Life at Home....

There are those moments throughout life where you know in your gut there needs to be a change.  This "gut change" happened over the holidays when I knew we needed to make the decision for me to stay at home with baby girl.  The pace of our life had become a little too much to bear so we made the decision.... I resigned from management at the school I was working, said goodbye to Harper's teachers, and have now begun our next chapter!

I have LOTS to learn, but am in week 3 and LOVING IT!!!  I do miss my friends from the school, but have managed to keep in contact:).  

We are still getting used to our new pace, mommy groups, dinner- making, and life at home but are having fun and laughing and/or crying the whole way!

Baby girl had to undergo minor surgery to remove a cyst on the cartilage of her ear.  Minor, but I still freaked.... thought I'd have more time before having my daughter undergo anesthesia!  

Nana to the rescue!!!

I hadn't stopped working quite yet when this happened and Nana came armed with toys, home-cooked meals, and patience for the whole Lee bunch.... pretty sure we all needed her in a bad way that week!!

Harper did so well and her ear looks great!

And then began week 1 of SAHM (Stay at home mom:))... just learned that abbreviation- ha!

Never turn your head if even for a minute or you may have a dresser with a lovely addition of peach flavored paint.... ya, snack in highchair ONLY from now on!

We also now have more time with our best buddy, Emma!  LOVE her.  Here they took a breather from stroller-pushing to have a small snack.  Again, I really need to have snack time in the highchair, I know.

Although, the CONTAINED mess still happens... Coco puff leftover milk is much better all over the tray- and then splashing it all over is even MORE fun... sad choice!

A long overdue date with Seth... They talked over corndogs and fruit while grown-ups talked :).... been buddies since before birth- so sweet!

We have totally discovered the library.  Mommy loves the story/song time and then craft!  Harper loves the fish tank... ya we're working on the benefits of the library;).

Being home gives us more time for outside play.  Pretty sure I could pitch Harper a tent in the backyard and she would be completely content never coming inside.... 

Thank you to ALL of you for your support and guidance during this transition in our lives.  I appreciate you all SOOOO much and cannot thank you enough for listening to alllll my chatter about ins and outs of staying involved from home ;).... 

Beachin' It

Last year I think we may have begun a tradition of beachin' it right after Christmas with my family!  I guess we can only hope right ;).  Regardless, this was the second year in a row we were able to all get together and enjoy the relaxing, warmer weather as a group..... we loved every second.... I mean, we DO live all over the U.S.... we all need a little family time at least once a year right- whatcha thinking mom?!?!  Is the guilt working to maybe do this again sometime... hehe!

Anyway, here are some pics of our trip as a family;).

The ocean was a little chilly, but it didn't slow the guys down- hehe!

Lil' miss... yes, she still has that pacifier... I at LEAST had to wait to get rid of it until we were done flying;)....ugh I have so many excuses... shame on Mommy- we need to break the habit soon, I know.

My amazing parents... thank you for a much-needed family vaca;)- you're the best a girl could ask for!

A girl, her Papa, and Elmo on the beach... pretty sure her world is complete

The sibs and I... man I love hanging with you guys ;)

Uncle Aaron is the ONLY person who can get this little girl to wear sunglasses- ha!

The crew on the beach

Picture I took to be my computer background... love!

We rented these little moped-like cars while we were there.... amazing- pretty sure I'd like to own one ;)

Love you guys!

Starbucks... ha!  Wants to be just like her Aunt Abby;)

Nana & Harper making "trees" in the sand

Wow... her bow looks 1/2 the size of her head- yes... that is how we roll in the south!

Miss thang and I.... love her!

She wanted to play ball with the boys so badly!

Aaron & I

Daddy & Harper... she wanted to do whatever he was doing the whole time on the beach- I LOVE how much she loves him :)

Thank you again Mom & Dad for the wonderful week on the shore.... now we're back to cold and grey days- back to reality of winter :)

HalloThanksXmas.....

My goodness, it has again been WAY too long since my last post!!!  The holidays always seem to whiz by and this year was no exception!  The following are snapshots from the Fall months with the Lee family:).

Harper with her best buddies from school :)  Thank you, Ms. Crystal for this precious picture!

