Keeping Up with the Clarks: The New Year (so far)

January has been a busy month for us, but it is safe to say that 2013 is off to a great start. We have a lot going on these next few months and it is all very exciting.

But let's back up. John and I celebrated 3 years of marriage on January 16. I have such great memories from our wedding. I still haven't tasted a wedding cake that tops ours. Gabriel's did a great job. Every year we buy a small strawberry cake from them, reminiscent of our wedding cake. Three years doesn't seem that long, especially when you consider that John and I started dating 8 years ago. Some people say the first year is the hardest -- I disagree. The first year felt like summer camp -- we had so much fun and loved living together. That hasn't changed -- we just have a new roommate. Harper.

My grandmother, Elnyr Roberts, had a big birthday this month. She turned 89 years old (she would kill me if she knew I posted this -- then again, she reads this. HELLO MEMAW, LOVE YOU!) We had a little party for her at my parents' house. She has the greatest sense of humor. She is doing very well considering that she had shoulder replacement surgery in November. I told her that she is doing well -- she is in good health, they just need to replace her parts every once in a while.

I don't think that I have mentioned it before, but I am "training" for a half marathon in February. I have a little less than a month to go. I am running with my future sister-in-law, Keri. She has been training a bit more vigorously than I, but I am doing my best. I am running the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Disneyworld. Ricky, Keri, John, Harper and I are going a few days early to visit the parks. I am excited. It feels nice trying to get in shape again. It is definitely not easy trying to juggle jogging/running with breastfeeding, but it is important to me. I have also struggled with finding time to run because John gets home around 6, so I cook dinner, then it's bath time for Harper then we put her to bed. I am usually left running around 9 at night -- so I finish my runs around 10:30. I am pretty wired after that, so it is not ideal, but I am doing what I can. Did I mention that I bought Harper an adorable Minnie Mouse outfit and Keri and I are planning our running costumes? ...because yeah...that's happening.

John has a couple of business trips coming up: he will be in Greenville, South Carolina all of next week, and he will leave for Budapest, Hungary for a week just after our trip to Disney. In fact, he is catching his flight from Orlando. John has traveled a few times since Harper's birth and we have managed just fine. I have family VERY close and they love to help. My brother, Ricky, and his fiancee just moved into a beautiful home in Marietta about 2 miles from us. They will want to help me, I am sure of it. :) I would plan more slumber parties for us, but Harper only sleeps well in her crib.

Aside from our Disney trip in February, we have a Caribbean cruise in April. My dad is turning 60 and the whole family is going on the trip. Harper will have just turned 1...I can't believe it! We take Harper to get her passport in a little over a week. It will be an adorable addition to her baby book one day.

What's new with Harper? Well, she is super mobile. She is standing on her own, but she is not taking steps without holding on to something. She is "cruising," which means she will walk along the couch or a table while holding on to it. She climbed four stairs the other day. I was with her so don't worry. She is doing so much and she is not even 10 months old -- I can't imagine when she will start walking.

She loves eating fruits and veggies. We have added turkey and pulled pork to the mix and she loves it. She also likes to eat Cheerios. She is drinking more from a sippy cup, but we don't do that too often because she is still nursing. We have found a lovely little play group that meets every Tuesday morning. We also have other outings planned, but the Tuesday play group is a weekly thing and we love it. I am so thankful to have those babies to entertain Harper and those mamas to talk to me. I have also met a friend through MRTT and we meet occasionally to run. It is great having another mom to run with -- Sandra is great.

Now I will just leave you with some adorable pictures...