Rachel Coleman is coming to MN

Hey everyone, so it just made the news, Rachel Coleman, star and founder of Signing Time will be here in Maple Grove, MN on May 27, 2011. Click here to reserve your tickets today!!

Snow Day!!

So today is a snow day. We got 17" in Maple Grove in 24hrs and it is STILL snowing now. Last night it was mainly little flakes, lots of blowing snow, and just pure icky-ness if you were out and about. Today has taken a more pleasant turn and it is BEAUTIFUL outside with the snow falling!! Huge, Beautiful, flakes falling straight down-I am in love!! See!!

While the girls napped this morning I took advantage of the time I had with just Joshua and we headed out into the snow on the deck. He loved it! Madelynn is not patient with getting all of her snow gear on, I'm not too patient putting it on her either, so I try to do the 'snow play' while she naps. This morning we tried to build a snowman (Joshua kept knocking it down) and we used sand toys to make castles (Joshua kept knocking them down) tried to scoop and pour the snow (Joshua kept throwing it at me) so we gave up and ate it :)

Spoiled Little Boy

I have been a member of a mom's online site called Cafemom, since I became pregnant with Joshua in June 2007. I joined a group for mom's who had expected due dates in March 2008 and low and behold MM08 was my 'go to gals'. Every year we have participated in a Christmas gift exchange and a birthday gift exchange. These are Joshua's birthday gifts from a fellow MM08 mama (Amanda) and her daughter (Isabella).

Signature pic of the box

Opening the box

The goodies within

The unwrapping begins

Look A Thomas Build Your Own Little Golden Book

More opening

A Melissa and Doug Wooden Bottle Set (condiments)

The loot!

As you can see Joshua was very spoiled! He loves his bottles. I didn't get a good photo of Joshua opening his Thomas Book, but that is a favorite too!!

Here is a video of Joshua giving thanks!

Spring Time!!

So it is the middle of February and in MN it typically means it is FREEZING outside! Well for the last few days, and the next few days, it has been, and is suppose to be, in the 40's! Today I was able to get the deck cleaned off and I dug out the outside toys and this afternoon I let the kids go outside-they LOVED it! Take a look :)

My heat has been off all week and during the day I have had the windows open-I'm loving this. Dan came home today just freezing so my house is now all closed up, but that is ok, I'll have tomorrow :)

He's almost 3!!

I can't believe that he is almost 3! It seems like just the other day I was bringing home this little baby in a snow storm. I was panicked in the back seat, crying the whole way home, praying we would not get into an accident! Dan got us home safely and now, that little tiny baby is huge! Joshua is amazing, and if you haven't met him in person, you should drive all the way to MN to spend the day with us!

This past weekend we have 1 of 2 birthday parties for Joshua and it was a blast! Due to the size of our family we have to do separate parties because I cannot afford to rent a space to contain us all! This past weekend we packed 21people into our 3bedroom apartment for dinner, presents, cake and ice cream, and my first attempt at making cake pops-which are AMAZING!

We had a great time and I am thankful to all of those who came to celebrate! Joshua got so many fun toys (mostly Thomas the Train or Toy Story 3) so thank you so much! Every toy has been played with for long periods of time every day since Saturday. Here are just a few pics (most turned out blurry :/) of the night.

And we'll end with this.

Angel Baby

Some of you have now heard the news, but others have not. So for my healing, and the information for others, the Harrison family has a new angel baby with wings awaiting us in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Last week I got a positive pregnancy test, and 2 days later I started cramping and bleeding which lead to a miscarriage. I do not know how far along I was, so I do not have a possible due date, but I do know that I now have another miracle waiting for me.

This past week has been very difficult for me, as I have miscarried at home without a D&C. I have not talked to many people, and avoided most people all together. I haven't wanted to talk about it which is why so many have been ignored. I am sorry for this. Just please understand.

Because I view this little life as a blessing and a miracle we shared the news with our children, once Joshua asked about the positive pregnancy test. We took pictures with the test and the kids, and they were very excited-take a look!

Joshua doesn't quiet understand what it really means for me to have a baby in my tummy, he was too little to remember when I was pregnant with Madelynn, ans so with that he doesn't really know what it means that this is not a baby in my tummy anymore.

Normally we do not tell anyone that we are expecting, especially the kids, until we are out of the first trimester, especially since we know that I have a Robertsonian Translocation of the 13:14 chromosome which can pass to the baby-resulting in Trisomy 13 or Trisomy 14. We lost our little girl, Gracie Ann, to Trisomy 13 in October 2006. It is very possible that this little angel baby, that just grew wings, also had Trisomy 13 or 14 but we will not know for sure. One thing we do know is that whenever we get pregnant we have a 50/50 chance of encountering this genetic disorder. We feel very fortunate to have been able to have 2 healthy happy children and we know that we see our angel babies again one day. And for that I am VERY grateful.