Halloween

Pumpkin Patch Fun!!!  Harper, and her best buddy, Emma, had so much fun picking out pumpkins and seeing all the baby animals! 

Oh yes.... each year, Pine Crest, the school I work, does a Halloween Carnival complete with a theme.  It was fun... Pete even got in on the action, creating Sponge Bob for the party- so fun!

Thank you, Anna, for the beautiful Fall pictures you took :)- love them!

Success: found the most precious penguin costume for my litte Penguinette )

Failure: She HATED every part of it..... 

....Harper went Trick or Treating as herself ;), but still had fun

I am looking forward to next year- hehe- when we hopefully can try again with cute dress-up-ness

Life with a Toddler: a whole lot of the pouty face and messes.... lots and lots of messes ;)

                 

Thank you Purdue Friends for the WONDERFUL visit!!!!!  Cannot BELIEVE it had been since our wedding since we had seen some of you- shame shame!!!  It meant SO much to us you making the looooong trip here- LOVE YOU GUYS!!

And of course.... our week wouldn't be complete without Face Timing with Uncle Aaron!!!  Harper LOVES him so much!!!!

Thanksgiving

I attempted it myself this year!!  Mixed O'Connell and Lee recipes together and it actually didn't turn out TOO crazy.  We had a wonderful visit with Tom & Darla.... thank you for spending the holiday with us!!

Nothing like Bubble Guppies on Papa's lap ;)

Christmas

Harper and her friend, Berkley, went to the square to check out the lights, reindeer, and see Santa!!!  Sounded like a fabulous idea..... but the wide-eyed expression on Harper's face was slightly different then I had pictured... maybe next year she'll feel like seeing Santa ;).

I hope the last few months of 2012 treated you well!!!  Thank you all for hanging by us during the whirlwind that has been life these past few months!!! 

We love you :).

Wait- it's been how long since my last post?!?!

MY GOODNESS.... I really cannot believe it has been so long since I have updated on here.  I think the summer got the best of me and long behold it is fall.

So, here we are... a couple months into the new school year and I am beginning to pull down fall decorations, put together outfits for school pictures, and yes... I have begun Christmas shopping ;).

The past few months have been busy but good for our little family... 

I am excited to say that I am now Assistant Director at Pine Crest and am truly enjoying having my hands in all the fun happenings at the school- I don't love the control over what's happening at the school at all ;)- hehe!  Anyway, it has been fun and allowed me to spend more time with Ms. Harper who is offically rockin-and-rollin!  She is now a bit of everywhere with her movements but also her mouth!  She is talking up a storm and has promptly learned the phrase "No no" which she uses quite often.  She is a busy bee and would like to run the show at home.... there is a slight battle of the wills around the Lee household, but she is girl who knows what she wants- wonder where she gets that from?? ;)

Also, Pete has been blessed with a new opportunity as well on the work front.  It was a bitterweet goodbye, but he has officially closed the book with ConAgra and begins his new venture with Newell Rubbermaid on Monday!  He is sooooo excited and I truly cannot be happier for him... his hard work has definitely paid off- I am so proud!

Here are a few pictures from the last 90 days of Lee life;).....

She LOVED the fair.... she's slghtly obsessed with animals right now, so this was the perfect place to get her LIVE fill!!

Harper got some new markers and crayons.... she and Daddy were having some fun breaking them in ;)

She LOVES being outside- girl after my own heart!  I was happy to add this addition to our backyard- its a wonderful outdoor aversion from her previous outdoor activities: running toward the street constantly :(

Still melts every time she gets to FaceTime with Uncle Aaron!!!

One of the best new additions to our little life down here... the Elliott Family!  They are friends of ours that we met through ConAgra who just moved a couple houses down from us!  Their daughter, Emma, is one week older than Harper.  They are GREAT friends.... we love our Emma time for sure!

Finally getting some teeth worth brushing ;)!!!!

My Favorites ;)

ya... a barefoot walk down to Emma's house!

She's looking more and more grown up every day!

Still loves the cuddle evening time with Momma.... I'm hoping that doesn't end anytime soon!!

I wish you all a Happy Fall!  I apologize for not updating sooner.  I hope this message finds you well, enjoying the fall weather and all the fun that comes with this time of year!!