[Perry] Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. We had a great time. The Perry Family celebrated the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. My Mewmaw and Uncle Doug were unable to attend because Memaw had shoulder replacement surgery a few days earlier.

It is always nice when we can all get together. We all live close to each other (the furthest away being in Atlanta), but that doesn't mean we always spend quality time together. I feel very blessed that I have such great relationships with my brothers and their spouses (or soon-to-be-spouse!) My parents have always told us that it comforts them to know that when they are no longer here, we will have each other. 

Philip, Harper and Kelly

Ricky and Keri

Happy Jason and Happy Harper

Fussy Jason and Fussy Harper

Betsy and Harper

John, Harper and Alyson

Unfortunately, the nap schedules of Hadley, Hayden and Harper did not coincide, so we didn't get any pictures with them before we had to take Harper home. All in all -- the day was a success. It was my first time making the dressing and pecan pies with my mom. I am very excited to carry on that family tradition.

Nashville

Friends of ours were getting married in Nashville. We decided that it would be nice to attend this wedding and spend a night away from Harper. John's parents were so kind to drive up from Macon to take such wonderful care of Harper. I cried...a river...when we left Harper. Eventually I get into finding music on XM and shopping at the outlet and was able to get past leaving her.

Arv and Jess' wedding was on Sunday, but we left Saturday morning. We met up with some friends at our lovely hotel bar, then we went to dinner.

After a great dinner (one to which John and I are not accustomed) we met the wedding crew at a bar. At this point I realized that I am a) not as young as I used to be, and b) stubborn as always.

This was the first Hindu wedding that John and I have ever attended, and it was great. I remember going to my first Bar Mitzvah and wanting to be Jewish. This wedding made me want to be Hindu. I love my religion -- I just really like how other religions celebrate various occasions.

I would also like to add that I am so thankful for GE. John met Kevin through GE. Kevin is married to Cindy. I love them both. They are great people. Kevin introduced us to Allan and Leah Sicat. The Sicats are also wonderful people. I feel very blessed to know such great people and to call them our friends.

John, Me, Al, Leah, Kevin and Cindy.

At the wedding

John, Jess, Arv, Me

7 months!

Again, I am a little late in writing this, BUT HARPER IS 7 MONTHS OLD! It is hard to believe that much time has passed. So...updates on our little lady:

-she now eats apples, pears, prunes, peaches, bananas, zucchini, yellow squash, butternut squash, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, and carrots.
-she sits up on her own
-she rolls and rolls around the floor and her crib
-she is excellent at taking her pacifier out of her mouth and she is getting MUCH better at putting it back in her mouth
-she babbles "ba ba ba ba" and "da da da da" are common
-she loves making sounds with her lips and her tongue
-she is in love with Molly and Jackson. 

Halloween

A baby's first Halloween is all about the parents. I mean, the baby isn't aware of what is going on, can't eat candy and probably hates being put in costumes. That being said -- I was very excited about Halloween. Unfortunately, GE had other plans for John. He was in Greenville, South Carolina the whole week of Halloween. It was the first time he was away for so long.

We went to a church Halloween get-together the Sunday before Halloween. Then, on October 31, Jason and Betsy invited me and Harper to come to their house for dinner and trick-or-treating.

It has turned into an unplanned tradition -- carving pumpkins with Keri and Ricky. Next year at this time THEY WILL BE MARRIED!

We let Harper play with the pumpkin innards -- and she loved it.

Eating her nom-noms.

At the church Halloween get together.

With her cousin, Hadley on Halloween.

Hayden, Hadley and Harper.

Harper loved playing with her cousins -- Hadley and Hayden will tell you that Harper is very loud AND that she accidentally poked Hayden in the eye. After dinner, we took pictures and then Harper and I went home. I was worried about no one being home for trick-or-treaters. My mom was sweet to come stay the night with us and help with all 12 of our trick-or-treaters. We missed John, but we were able to Facetime with him.

Beach trip!

We wanted to take Harper to the beach this summer, but we were worried that she might be too young and it might be too warm. So, we decided to take her to the beach in October. Now, where to go? We decided to take her to Panama City Beach because that is where I used to go when I was a child. My parents owned a condo at Edgewater Beach Resort....that is where I learned to dive. I remember a college student asking my Big Mama to dance at the Palapa. We used to buy the big, chewy Sweetarts at the giftshop, and spend lots of money at the arcade. We always ate at Sweet Basil's, and got salt water taffy from The Candy Basket. It just felt right to take Harper (and John).

