Holidays

I have to say that, hands down, my favorite time of the year is Christmas. Sure, putting up the lights and the tree and getting ALL of our decorations out is a lot of hard work, I love every minute of it. There is a certain magic that has been added to the season now that we have two kids, it is really cool to see Owen stare at all the twinkle lights and see Harper so excited to visit Santa. It has also been very neat to live in a neighborhood where people drive through to see your lights, which will push me to do it bigger next year.(didn't actually do it much bigger this year(2010), but I do have bigger plans for next year! (2011)

Making Bread

This afternoon Harper and I got to travel out to the farm and take part in the yearly ritual of "making bread". This is the term that Harper gave to harvest two years ago. Well her and I arrived around 4:45 and she was initially reluctant to go with her Boppy on the Combine. Then miraculously she remembered just how much she loves cutting wheat. It is wonderful to see how much she loves being out in the field watching the machinery and getting dirty. She also got her first crack at driving the combine. She did a great job and had a blast in the process.

Vacation??

This week I am at the OSU basketball camp, it is definitely a bittersweet experience. On one hand I get to sleep un-interrupted all night. This actually proved to be impossible last night, I still awoke around the scheduled feeding times. I get to spend the week coaching the sport I absolutely love, but I am also missing the three people I love more than anything. So, we will see how the next two days go. I have the joy of having Travis Ford's son on my team, a team which is pretty good! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at camp, coaching the ACC kids (3rd-6th graders) is pure fun. And not to mention I have been the camp champions for my age group for three straight years now! I am one lucky alumni.

Two Kids

I want to start by saying that I feel like I have been greatly blessed with my two special kids.  I also never expected two kids to be so hectic.  When you have one little baby you are up a lot during the night, but when they are sleeping you can be sleeping, but with two, it's no longer the case.  It seems as if as soon soon as Owen falls back asleep after his 5:00 a.m. feeding Harper springs out of bed at 7:00.  Another difference in having two kids is that Owen seems to be growing a lot faster than Harper did.  With Harper we had the time to just sit back and watch all of her little moments.  I feel like life is as busy as ever and Owen will be walking and talking way before I am ready for that.  I also believe Harper is secretly praying for her brother to grow up so that she has someone to play with, her pretend students are about to outgrow her class I think.  One thing is for sure, I wouldn't dream of having it any other way.

Adjustments

In the weeks leading up to the birth of Owen, Melissa and I were concerned as to how Harper would adjust to life with a little brother.  Up to this point she had been the center of our universe and now she was going to have to share the spotlight.  I think it caused Melissa and I more distress than it was actually creating in Harper.  One amazing quality that Harper possesses is an ability to nurture.  So with this ability it was only natural that she get a baby brother that she could care for.  Harper has been practicing the art of child rearing since she could walk and got her first baby.  The collection of baby dolls has swelled to somewhere in the neighbor hood of ten to twelve.  All rest diapered and dressed on her small baby bed.  Owen arriving gave Harper the opportunity to put those skills to the test.  From the moment she first met him, it was all love, she was so excited to be able to hold her baby brother.  Even with all of her "baby" diaper changing experience, she was not prepared for what awaited her in his first diaper changing in the hospital.  All that said, Harper is doing a wonderful job of adjusting to her brother being in the house, and she wants to be very helpful.  I have also found that it is impossible to bring her brother into the same room with her without stooping down so that she can give him a kiss.  I wish this level of love would continue all through the growing years, but alas, there will  be many changes in the years ahead.  For right now I am just loving seeing my kids interact with each other!

What have I been doing?

Wow my last post was like forever ago.  In that time many things have changed.  I think I will attack this in a very systematic manner, which may unravel into a very disjpointed recollection of the past months happenings.  Laet me make myself a list:

Harpers pizza day at school

Waiting in line for Pre-K

The Birth of Owen

Birthdays

Mothers Day

Just a few things I need to attack in coming posts.  

