We've Upgraded...and I cried again.

Well it finally happened, I took the plunge and bought Aidan his booster seat! I was in denial that the time was coming. I really never wanted him to get out of his infant carrier...but life goes on and kids grow up.   Even though our pediatrician said it was fine for him to still be in his forward facing car seat, I knew it was OK to move him up and it would make our lives and his easier. 

I had every intention of buying a Graco seat but once we got to the store, I couldn't help but be drawn to the Britax.  We love our Britax Marathon.  And yes we do have it in the "Cowmooflage" print. I needed something other than black or grey!

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 I let Aidan pick out the color of his new seat and he went with red.  It's a nice change.  It has cup holders which is really nice and when I put him in it, he felt as secure to me as the car seat.  We're all happy!!

Britax Parkway SGL

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Here is some information on it.

I can't handle all of this growing up!! Yesterday he wrote his name without anyone's help! I was washing my car and he was doodling in the driveway.  Next thing I know, he is standing next to me with his name written out.  He and I were so proud! I realize he does this all the time at school, I could just never get him to do it for me!

 

 

I am working on a Disney video but it's taking longer than I thought it would! Hope to have it up the first of next week!

Hello, Blog World

I think I'm getting the award for WORLD'S WORST BLOGGER these days.  I have perfectly good reasons though. 

The first being the Holidays.  They were happening so fast and I was getting so caught up in posting pictures of what my house looked like decorated that I wasn't just enjoying my house and my boys and the holidays so I deleted the photos off of my camera and took pics of Aidan staring up at our tree and all the lights Adam put on the house!  It made Christmas so much more fun!  But just for good measure here are two snap shots of our big tree and the tree in Aidan's playroom...

Reason number 2.  We've been doing lots of work around here.  We have redone our bathroom and we finally bought a new sofa.  It has yet to be delivered but any day now I expect to be sitting on it!  We went with the Pottery Barn Comfort Roll Grand Sofa in the Washed Linen/Cotton fabric in Camel.  That's a lot isn't it?  The fabric was actually being discontinued so we were limited to picking from sofa's that were one of their Quick Ship items.  That really wasn't hard to do because the sectional Adam wanted was the same sofa.  We just didn't get the sectional.  This is the sofa: (the color is about 5 shades lighter in real life).

And lastly, we surprised Aidan and took him to Disney World for New Years.  It was not only Aidan's first time but Adam's as well!!! We got back last night and we had the best time!  We are thinking 2012 is the year the Harvey family will grow to four so (have I said that before or what?) we were happy to get this trip in with Aidan before adding anyone else to our family.  I have tons of pictures/videos/Disney advice for you all so be looking for those posts!!

Thanks to all of you that still read! Haha! I promise to be better!

The Status of Scout

I have been very open with EVERYONE about the status of the dog situation around here.

 I've had dogs in the past. We gave two away just before Aidan was born.  I had an English Bulldog named Lucy that I absolutely adored but she started to attack Adam when I was pregnant.  We did what we thought was the best thing and gave her to a very nice family. I still miss her.  Then there was Frasier our Sharpei.  When Adam and I first started dating we did the typical cliche relationship thing and got a puppy together.  When Lucy started getting aggressive and we had decided to find her a new home, Adam's parents expressed interest in having Frasier come live with them.  We were never home and they were so it worked out perfect.  He is still with them today and happy as a clam.  Over two years ago, we tried to make it work with a friend's English Bulldog that he couldn't keep and that didn't work out.  We were just too busy with Aidan and it was unfair to the dog. 

 "Mom, take a picture of me and Scouty."   Daily occurrence.

So i didn't know if I was ready to try the dog thing again.  I would be lying right through this computer if I told you I was anything short of furious when Adam brought Scout home.  I had a moment where I was channeling my own mother when I begged for that English bulldog years earlier. I was giving him lectures on responsibility and how our life style just isn't conducive.  I was fuming at the thought of a puppy having accidents on our nice rugs and dog hair all over our furniture.  Ever heard the saying "You can have a nice Home or you can have a Dog."

How could you not love that face?

 Let's not forget to mention why on Earth would he make such a decision without consulting me? The thing is, I love the idea of a dog...I don't like the work that comes along with it. It is a HUGE responsibility. At least children can eventually feed themselves and use the bathroom on their own. Dogs are dependent on you for those things FOREVER.

