The best gift. Period. The End

God giving me Micah is truly the most amazing tangible gift I have ever received (outside of my salvation and our marraige:)). It is only fitting that Micah's birthday, today, will always fall on or around Mother's Day because he's who made me a mother. He is the most amazing little person and while some days seem to never end I love each and every one I spend with him. He makes me laugh and cry and surprises me each day with something new. It is so hard to believe he is two years old today. My mom used to tell us "don't ever change" and I found myself telling Micah to stay my baby forever today. I know that isn't the way God wants it and I know His plans are best but this passionate little person He entrusted to Mick and I two years ago is becoming his own thing and it is something I thank Him for everyday. As we think of this new baby girl I can only imagine how my love is growing for her inside of me as well as growing for Micah in seeing him in a new capacity as a big brother. We serve an amazing God who is worthy of our praise and I wanted to praise Him for the miracle of life He gave us in Micah today.

With that being said I don't quickly forget reading similar posts from my fertile friends who popped out babies when Micah was only a dream to us...so I pray that you would join me in praying God would grant those peace who don't have a baby of their own and boldly ask that He would work a miracle in their lives however He sees fit.

Note to Micah: (you can skip the mushy, I just wanted a creative way to document some of the quirky things about Micah for this birthday)

Ways That I Love You Bird

I love the way you squint your eyes for pictures.

I love the way you jump up and down in order to go poopy.

I love that you call your daddy Mick Harper.

I love that you think every color is blue.

I love that you never forget to say the blessing.

I love that you pray for your ding ding.

I love that you tell your daddy "good game" everytime he walks in the door.

I love that you get so excited about little things.

I love that you love to pray at the ballfied with the boys.

I love that you love "Martin".

I love that you wanted an Elmo and Mickey Mouse Birthday party.

I love the way you say "be careful, Mommy".

I love how you can sing the whole Shake My Sillies out song with motions.

I love that you love me.

I love that you are TWO!

In case it is too mushy I could actually make a list of the things I don't like that he does, but it's his birthday so I'll keep that one to myself.

thank goodness for our buddies!

Heading to the beach...
Cheese! We're here!

Trying to get a cute picture, except we brought only one bucket. Bad idea!

cute boys with the beach to ourselves...

Sharing the bucket and picking up sea shells.

The waves are chasing me!

Jumping in!

Boy loves the water.

Our own wade pools.

Swimming

Finally one of the best buddies.

The only picture of me and none of Taron. We were hard pressed to get these.

When we discovered Mick's playoff game was going to be close to the beach we were excited. Except that it was a 5 1/2 hr drive (w/o the 3-4 stops for a 2 yr old). The thing with these trips is Mick is in charge of 21 teenage boys so to say he has little time for his wife and child would be an understatement. After much talk we asked our friends...Micah and I's best buddies...Taron and Jaxson to go with us. Not exactly the luxury vacation you want to be invited on but they agreed to go. I was pretty anxious how it would work with two boys with very different habits and two Momma's that are the same but different. It went really well and we had a lot of fun. The boys both were soooo good and only had a meltdown or two. Micah is much more strongwilled and didn't nap much but did relatively well considering. The beach was so much fun and I can't wait til we can go back with Micahbird. The only thing is he really just liked the wade pools that the waves had left and was TERRIFIED of the big pool. He kept an eye on it the whole time and kept running away when the tide came in screaming "dolphins! dolphins! get you!" I have no idea. This was my first trip alone with Micah and definitely my first trip with a friend and another kiddo. It was fun to have alot of one on one time with a best friend but weird to think that you don't really get to know friends this way once you become an adult. There aren't sleepovers or vacations with their family anymore...so it was a treat for me. I am so thankful for my friendship with Taron and our realness as friends...since we've become friends later in life she's one of the few that I can be straight with...So next week we are off to South Ga. again but no beach this time. I'm pretty sure Taron and Jax had fun but I don't think they want a round two:)

Go Panthers!!

This picture brings new meaning to grocery store (or baseball field) feet.

Hip, Hip, Hooray!!

So we have had a long hiatus (for me) from blogging. Mick's baseball team made it to the state tournament and of course got slated to play the team the farthest possible away. We drove down the day before and just got back tonight. There is alot to say and much fun was had, but obviously I am too tired to tell it. So for now here is Micah Reed, hot, sweaty, happy and dirty feet after they swept the team in Kingsland, Ga.(which is way below Savannah!). Way to go boys! We go traveling again this week to cheer them on. More from our trip later...