Giving Mommy a break

Today I decided to give Melissa a break, during which she decided to do work for me, by taking Harper to the zoo. We had a great time, as her and I don't really get to do a lot just the two of us. We were doing all the zoo things, looking at the monkeys first. Then we went to search out the elusive white tiger cubs, which actually turned out to be snow leopard cubs. Then we decided to head into the Oklahoma exhibit. big mistake.... I think today was "go to the zoo and take every kid you know day". There were people everywhere! Harper was completely content riding in her stroller eating her dried fruit and nut trail mix, and drinking the flavored water I had packed for me to drink. She was having a great time looking at all the animals when the announcement came over the loudspeaker, "the zoo will be closing in fifteen minutes, please make your way to the exits". So I tell Harper it's time to head home. Naturally she asks, "is it time for the animals to go nite-nite?" so I nonchalantly tell her, "yes, it is time for the animals to go nite-nite soon." At this point we are by the new lion overlook and there are a few people around making their way to the gate when out of nowhere......(Hands cupped around her mouth for maximum amplification) "Nite-Nite animals!" Yes, that's right, she yelled goodnight to all of the zoo animals. I love her nurturing instincts. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon at the zoo hangin with my baby girl.

The Promise

This evening I was unloading the dishwasher and Harper was standing in the kitchen with me.  I noticed that she was staring up at the open cabinet which contains or cups and mugs.  On the top shelf I like to keep my travel coffee mugs.  It was these that Harper was eyeing.  We had been talking again, at dinner, about what she wanted to be when she grows up.  While standing in the kitchen, staring at the mugs, and formulating her future, Harper asked me a question.  "Daddy when I go to work at the hospital, can I take one of those coffee cups in case I want some coffee?"  I know it doesn't seem like much, but in an instant I flashed ahead 25 years and had visions of her using one of my mugs that I had promised to her when she was 3.  It just made me feel happy to hope someday I will be that important to her.  I then promised her that when she is all grown-up I will buy her her very own coffee mug.  But she said, "no Daddy, one of those will be just fine."  

Professional Soccer Player

Yesterday, Harper and I were outside kicking the soccer ball around and practicing taking shots.  I was pleasantly surprised by the progress she has made since this summer.  In the midst of the practicing Harper looks at me and says, "I don't wanna be a doctor when I grow up anymore, I wanna be a soccer player."  I just stopped and thanked God that my little princess is shooting for the stars with her future.

Crazy Day

Here are some of the pictures I took of a crazy funnel cloud that developed over Yukon.  I was proud of Harper because she really handled the weather like a trooper.  I also have to admit that this was the first time in my life I decided it would be a good idea to get the dogs and have a seat in the hallway, of course after I ran outside and took some pictures. (They posted in reverse order)

My little helper

I have to admit that I never knew how much help Harper could be.  One day I got the vaccum out and started to vaccum and harper asked if she could try.  Me thinking this wouldn't last long, I let her give it a try in the living room.

But, she kept going.  Which surprised me because as you can see the vaccum is much larger than she is.
She finally finished after vaccuming the livingroom, her room, Melissa's and my room and her brothers room.  I never knew that something as tedious as vaccuming could provide so much entertainment.  This new helpfulness is coming from the fact that she is going to be a big sister soon and she "needs to take care of herself and help us".  She told me that she is practicing to take care of her brother when Melissa and I need to go somewhere.  Not quite sure we are ready for that just yet.

Snow Buddies

During my three day break from school due to the ice, we got enough sleet so that it appeared to Harper to be snow.  So what does a three year old want to do with snow..........

that's right, snow angels.  We laid down in the driveway and brushed out some snow angels.  That logically lead to attempting to sled. 

seeing as to how we didn't have a sled, we tried everything we could.  We ultimately settled on an Ikea bag.  Needless to say Harper had an amazing time and I am glad I could share it with her!

Harper can't wait!

I think the Barlow household is getting anxious for the arrival of baby Owen.  And none is more excited than my baby girl.  Her and I spend a lot of time discussing how she will help with Owen.  according to her, if Melissa and I need to go anywhere she will stay with her brother because she thinks he might not want to go to the store (she is alredy thinking he will be the same home-body that she is).  What do you say to that, a three year old willing to sacrifice her play time in order to care for her brother!  I really can't wait for Harper to get to meet her brother, she will be an amazing big sister.

There must be something to Barack Obama

I have to admit right off the bat I did not vote for Barack Obama.  That being said, there must be something to Mr. Obama.  Melissa told me that on inauguration day her and Harper were driving home when little miss sunshine piped up from the back seat, "Mom, Barack Obama was the only one who won today".  Melissa was puzzled, and asked Harper for clarification.  Harper quickly repeated her same statement.  This made me realize that Mr. Obama must be a very influential individual if even my three year old understands who he is.  I hope for the best!