in front of the blue background and vice versa—even though none actually exists.