I <3 Valentines Day

While I
often hear Valentine's Day is just another commercial holiday for big businesses to make another dollar, we happen to look at it much differently. Instead of cards, stuffed animals and candy, we look at as a day to spend time with family and show one another how much they mean to us. Even more fun this year, is celebrating it with Miss Bellamie. So far, we have made decorations...

and taken pictures....

And next up is a little baking! I plan to make this year special with strawberry crepes, pink cupcakes, homemade cards and dinner at home... How does your family celebrate?

I <3 organizing

We have five short months until baby comes. While for some this may seem like a long time, for this organizined momma it has put me in overdrive! The biggest challenge is clearing out the current computer/guest room to turn it into the nursery.  In order to make space for my craft supplies I first had to tackle the hall closet... Dun dun dun
I started by removing everything from the closet and making a keep and throw away pile (no need for donate pile, if I'm getting rid of an old towel, trust me no one else is going to want it either).  I then looked for storage but couldn't believe how expensive it was! So I went home and glued some pretty scrapbook paper to shoe boxes and wrapping paper to a couple larger boxes, and tada free storage way cuter than anything in the store!  I had a couple wicker baskets lying around and used them for towels, washcloths, and blankets.  I'm sure over time Ill be making a few tweaks but for now I love the results... Drum roll please

                                   Before                             After

2012 in pictures

It was been awhile... a long while actually, but I decided I finally want to start blogging again.  As I am always browsing other blogs, I began to remember how I much I missed blogging myself.  Whether I have one follower or a thousand, I want this blog to be a way I can look back at how far we have come, memories we have made, and maybe inspire a person or two with some of my crafts and DIY projects.  So what better way to kick off the new year than a review of last year in pictures!!  2012 had its ups and downs for my family, but looking back at pictures, thankfully there were many more ups!  That said, here is the Harroun 2012 year in pictures....

We took Bell on our first overnight trip to the coast....

Bell learned to crawl

We spent Memorial Weekend in Brookings watching the parade (Bellamie and Great Grandma Dorothy)

We celebrated Bellamie's first Easter

Rob had his first official fathers day

We watched my youngest brother graduate high school

We spent lots of time at the berry patch

We watched daddy play softball

Took many trips to river 

We camped up the river in Brookings with Robs family

Celebrated a big first birthday with a look whoos one party!

Took Bell to her first football game

Went to the pumpkin patch

Took Bell trick or treating for the first time... she went as Pebbles and hated it!  She didn't understand why we couldn't stay and play and every house.  Next year will be better ;)

Found out we are expecting baby number two!

And had a big family Christmas!

Overall I must say, we had a great year!  

2013 is sure to be another very eventful year with baby number two on the way... A little mister!!!  And you can expect weekly posts from me, on everything from converting the computer room into a nursery, organizing some of the chaos around the home, plenty of DIY's, updates on our family, meal ideas, and as always lots and lots of pictures!!!  What are your plans for the new year?

New Year's "Resolutions"

2011 definitely had its ups and downs.  Our biggest blessing was the arrival of our baby girl and every day with her seems even better than the last.  As with every year I make resolutions but this year I have decided to make goals for 2012, rather than resolutions.  Much like every year, my first goal is lose weight and get in shape, this year however I have a goal weight in mind, am making myself work out 5 days a week and plan on keeping track of what I eat everyday... I weighed myself this morning, ugh, and don't plan on stepping back on the scale until January 31st!
My second goal, learn how to use my sewing machine.  My mom bought me a sewing machine for my birthday a few years back, yes years, and I have yet to make anything except a very lopsided apron that I am not proud of!  I also hope this gives me the creative outlet I have been looking for!
Lastly I need to learn to not compare myself to others and be happy with what i have.  How easily I forget about how blessed I am.  Instead of being thankful that I am able to only part time, I get angry that I cant stay home full time.  This year I plan to count my blessing every night, show my husband how much I love and appreciate him and enjoy all the good times rather than dwell on the hard times.
Did you make goals/resolutions for 2012?  Do you have a game plan to stick to them this year?  Here is to a fun fabulous new year and meeting every goal we made!!
(PS, like the look of the blog?!  Thanks Nikki!!)

Let her cry

Bellamie used to cry... a lot!  Some called it colic, others chalked it up to her casts, and surgery, the reason didn't seem to matter much at the time, there just seemed to be a lot of crying.  We are past what we donned as "fussy time".  That time between 5 and 8 when she would just cry no matter we did.  There were endless evenings spent bouncing, dancing, rocking, and walking, to try and sooth her.  After her surgery we went through a stage where she would only allow me to her hold, or she would cry, so hold I did... All the time. Slowly but surely we also got past this and now it seems like an eternity ago.  Now Bell only fusses when she gets tired and while she still may cry a little more than the average baby, I wouldn't change a thing about her.  She is sleeping through the night for the most part, but every now and then, fusses here and there.  Now, I have read about the "cry methods" and call her spoiled, but at the slightest peep, I am up and in her room to soothe her, which is usually just giving her the binkie and rearranging blankies and I am back to bed in under a minute.  No biggie.  But some nights I am up multiple times and eventually have a hard time falling back asleep... That said I still can not just let her cry it out no matter how tired I am.
Do you believe in the cry it out method? Did it work for you?  Or do you rush to your little one at the first peep?  Do you believe you can "spoil" a baby, or is soothing necessary to grow trust?

11/22/2011

“A hundred men may make an encampment, but it takes a woman to make a home.”
 -Chinese proverb

When I Grow Up

Some kids want to be astronauts others want to be movie stars, and while exploring space seemed pretty cool and who doesn't want to be rich and famous, I always just wanted to be my mom.  My mom wasn't the "cool" mom who let us stay up all night, she wasn't the mom who spoiled her kids her rotten and she definitely wasn't the mom who let us do whatever we wanted, she was so much better than that. 
My mom was the mom who picked us up from school everyday, asked how our day was and was genuinely interested to find out.  My mom was the mom who made every birthday extremely special.  From carnivals to tea party's, each one was special in its own way.  My mom was the mom who went all out for each and every Holiday.  To this day Christmas is my favorite time of year, not for the gifts, but for time spent with family and looking at my mother's beautiful Christmas decorations.  Her home is truly enchanted this time of year.  My mom was the mom who made us lunches until we graduated high school, even when we told her we no longer at a school.  My mom was the mom who came to every sporting event, sat on the booster club, kept the score at baseball games and worked at the snack shack.  My mom was the mom who was apart of every aspect of our lives, from our first skinned knee to our first crush, she knew everything about us.
My mom was the mom who kissed boo boos, wiped snotty noses, held cold rags to warm foreheads, wiped tears, play boardgames, made crafts, sang to us, danced with us, encouraged us to reach for the stars, made us feel safe, pushed us to get outside our comfort zone, worked hard, played harder, and loved us for who we are. 
Oh how blessed I am to have a mother like mine and how blessed Bell is to have her as a grandmother.  If I can be half the mom for Bellamie that my mom was for me, she will be one lucky girl.   I can only hope I become the mom that Bellamie hopes to be one day when she grows up.