Easter 2010

This time last year....Easter 2009

Easter 2009 memories....2010 pictures to come soon!

He is not here.....He is risen! What hope we have in our resurrected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Hope that man cannot take away, hope that is eternal!

Spring Break Pictures Galore

David and John Harrison on "egg" rocker

Catherine and John Harrison rocking in an egg

bottle on the beach

patio outside our room

view of the chaises and cabana outside our room

the "magic" couch (read below)

here comes the train---again...

relaxing before dinner

no, the train isn't coming---John Harrison is just excited

thankfully we brought our own baby snacks :)

fun with dad in the pool at resort #1

steak, chicken, or milk???

twice daily beach walk to get John Harrison to take a nap

We had a lot of fun in the Dominican Republic a few weeks ago. I wanted to share a particular experience of the trip that sticks our in my mind. We stayed at two different resorts while we were in the DR. The first resort was by far the biggest resort we have ever stayed at. Because of the VAST size, there was a train ("parada" in Spanish) that transported people around the resort. Ok, I have to clarify---I'm not talking about a choo-choo train on a track. I'm talking about a vehicle outfitted to look like a train that pulls two trailers with bench seats and absolutely no shocks. We soon came to realize that the train was a necessary evil. The first night we were at the resort, John Harrison WOULD NOT go to sleep. We tried and tried to get him to go down...but to no avail. We finally resigned and decided to let him sleep with us instead of sleeping in his crib. However, it wasn't as simple as just bringing him to bed with us. He would not go to sleep --- period --- we tried bottles, we tried bouncing, we tried EVERYTHING! David suggested that we ride the train to see if John Harrison would calm down and go to sleep. The train ride was a bit tense---John Harrison was exhausted and on edge and would start crying every time the train stopped. We were armed with a bottle to give him to coax him to sleep. We got many strange looks from people who were obviously thinking, "These parents are such bad parents to be keeping their baby out so late." Others---a bit toasted from too much alcohol---kept trying to touch the cute baby. Finally, John Harrison went to sleep and about 40 minutes later, after the train made its loop and we were back to our stop, we got off and were able to put John Harrison in our bed and thankfully, he stayed asleep. Here is where things got bad---we created a monster---the next night, I tried relentlessly to get John Harrison to go to sleep with a bottle, which had worked like magic at home. After trying to get our VERY SLEEPY boy to go to sleep for over an hour, we gave in and decided to ride the bumpy train. Again, for the first 15-2o minutes, every time we stopped, John Harrison got very upset and again, at the busy stops, many drunk people got on making loud noise. EVERY NIGHT we had to use the train to get John Harrison to go to sleep. John Harrison absolutely LOVED the train and would start waving his arms up and down and also waving "bye-bye" to the train when it would go by. To get John Harrison to go down for naps, we took walks along the beach. After John Harrison fell asleep, we would then go back to our resort and find some beach chairs and watch the ocean while our baby slept in our arms. The last two nights, we stayed at a different resort---one with no train. I was somewhat concerned that we would not be able to get John Harrison to go to sleep since he was "addicted" to the train. However, at the second resort, instead of being a normal hotel room setup, the room was set up like an apartment---with three separate rooms. We sat on the couch and watched the news while we gave John Harrison his bottle before bed. Magically, he went to sleep no problem. At home, we always sit on the couch and watch tv while we give John Harrison his bedtime bottle. Talk about proof that babies thrive on familiarity!!! We really like the second resort (Paridisus Palma Real)....not just because of the ease in getting John Harrison to sleep. On a serious note, it was our favorite resort that we have ever stayed at. The pools, room, and grounds were absolutely amazing and the ocean and beach were beautiful. We have stayed at resorts with better food (the food was good--don't get me wrong) and much better service, but all things considered, Paradisus was amazing. We were upgraded from a regular suite to one with a covered patio, outside jacuzzi tub (where John Harrison got to take his baths:), patio furniture, and outdoor chaises and a cabana bed. All in all, we had a very fun time and really enjoyed the time together as a family. I have to say that I will never view trains the same.....

Spring Break

Enjoying the good life.....too bad John Harrison wouldn't take his naps on these pool beds

How can a liquid look so much like a solid??

After working 6-7 LONG days per week for nearly four and a half months, we packed our bags and headed to the Dominican Republican. We spent March 10-17 enjoying the Carribean sun :) with our precious son. I wanted to post a few pictures from the trip. The first day we arrived in the DR, I didn't know what to do with myself---I felt like I should be working. Never before have I had a problem relaxing as soon as I get to a vacation destination.......but, never before have I worked so much and so hard!! Our most relaxing time was while John Harrison took his naps (often on the beach!) and after John Harrison went down to sleep.

You know that you are in the Carribean when.....