Baby Girl's First Gift

Yesterday Ashleigh (just Ash to Micah), a sweet friend that goes to Mick's school stopped by...she came with a sign she had painted for our little Harpergirl's room. It was so sweet and almost made me cry. It also will fit perfectly because I think our plan is to do hot pink and black room. I tried to get a good picture of it but there was a glare everytime I used the flash and I took the pictures at night. So anyways, Thanks Ash; we love it and we love you!

He's a SHE!!!

Not a good angle at all! But sweet of Micah and Mick. My feet look disproportionately huge!
The boys waiting for the news.

Baby Girl Harper was as active as she could be!Me and bird with alot of the most specialist women in my life.

(I wore the pink because I had a hunch:)..but I wore camo shorts just in case)Amy and I. Thanks for making the trek!

The three of us excited about number four!

She is already laid back! Thank you, Jesus!

So we went today to a 3D ultrasound place to cheat and find out what we are having a little bit early. Disclaimer: Now, last pregnancy I scoffed at those who made this extra expense a priority and said it would be silly to do so. BUT then we had a rough first few weeks of pregnancy, had that lovely mistake of a test, dealt with an ultrasound tech who ALWAYS critiques my weight, etc. and I thought hey I would like something like that for mother's day that made this time a joy and a gift. Plus, my Grandmama and Great Aunt Dot had never seen an ultrasound so I thought it would be so special to have them be apart of what might be my last pregnancy (just ask Mick)...so my boys and I and a whole bunch of women went (My mom, Rita, Wendy, Bay, Charlee Ray, Amy, Aunt Dot and Grandmama). We went to lunch in downtown Newnan and visited then headed to the office. I am so thankful that it worked out this way and that everyone got to be apart of our little ones first meeting. Micah was a little scared but got excited and said "Little Sister!" Although by the time we were in the car he started whining "No more, baby!" I have a feeling that isn't the last time I'll here those words.:( I didn't post about it before now because I thought the baby might not cooperate and I didn't want to dissappoint. All along everyone has said this would be another boy and I too thought I was destined for bugs and Batman for the rest of my life. I had felt different: wider, indigestion, and some other things that signaled the female persuasion I even told Mick on the way there. But I didn't dare utter them, with all my blue bearing friends. I had even started to refer to the baby as a he. But the sonographer says it is definitely a GIRL! I still want a few more checks to be sure there wasn't something tucked away somewhere before I paint the room pink:)! Truth be told either way I was just so thankful to see a baby moving and a heart beating that I forgot that was what we were looking for....for a moment! So I am now taking donations because girl clothes and buying them is a sickness and addiction that I am sure I am about to embark on!

fun in the sun

We have had so much fun being outside this week. So much so that I don't have any pictures of it! Plus we've had friends come over to enjoy the sun with us. Even more fun. I am so thankful that on a week where things are crazy again for Mick I have great friends who I can hang out with and our kiddos can hang out. Tuesday my friend Alison brought her babies over and while Micah was very rude to Charlotte, which I am very concerned about(another post) she just loved on him and giggled at him. Douglass Charles had his first visit to our house and I think he enjoyed himself. I know Alison and I enjoyed hanging out. Then Wed. we go to the library for storytime and then usually have Bible study with my friend Taron. We are doing the Beth Moore Esther study and I really like it. I am so thankful for that time (yet another post too) that we study God's word and watch our children play at the same time. We decided to let them have a water day and play in kiddie pools. It went ok except for again with the ever agressive Micah figuring out how to both turn on the water hose and aim it and squirt us! Outside is a little harder to harness the boys I would have to say. Lastly yesterday Micah played with Nana while I visited with Amy's momma Val, who is in the hospital. She has a severe kidney infection that has gotten into her bloodstream, so please pray for them. After that my parents and Haydee stopped by to play and help with dinner (thanks Mom and Dad!) since I was pretty tired. Ahhhhhh...and today is Friday...Mick's last regular season game and the end of a busy week. Hip Hip Hooray for help!

Baby Day, I mean Senior Night...

Micah and Gracie. As soon as I took this picture she leaned over and tried to plant one on him. Micah ran. Apparently an area where he is not like his father.
Gracie just turned one and is doing the beginner walk like a penguin. So cute!

I missed this one by a second or two.

The kiddos playing on the pitching mound. If only we had a gate around it.

Micah with Gracie's pink princess bat. He also enjoyed her pink glove and ball:)

at the ballfield. Last night was the night that Mick's school honors senior's at their baseball game. It is a good omen because it means the regular season is almost through. We have a game on Wed and possibly Friday then the playoffs. All of the senior's did great and we are so proud of them. Most of these boys have played Varsity all 4 years so that means we know them well, real well. While they did well we spent most of the game on the new and nice bull pen astroturf with Micah's friend Grace. Her brother is a senior and Micah loves to eat all her food and Grace loves to play with his toys. We had alot of fun.