Harper is 1 month old!

Well, it's official!  My little Houstonian is 1 month old!  It's hard to imagine her telling her friends one day, "I was born in Fort Worth, but when I was just a few weeks old, we moved to Houston!"  I wonder where she'll be living when she's old enough to talk!

What a sweet baby!  

As I'm typing this, I just realized that those of you who don't know us in person may be a bit lost.  In all the . craziness, I've never finished the blog post I started, but I'll quickly sum it all up.  Mark unexpectedly got offered a job in Houston, instead of Fort Worth where we were living.  He moved there and started working (4.5 hours away) when I was 38 weeks pregnant.  So, when Harper was just 3 weeks old, we moved to Houston!  We couldn't stand just seeing him on the weekends any longer!!

My friend got Harper this outfit, and she didn't even realize that the fabrics are the same ones as in Harper's nursery!

So, Miss Harper Joy, let's see...  You started off as a GREAT eater, and still are today.  You eat every 2-3 hours around the clock.  Your current record is about 4.5 hours, but you usually go about 3 from the start of one feeding to the next.  You gained a pound in the week between your first 2 doctor's appointments, which is about double what is expected!  I have no idea what you weigh today, but at one month we officially put away your tiny newborn clothes and newborn size diapers!

So, with a one month old, sleeping and eating kind of go hand in hand.  Harper, you spent the first month of your life sleeping on your mommy's chest all night long!  Some nights, I was so desperate for sleep I even slept with you in the Moby Wrap.  That thing is magic.  You fall asleep in it within 60 seconds, no matter how mad you are when I put you in.  We are currently trying the baby step of moving you to sleeping in your car seat at night, but I don't mind so much when you end up back on my chest halfway through the night.  As I lay there, I know that time will fly by, and it will soon be impossible for you to fit on me.  You always scooch up my chest by pushing with your tiny feet until your head is nestled right up in my neck, under my chin.  You are such a snuggler!

You love to smile!  I know this makes me sound like an overly proud new mom, but I guess I am!  When you were just 1 week old, I was talking to you in the middle of the night, telling you how much I loved you.  Your uncoordinated eyes darted all around, but suddenly locked with mine, which had not happened before.  Your whole face lit up, and you smiled at me!!  I just melted.  I don't know that my mom quite believed that they were real smiles until she saw one just a day or two later!  Oh, that makes every sleepless moment worth it!! I love to hear 2 year old Tatem exclaim, " Bay Ahhh-puh is filing!!"  (Baby Harper is smiling!)  Your big sisters love to give a running commentary of everything you do. :)  You've laughed a few times too, but only in your sleep.  You must have great dreams!

Harper, you love your family, MILK, the Moby Wrap, being bounced/jiggled on someone's knee and that magical ceiling fan.  You do NOT like being undressed, diaper changes, having a dirty diaper or when your headband falls down and covers your eyes.  haha!

The whole time I took these pictures, your big sisters could hardly control themselves when I asked them to stay back.  Before long, they were sneaking in like this!

So, we had to take a few with your 2 biggest fans!  Your big sisters ADORE you and hold you every day.  They love to get in your face and give you a hundred kisses on your face, and really don't care if you are sleeping when they start!!  

Harper, we are so thankful that you are a part of our family!  Although it's only been one month, it feels like you've always been here.  We couldn't imagine life without you!!