Happy Birthday to my little brother

I have the most wonderful little brother in the world. Two years and one day separate us - and my life is better because he was born. He has entertained me since he was born with his incredible sense of humor, wowed me with his unparalleled intelligence, and lives a full and exciting life that I love him for.

I LOVE this picture of him. It was taken at the Heaton Ranch - where many of my fondest childhood memories took place. I think it captures his vibrant personality perfectly. Always the funny man.

- and so, to my little brother -

Happy Birthday from your biggest fan - I love you.

A Birthday to remember

My birthday this year was divided into three very different but wonderful blocks of time....

#1
In our backyard is a 24'x14' patch of dirt that has done nothing but grow weeds, accumulate yard waste and be a hideout for rats (this is unconfirmed - but in my mind rats were definitely out there). So yesterday I was driving past nursery near my house and I pulled right in, inquired about fresh sod, and purchased it on the spot. I am sick of the giant eyesore in my backyard.

So for our Friday night date, Jordan and I - along with help from my sister Liz and her hubby Heath - weeded, dug, raked and leveled until dark. I could barely contain my happiness at the thought of FINALLY having some grass there.

So on the morning of my birthday (since sleeping in is a luxury lost about 15 months ago), we had breakfast as a little family, headed off to the nursery, picked up the sod, set up a Harrison friendly station outside, and got to work.

One last look......

and then....perfect.

I couldn't stop looking at it all day long and cannot explain my happiness.

Jordan's mom came over to help with Harrison - THANK YOU! She followed him around the yard as he explored lots of dirt, climbed the stairs up to the back deck, pushed the yard cart, and filled his tummy with water from the hose (don't worry, it's house water). We couldn't have gotten it all done without her!

P.S. - The stump in the middle of the yard? It is coming out on the 26th. Can't wait.

#2
After the yard work and showers - Jordan took Harrison for the day up to his parents house for some football - and I was off.

I shopped.

Went out for lunch.

Shopped some more.

Spent an hour at the salon getting my hair cut and styled.

And just enjoyed taking my time in whatever stores I wanted to go in. I bought some fabulous new things - and loved every minute of it.



#3
I knew Jordan had planned a date for us that night - so I returned home - got all fancied up, put on my new black heels, kissed the babe goodbye and we were off. Once we were in the car Jordan told me we were headed up to the Goldener Hirsch Inn in Park City for dinner. Sound Fancy? It was. The drive up the canyon was breathtaking. The leaves are beginning to change here in Utah - and if you have never seen it....you should.

The restaurant was gorgeous - like being in a small village in Europe. The food was fancy and delicious, and there was no one I would have rather been there with than my handsome husband. It was perfect.

During dinner he said he had one more gift for me - reached into his pocket and pulled out this beautiful room key. He had booked a room there at the inn for the night. I was shocked - but he had thought of everything. He had packed me a bag, taken care of arrangements for Harrison for the night - my first EVER away from him (BLESS YOU - LIZ AND HEATH), and just did all he could so that I could just relax and have a night away.

The room was picture perfect and I even took a bubble bath (anyone that knows me knows how picky I am about the cleanliness of tubs. And YES - it was THAT clean - believe me I checked). I enjoyed a wonderful nights sleep, a delicious breakfast and then a MORNING NAP! It was perfect and I loved every minute of it. Thank you to the very thoughtful man in my life for making my birthday so perfect.

Look who's.........

Eating.......

Climbing.......

and WALKING!

Just when I think I am going to lose it if I step in one more surprise on the kitchen floor, refold and put back the contents of my dresser drawers one more time,
and upright the entry table that has once again crashed to the floor...

I see this.....total elation and total sweetness.....and everything is just perfect.

In the personal interest of documentation:

Harrison is 15 months old this month, has six teeth (two more are trying to bust through), began taking more than 2 steps between the coffee table and couch on the 4th of September when he walked 4 steps, walked 8 steps the next day, 8 more the next, and then 17 big ones down the hall from his bedroom. Since then, he has improved each day and is now darting around the house opening everything that has hinges, climbing everything that he can get his chubby legs up on, and basically destroying the house!

He LOVES his animals and can correctly identify about 20. Walrus, Sea Lion, Hippo, and Giraffe seem to be his favorites. He carries them EVERYWHERE he goes - and makes the most hilarious pig noise/scrunched up face you have ever seen whenever he plays with the pig.

It is so much fun to have him understand things that I say, and try to mimic the words I am trying to teach him. He now says 'bye' when you leave, 'hi' when he sees you, 'uh-oh' when he drops something, and 'yeah' to almost every question you ask him! Hilarious.

He also LOVES anything with an engine. He drives his cars and trucks all around the house making engine noises the entire time - and every time he hears a car/truck outside he points to the door, makes his engine noises, and tries to get to the window as fast as he can to see what is making all the racket. Today we watched our neighbor edge and mow our lawn from the front window. He wouldn't leave until the engines were silent. I love it.

We have been learning the parts of the face - and he thinks he is something else when you ask him to point to his nose, ears, mouth, teeth, and cheeks. When I ask him where his eyes are - he never points to them, he just says 'eye' and smiles - and it melts my heart.

A Visit from Dubai

My brother and his beautiful family live VERY far away - and so when my
sister-in-law Toria and the two little ones came to visit,
we tried to cram as much cousin time in as possible.

Asher taught Harrison all about cars and showed him how fast
he could run laps around our house, and Ivy showed Harrison the
freedom he could have if he would just up and walk.

We loved having them here and can't wait to see them again soon!