Scout doesn't seem to mind that Aidan takes him everywhere.

 Compromising is not my strongest point. But compromising is just what I had to do.  And it looked like this. SCOUT CAN HAVE A TRIAL RUN.  I didn't know if I would last 2 hours or 2 weeks but I said I would try.  I would put the effort in to make it work.  Everyone (Aidan included) is going to pitch in. We're going to train the dog. I want him on a schedule and I don't want him in our beds or on our other furniture. We all committed to try it out and see how things went.

Buds.

I am really happy to report...it's been pretty easy. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever wanted a Jack Russell Terrier.  Everything I have ever heard about their temperament kind of turned me off.   The words "lots of energy" would not have been ones I would like to hear when selecting a breed.   A co-worker of mine has a Jack Russell and when he heard about our new puppy told me to take him back!  But Scout is really, really great.  He just fits with us. I don't know if it was/is the endless amounts of praying I do that he will work out so Aidan's heart isn't broken or if it's just that the three of us were so determined to make it work out but it has. 

Aidan is crazy about him.

The last 2 months have flown by and we have stayed on a schedule and we have stuck to keeping him off the furniture and his accidents have been minimal. He listens, he's good with Aidan (they spend hours in the back yard together) and even the cats like him! There is a benefit to him being a small breed because we are able to bring him a lot of places with us. One of my biggest fears would be that he would spend all his time in a crate. All in all, he's been a welcome addition to our little family. I am sure there will be more times I will look at Adam and think "I am going to kill you for bringing this dog home" but those thoughts will be few and far between I'm sure. I just ordered his monogrammed collar and dog bed.  Scout is here to stay.   



So teeny tiny here.



                                     

He does get to get in our bed once in a while at night and snuggles.  But he sleeps in his crate every night.  On Christmas I was willing to let him sleep with us (gasp!) but he wanted to sleep in his crate.  He loves it in there.

I'm a sucker for that puppy smell. 

Christmas Day snuggle fest at the Harvey house.

  Riding in the car to get Starbucks.  Paw inside Adam's vest.  He's getting big!

The most recent picture of Scout. Sleeping at my feet while I type this!

Merry Christmas Love, Us

Merry Christmas! Here is our 2011 Harvey Family Christmas card!

{Front}

  {Back}

 

Hopefully by now everyone has received our Christmas card. I was so late getting them out this year because every weekend I tried to plan to take photos of Aidan, he was either sick or the weather wasn't cooperating. I had all but given up when the opportunity arose for us to take some photos of him at Mike's house in Waxhaw. The old barn and open fields are the perfect back drop for pictures.


I know I am biased but I just think he is so handsome! The front of the card is probably my favorite picture I have taken of him EVER. We are having it blown up and framed. He is growing up way too fast. As much as I love to watch him grow, it is so bittersweet.

Feeling really blessed to be celebrating another Holiday season with such a sweet boy. 

We hope you are all enjoying your time with your families and keeping the real reason for the season at the fore front of your hearts and minds!  Merry, Merry Christmas!

Preschool Christmas Program

Aidan's Pre School started doing a little Christmas program last year so this was their Second Annual.  They do a great job practicing with the kids.  Each class sings two songs and then the TK kids did a little skit about the birth of Jesus.  It was so cute!

Here are the two short videos I took of Aidan singing with his class.  He doesn't sing a word of "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" but he is pretty good at the "Reindeer Pokey".  He is third from the right. 

"Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer"

"The Reindeer Pokey"

Here's the only picture I got of him at his Christmas Party following in his classroom.  There wasn't much going on so we split and went out for a big breakfast! He was mortified they made him wear antlers.

Oh Christmas Tree

Aidan Sings Jingle Bells

One night we went to dinner at our favorite mexican restaurant and Aidan just started singing Christmas carols.  We had no idea he even knew the words to "Jingle Bells".  Well he really only knows the chorus but it still counts! We think he is hilarious.  I also have a pet peeve about people talking/singing with their mouths full.  I express that about half way though while Aidan is singing and eating a tortilla chip.  Haha!

You may want to pause the music at the bottom of my blog before starting the video.