Beauty

This little girl makes me laugh

This little girl reminds me so much of myself, it is really scary!

This little girl is JUST what I needed today!

Class went great!

So it has been a few days since I last had an entry here, but there's been a lot going on here right now.

My Introduction to Baby Sign Language Class went great! I have 4 students show up and I sold 4 sets of flash cards, selling out of one of my sets! The class was designed as an Introduction to Baby Sign Language for parents and caregivers of children ages 0-3. 3 of the 4 people signed up were child care providers, the other a grandmother. I liked the smaller group and I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. However, this class coming up this Saturday I am nervous about.

It is a Baby Signing Time Play and Sign class where the parents bring in their children and we have a "mommy and me" type class, signing songs, playing games, learning Sign Language. I have not seen a Play and Sign class take place, and I am not as prepared for this class as I was the last and I have a lot going on that I am secretly hoping we don't have enough people who sign up so I can cancel the class. I feel HORRIBLE saying that but it is how I am feeling. I should get a number later today as to how many people are signed up. We'll see what they say. But until there, I must cram and plan like crazy!

Todays the day!!

Today starts my first Baby Signing Time class and I am so excited. I woke up early (7am), showered, make up, got ready thinking I needed to get out of the house at 9 for a 10am class (have to arrive 30mins prior to class). As I was getting my things together, I double checked the time and found out that my class doesn't start until 11:30 today :) Talk about being ahead of the game :)

Today's class is an Introduction to Baby Sign Language and when I last checked I had 6 people signed up. Though this number is smaller that I had hoped I am still very impressed with the number! I am teaching through the Anoka-Hennepin School District and this is the first time something like this has been offered so I am really excited about it!

So I just wanted to say thank you to all of those who have prayed for my business and who have been supportive of me throughout this process. It has taken me nearly a year to get something on the 'books' and I am SO happy that today is here!!

Big Girl

Madelynn did not want to sit in her highchair the other night, she refused to sit in her booster, throwing herself all around and nearly flipping the chair over. So she was removed from the table until she could sit nicely or I could at least inhale a few bites before needing to declare my meal, at the table, over.

Well Joshua had to go potty while Madelynn was still down so as I went to help him I cam back to find this...

Not only was Madelynn eating nicely, she was eating MY food, in MY chair, and she was as happy as can be! Little stinker!! At least she was eating right? Apparently chicken chili, with lots of avocados, tastes better when it comes from mom's bowl.

Who said she can be this big???

Wordless Wednesday

Ten on Tuesday

1.) I overslept this morning! I am NOT a morning person and the last 5 nights I have been up anywhere from 5-14 times a night with JUST Madelynn. She is working on some molars-I think-but is just not wanting to sleep without being rocked in the rocking chair...and I don't do well sleeping in that thing for long periods of time...so I deal with getting up often (she is refusing to sleep with me). But this morning I slept in...luckily Dan was still home to wake me up before my first daycare kid arrived and I wasn't at least dressed :/

2.) MN is COLD right now, I mean COLD! We got about 6" of snow yesterday and today I woke up to -7degree temps with -20degree wind-chills. Tonight it is suppose to be REALLY COLD with wind-chills between -20 and -50degrees. I will be staying inside and cranking my heat!!

3.) Earlier today Joshua, almost 3, came up to me fake crying and said "mommy I need an M&M, it make me feel better" After he put one in his mouth he gave me a HUGE hug and said "thanks mom, you best!" and ran off to play...love that kid!!

4.)Do you have an artist in your family? Madelynn has discovered that she REALLY likes to color...but 99% of the time we end up with eaten crayons, colored teeth and a very unhappy little girl because mommy took them away :( but when she IS coloring nicely, it is so sweet!

Here is Madelynn signing 'colors'

5.) Are you familiar with Signing Time?? If you are not aware I am a Baby Signing Time Instructor and I teach classes here in MN to parents and children ages 3years and younger how to sign. I use the Baby Signing Time series and I love it!! My kids have been amazing with their signing skills-Joshua knows nearly 300signs at almost 3! If you'd like a code to save you 5% off product let me know and I'll send it your way! You can check out my store by clicking here.

6.) Joshua is now officially a 'big boy'!! He sleeps in a twin bed, is potty trained day and night (since October 2010) and it has been 1week 2 days since he last took a pacifier!! My baby boy is getting too big for his britches...it makes me want another :)

7.) Valentine's day is in 2 weeks...do you have plans? Do you have any traditions? Normally Dan and I catch a meal out a day or 2 before or after pending a babysitter but I haven't even thought about it this year...I wonder if he has??

8.)Do you know that I cut the boys' hair? Joshua LOVES to get his haircut...Dan on the other hand could do without it ;) Here is Joshua's latest haircut

Before:

After:

Nothing major...just a little trim up :)

9.) Hmm...finding 10 things to talk about is kind of hard :)

10.) Ok, finally...I made it :) Random fact: I eat an avocado nearly everyday...with salt!