Happy five month birthday Harrison!!

Yay! Harrison is five month's old!! I remember when he turned one month and I was impressed with myself that he was still alive, now he is FIVE months old. Way to hang in there champ!

I spent today at a park in Eden Prairie with the same moms I met up with on St. Patrick's day. It was the first time Harrison has ever spent anytime outside because he was born in the winter. He sneezed a whole bunch and one of his eyes got red for awhile. I hope he doesn't have Mommy's allergies. He seemed to adjust pretty quickly and the rest of the time he was just fine. Hopefully it was just because he had never been on grass before.

He is starting to sit up really well on his own. He can sit on a lap independently and briefly on the floor on his own. I was taking pics of him and trying to get him to look at the camera. I was calling out his name and he looked up! I did that a bunch of times and he kept looking! Yay he knows his name!!

He has also mastered how to scrunch up his nose and has been making this face a lot...
I think its cute. Okay so a few other items...

My friend Becky's husband will be leaving for Iraq soon. If you pray please pray for him. If you don't then maybe just send some positive vibes or something. We all want him to return safely back to Becky and Lillie.

Congrats to my old station 77 co-worker Christina on getting engaged! I love a good love story and these two had to cross an ocean to be with each other. That is right up my alley!! I wish her and Chris all the best!

Congrats also to another station 77 co-worker Halima on her wedding! She is happily married and I can't wait for her to put pictures on facebook.

Okay thanks everyone!!


Mama Panda

Wait, you mean she said yes? Damn I owe Derek 50 bucks.

Harrison would like to say congrats to his Godparents Jeremy and Beth on their recent engagement!! Now their dogs Buddy and and Chloe won't be illegitimate. What a relief, Right?!!

I don't have a picture of the ring ( hint hint Beth) which is unfortunate because the only thing I love more than coffee and Cherry Coke is a little something sparkly!!

We can't wait to celebrate their nuptials by getting drunk and dancing to YMCA! I'll start stretching now to prepare.

Love,

Mama Panda

stress AAAGGHHH!!

Derek and I moved to a townhouse in St. Paul. We had been trying to get into a house because our condo went completely underwater, was too small after Harrison was born, we hated our neighbor, Derek had a 45 minute commute, etc. but that did not pan out for us. It has been a difficult year dealing with all this but we finally decided to walk away from the condo and rent instead. The down side of course being my really good credit will now become really bad credit and everything we have been working towards the last four years is ruined, the upside being we live in a much better place in a neighborhood we LOVE! we are in highland park just south of St. Kate's. This is a neighborhood that Derek and I would never be able to afford if we were not renting. So now the decision has been made and we can move on. Sigh.

Harrison really has been the saving grace for us. Even when our days were unbearable coming home to a smiling baby made it all okay. Derek said numerous times that it really helped us to have Harrison around. he is a very happy baby! usually full of smiles!! Now that we can focus our energy on other things and now that winter is over I have been trying to get out of the house more. It is hard to be cooped up for months at a time. Grammie watched Harrison so Derek and I could go see Glasvegas, which was a really great show!! I am also trying to plan regular get togethers with new mommies I know. It is hard cuz i don't know that many people. Everyone I know has moved away.

Speaking of which, congrats to my sister Jen!! She got a job as an Anthropology professor at North Texas University!! Yay! I am really happy for her and it shows how brilliant she is that in these trying times she still found a job. I hate that she will be moving away again in August. I just got her back last fall when she came from California to stay with our parents while she found work. Now she will be in Denton TX. But still, Congrats to Dr. Jennifer Chase!!

Derek brought Harrison into my work the other day. I work with mostly women and they SWARMED around him! It was kinda crazy how much they cooed and awwed over him. They sure do love babies. Harrison ate it up of course! He is a very social kid.

here are some funny pics of our little guy, hope all is going well for everyone as we struggle through these difficult times. I know it not just me and Derek having a tough time right now. To everyone that is struggling I empathize with you!!