Happy Halloween!

Yup, I'm a few months behind here, but it's catch up time!

Halloween fell when Harper was only 2 weeks old.  Mark was working in Houston already, and we were SO sad to have the night without him!  This year, there were no matching outfits planned months in advance.  I have some dress up LOVING girls, so I let them pick out an outfit from the dress up clothes that afternoon!  Landrie was a "pink princess" with light up shoes, and she couldn't have been happier!

Tatem picked a very well-loved ballerina outfit and was in heaven!

I did buy sparkle hairspray for the girls!

Love her baby- fine hair!  Landrie already had grown up hair at this age!

oh this sweet girl!

 

What a bittersweet night!  We had dinner and went trick or treating with our sweet friends, who have such sweet families.  Our kids have been friends since they were babies!  I think this is the best picture we got of Harper the ladybug. :)  She had this swaddle and hat newborn costume that was Landrie's, and she looked adorable. :)

Landrie was much more into trick or treating this year!!  She wasn't as fast as most of the boys, but she had a ball.  Tatem went to a few houses, but we started around her bedtime, so she was totally content to ride in the stroller.  I wore Harper in a sling, and look who surprised us about 2 minutes into trick or treating!  He came back a day early to help his frazzled wife pack and got to go around the neighborhood with us!

 

Last year we had no idea that 365 days later we would have another daughter!

 

I look exhausted in 2011...because I WAS!  :) 

 

Just 3 years ago we were a little family of 3, just starting to think about adopting baby #2!

 

Any fun ideas for 3 girls for next year??  :)

Family Picture!

Well, our last one was at the hospital, so it was time for an update!  My parents wanted to go see Mark's new office one day while my mom was on Christmas break.  We went to lunch afterwards and my mom snapped a few pictures for us outside the restaurant. 

 

Let's consider this your Christmas card, since I never got to do those!  :)

Merry Christmas! 

Love,

The Long Family

 

Harper...the early days!

I can't believe our NEWBORN is already 3 months old!!  I think I posted about her time in the hospital, but not much after that!  Since I blog instead of doing baby books, I'd better catch up!

 

Our little 3 day old cutie had already been part of our lives for our home inspection, newborn pictures, a Halloween party, a newborn check up and was getting ready to go to a birthday party that night.  No wonder she's worn out! 

Is there anything sweeter than sleepy newborn smiles??!

How about the sheer adoration of her big sister?  :)

 

Aunt Beth couldn't wait to come by and hold her newest niece!

Harper was getting ready for her first bath!  If my mom hadn't been with me and reminded me to take pictures, these wouldn't exist!  Sleep deprivation was kicking in. :)

Mark had only worked at his new job for a week, but he took off a week when Harper was born.  I don't have many pictures of that week!  My parents were back to take care of us when he went back the 2nd week.  Harper is 1.5 weeks old here.

More baby smiles!!

Week 3 Mark's mom flew in to help us!  Mark came back on the weekends, but we would've been lost without our parents, siblings and friends helping!

Our parents overlapped for the weekend, so Harper and the girls got LOTS of attention, which they LOVED!  Harper slept on someone's chest for her first 2.5 months!

3 happy girls!

After the inspection, we had a to- do list of things the new buyers wanted.  Mark and my dad were hard at work!

And the girls were hard at play!  The one thing Landrie asked about in regards to the move was her playground.  Our realtor said it would be a valuable negotiating tool.  We were SO thankful that the family who bought our home had teenagers!  We loaded it up and it's in our backyard at our new house!

In case in haven't mentioned it (haha!) Harper LOVES to be held.  I know that we never know when a baby will be our last one, and LOVE LOVE LOVE babies, so I am not opposed to lots of snuggling!  My mom tried out this baby sling so she could hold Harper and get some things done. :)

Saying goodbye!

Tatem Rose- 2 years old

Harper Joy- 2 weeks old

Landrie Grace- 4 years old

I think this was their first official picture together!