1-You are allowed to bypass the extra "security" screening at the gate at the airport just because you have a baby

2-Your server asks if your baby wants a beer or cocktail with breakfast

3-The gate agents instruct passengers to board the plane from both the front and the back---with no regard to zones or rows (what a mess!!)

4-Natives go crazy over your fair-skinned, blond-haired, blue-eyed baby BOY

5-Non-potty trained babies are allowed to swim in the adult pools

By the way---At his one year check-up, John Harrison weighed 23 lbs 13 ozs and measured 31.5 inches tall!

Celebrating One Year

first encounter with sugar

sporting a chocolate mustache from a cake icing sample, eating lunch, and holding a party blower (John Harrison's favorite party "accessory"--he kept sticking the end in his mouth, but he couldn't figure out that you blow to make the end unroll).

L-R Great Grandmama, Grandpa, John Harrison, Grandmama, and Grandad

It's both simple and difficult for me to believe that one year ago, I was holding our tiny new baby in my arms. Our then helpless little baby is now feeding himself, walking everywhere, interacting with us, weaned (as of tonight!), and sleeping for 10+ hours per night.

Today was a near-perfect day. It would have been perfect if David's mom, sister, and brother, and my sister, brother-in-law, brother, and sister-in-law could have joined us for John Harrison's party. We took plenty of pictures and recordings of John Harrison to capture the day for the family members who couldn't be here due to illness or distance.

John Harrison woke up this morning around 6:30 after sleeping through the night (first night in nearly 2 weeks that he has done so since he had been sick with a cold). He ate and we played this morning and then we went to the store to buy party decorations and a few food items. John Harrison fell asleep in the car on the way home and slept for 2 1/2 hours---John Harrison NEVER takes naps that long for us! Not wanting to wake the birthday boy up from his good nap, we went ahead and ate lunch. John Harrison was upset when he woke up because he was hungry. I let him eat lunch before giving him cake. John Harrison wore an adorable blue gingham dress shirt, jeans, a sweater vest with an airplane applique, and some navy sandals. Well, he didn't wear that while he ate cake---he actually just wore his diaper when he dug into his homemade giraffe cake. John Harrison's hands and face were messy but he didn't smear icing all over himself like we expected him to do. He really enjoyed squishing the icing in his hands....as well as eating it. It was awesome when he took huge chunks of cake and went for his mouth---then threw the huge chunks down on the floor beside his chair. Thankfully, we put a sheet under his chair so that made clean-up a lot easier. After the cake-eating and extensive photographing time, John Harrison opened his gifts. He got a variety of awesome gifts---his favorite seemed to be a fun steering wheel interactive driving toy from Uncle Jon. After everyone left, David and I took John Harrison for a walk to try out the new Ergo carrier from my parents. I am impressed that I didn't have a sore back after carrying around my 23 (or so) pound baby on my back for 30 minutes!! After we came back home from taking the walk, John Harrison had some milk and then we played outside for a while. The weather was awesome here today and the day couldn't have been a prettier day for early March. John Harrison received calls today from his aunts and uncles, Great Grammy, and Grammy. He loved hearing each of their voices :). Well, to close out this day, I had best get some sleep myself.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

Compared to Mommy.....

Catherine--less than one year old

John Harrison---11 months and change

What do you think---does John Harrison look like me (Catherine)?

Catherine at four months old

Catherine---a little over a year old

Our little boy is almost ONE! Here are some pictures of me when I was a baby.....I will also scan and upload some pictures of David when he was a baby. David and I both think that there is a lot of resemblance between John Harrison and me when I was a baby.

John Harrison is becoming very attached to his "baba" (bottle) since he only has "real" milk once per day now. His main words are "baba" and "mama." "Baba" can mean "bottle," "Raleigh," "ball," and a variety of unidentified objects or concepts. John Harrison is a skilled walker and loves to play. Last night, David and I took John Harrison up to the playroom and David pushed the Fisher Price corn popper around the room really fast---John Harrison loved laughing and running around chasing Dad. He even pushed the corn popper some when he could get it away from Dad:). John Harrison eats two to three "real food" meals each day--chunks of pear, peach, avocado, broccoli, and spinach. His favorite food seems to be fresh pear. I am hoping to introduce meat chunks soon.

In the next day or two, I will post some photos to recap John Harrison's first year. I am still trying to pick out what John Harrison will wear to his first birthday party. So many choices. No, I am not the mom who bought a fancy smocked jon-jon for my baby's first birthday---there are some adorable outfits out there, but for one, David wouldn't appreciate that type of outfit on our little boy too much ---and two, I think John Harrison will be much more comfortable. John Harrison will probably wear jeans or kahkis and a cute shirt and sweater or jacket. I'm sure we'll take plenty of pictures!

Handsome Boy!

We joined our church on Sunday and John Harrison wanted to dress up for the occassion. In reality, he slept as we were introduced, stood at the front, and were greeted by the body.

Enjoying a hearty breakfast!