My parents came along with us. It was such a special trip. Panama City has changed so much from when I was 14. That's when my parents sold our condo and bought a place in Destin.

The weather was gorgeous and Harper, as usual, was an angel. She slept a lot and my parents looked after her, so John and I were given a good bit of beach time. Harper loved the sand. She enjoyed the ocean water -- not the pool water. 

Did I mention that John and I got sick at the beach?! Who does that? I haven't had a cold in over a year. It was a bit disappointing -- but if you have to be sick, be sick at the beach. Luckily, Harper didn't catch it -- maybe just a  slight runny nose.

We ate lunch at what used to be the Palapa, but is now called Ocean's.

  I think that my parents are hysterical...and OH SO cute! I was taking pictures with the condo in the background and I said I wanted one from the other side....haha.

After dinner at Captain Andrew's, we walked around the dock and looked at boats.

Harper had a great time with Nana and Popi.

On our last morning there, John took Harper up to the 12th floor and took a picture.

In case you were wondering, yes, Harper had a different swimsuit for each day. Actually, she had more that she didn't get to wear and some that we didn't capture with the camera. I certainly over packed for her, but I had several months to get precious outfits for the beach. She has so many outfits that she never got to wear. Solution? We will just have to have another girl. Clearly we want a boy, too....but another girl is a must.

A Beautiful Sunday

 Harper was baptized on Sunday, October 14. It was a very special time for us. Add to that our friends and family who joined us for the occasion. It was such a special day. John grew up in the Baptist church, but he joined the Methodist church several years ago. He was baptized by the same man who married us, Dr. Sam Matthews. Dr. Sam also baptized Harper. It was wonderful

It was Children's Day at church, so the ministers didn't wear their robes. Harper did a great job.

Here is Harper in her dress. John's Aunt Janice made the bonnet for Harper. She also made the most precious bib.

This was during the prayer after she was baptized. I couldn't help looking at her and smiling.

After the baptism, we had all of our friends and family over for lunch -- we catered Williamson Bros. BBQ. Everything was perfect -- many thanks to Ricky and Keri for all of their help.

After everyone left, we put Harper down for a nap and John and I rested a bit. Once Harper woke up, we picked up Keri and headed to the pumpkin patch. I was used to going to Burt's Pumpkin Patch, but that was just too long of a drive for us at the moment. 

Here I am with Harper in the "petting zoo" area.

She is just the sweetest.

Both mesmerized by the object before them.

Now we have a few days before we leave FOR THE BEACH! I am so excited. I have been waiting for this all summer. We waited because we wanted Harper to be a little older, and for it not to be so hot. It is perfect now since she is also sitting up. My parents will be joining us. I have had precious outfits and swimsuits waiting for our trip.

ALSO -- we have scheduled our first night away from Harper. When John brought the idea to me, I immediately started crying. What if someone can't calm Harper like I can? What if she NEEDS us? He reassured me that one night away will be fine. We are going to a friend's wedding in Nashville in early November.

6 months!

Harper is 6 months (and 1 week) old! She did so well at her doctor's appointment. She is 19 lbs 6 oz and 28 inches long. She is in the 95 percentile for height and 90 percentile for weight. Our daughter is definitely proportional.

She screamed -- I mean screamed during her shots. Once I picked her up, she was fine. She just glared at the nurse.

Harper now rolls from back to belly and belly to back. I was so happy that John was able to witness her rolling from belly to back for the first time. It was such a special moment. She can also sit up -- well, until she falls over. She is doing so well.

Harper now eats: apples, pears, prunes, bananas, green beans, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, avocados, yellow squash and butternut squash. I have made all of if except for the prunes.

 Harper is just the sweetest baby. She smiles all the time. Well, I take that back .We went to Walker's homecoming game and Harper never cracked a smile. That was probably because we woke her up from her nap to go to the game. Oops.

Now for you to see our favorite of Harper's faces. This is her "I am frustrated, let me do what I want" face. Our girl is independent and feisty...as independent a 6 month old can be.