There was a morning that I was on my own with all three after an especially hard night.  I talked with Mark on the phone that morning and I'm sure he felt helpless at work, 5 hours away!  Before I knew it, there was a knock at the door, and Megan walked in and sent me back to bed!  Mark knew just who to call. :)

 

While Mark's mom was in town, we got together with both of Mark's sisters and their husbands and kids.  We had so much fun, but I only took the two pictures above!  :/

At least I got this sweet one of Aunt Beth and Uncle Rusty!

 

Tatem wanted in on the snuggles too!!

Of course we celebrated Halloween too, but this post is already way too long and wordy, so I'll save that for another day!

I don't have pictures of the precious going away party we had one afternoon of our last week here, or pictures of friends popping in with yummy dinners or to jump right in and clean and pack our home.  We felt SO loved and were humbled and overwhelmed with how our friends and family surrounded us to be Jesus' hands and feet during what should have been an impossible time.  We are SO thankful for each of you!

Then, after a WHIRLWIND, when Harper was 3.5 weeks old, and

we had crammed as many activities and play dates into our schedule and as many items

into this moving van as we could possibly fit, it was time to say goodbye!

Who needs friends when you've got sisters??

Well, to be clear, WE DO!!  We are praying for new friendships in our new town but as we wait, I am oh so thankful that my girls have each other!  I have blog posts to catch up on alllll the way back to Halloween, but while I'm getting my oil changed I'll just pop up some fun pictures from my phone from our first two months in Houston!  

 

Poor Baby Harper had a cold and kept us busy all night many nights.  I was thankful for easy- going big sisters who were content to cuddle on the couch with their tired mommy!

Pretty 2 month old!  I may not be able to make my babies grow that big in utero, but they sure catch up quickly!  Look at that adorable pudginess!

Forget propping Harper up while I grab something!  Tatem and Landrie never let her lie anywhere alone for long!

Instead of hanging out with friends on the weekends, we've enjoyed lots of sweet family time!  Here's a family movie night before Christmas.  We watched the Curious George Christmas movie, and loved it so much they are still watching it now!

We used to pack our days with play dates, but now we hang out at home a lot more.  It's kind of nice though, because getting around with a 4 year old, 2 year old and a newborn is always a challenge! :)

Yes, unlike our first two, Harper slept in our bed up until about 2.5 months old!  A colicky 3rd baby will make you do things you swore you never would!  Did you see her in a sling while we had movie night??!    The things we do!  Landrie was able to sneak a snuggle with Harper:)

The girls were playing with their babies in the kitchen, when I finally had to put Harper down for a second.  They were thrilled... Harper wasn't!  She really, REALLY loves to be held:) 

Oh Christmas cookies!!  This was one of my favorite things we did!!  The girls spent FOREVER and loved it!   

Even TayTay helped us the entire time.  Can you tell they were proud??

And here's our smiley girl just looking cute!  She turned 3 months old today, and is more laid back (less colicky!!) everyday!

We went in Barnes and Noble to get our Nook checked out.  Of course, they had to do ballet on the stage in the kids' area!  

Which wore them out!  I think I've officially tried every combo of transporting kids possible with different strollers:)

Do you think her hair looks red?

We've found lots of amazing parks!  

Love it!

Nothing more exciting than a baby toy!  This was one of the baby gifts Brianna gave Landrie, and we sure have used it!!

Landrie is such a sweet little mommy to her sisters:)

Did I mention trying every combo possible?!  :)

Since she's sleeping or being held in a lot of these pictures, here's one more of Miss Harper Joy!

Having three girls is such an answered prayer, a dream come true!  I am thankful that Mark and I have had the chance to slow down and enjoy these days with our family of five!!

New Year and New Haircuts!

It was time for new haircuts today!  

Landrie's bangs are finally getting nice a and long!

Tatem STILL has never had a had a haircut in the front!  It's taken more than two years for those little wispy hairs to even get that long!

Nope, I didn't cut this cutie's hair!  There's not enough to cut!  I can't believe Harper is already two months old!