Merry Football Christmas

Yes...we celebrate the first day of college football season like it is Christmas because there is that much excitement in the air at our house!!! Flint and I talked about people thinking we were sacrilegious and our is response is that we may not be celebrating Christ's birth on this day but we are thanking Him for yet another football season!

Here is Cilla waking up on Football Christmas morning.

Nothing makes me more happy than walking into her room and seeing her sparkly self light up in the mornings!!!! I thank God for every smile, laugh, and kick!!!

So in honor of the big day, we exchange football related gifts and we had tailgate foods for dinner- pigs-in-a-blanket, Southwestern egg rolls, and fruit pizza!!! YAY for non-healthy man food!

Flint got Cilla some cute football shirts! She was so cute in them even though they were boys' shirts!!! Here she is after daddy dressed her in her new shirt and bloomers. Her mommy put her denim miniskirt on with her new shirt and a big bow on top of her head and she was plain ole precious!!! (I didn't get a pic of mommy's preferred look...we were on our way out the door)

Not sure what to think about all the excitement! Or maybe she is thinking her parents are crazy!!!

Here is the gift Flint got me.

I LOVE it!!! It is Baylorlishous!!! When it finally cools down here I can wear it to Baylor sporting events!

I am waiting to reveal the gift Cilla and I got Flint until the perfect time. 

Enjoy your weekend! I hope your team wins!

Go Hogs and Go Bears!

Cilla Goes to School

Doesn't that sound like a children's book title?!?! Well, actually she is going to Mother's Day Out! We tell her she is going to school so that she does not think that her mommy does not want to spend the day with her!

Here is my big girl before we were off to school!

In all honesty, I have been really torn about what to do. Send her to MDO or keep her home?!?! It boils down to mommy needing one day a week to get some things done. I think it will make me a better mom to her and I think I will value my time with her more. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE being at home everyday with my girl. Believe me, I thank God everyday for the opportunity. But with daddy's work schedule and Cilla's lack of napping, mommy needs a few hours a week to herself. A day I can once again feel efficient with my time. Possibly to shower for as long as I would like and not worry about what she doing. To sit down at the computer to get some work done. To not have to feed a hungry little mouth every three hours! So hopefully, I will get lots done on Tuesdays and we can have much more Cilla and mommy fun time the rest of the week! In the mean time, our little social butterfly gets to make some new friends and be in a different environment for one day a week. I think it is going to be a good thing for everyone!!!

AND on a fun note: I dropped Cilla off at school and on my way back out to my car a gal stops me (I still have my Razorback Alum tags on my car!) and asks me if I am from Arkansas. Turns out I AM and she is, too! We went to the same high school and we grew up in the same neighborhood! We were just a couple of years apart in school!!! Turns out we had tons of mutual friends. How bizarre, but fun! Thank you, Lord, for small coincidences that brighten our days!!!

Last Weekend

This post is titled "Last Weekend" because, well I put some pics up from this past weekend. But, the bigger news is that it was the last weekend before the kick-off of college football! It just so happens to be my husband's favorite time of the year and it is right up there for me, too! Seriously, Flint wakes up like a kid on Christmas morning!!! That is just one more thing I love about him. I also love college football. There is NOTHING else like it! If you are from the south, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you are not, I hope you get to experience it someday! It makes grown men cry like babies. Women roll out in their Prada shoes and with their Louis Vuitton handbags for football games and yell just as loud as their husbands!! People serve hot dogs and barbecue at their tailgate parties on their finest bone china and silver! The smell of the barbecue fired up, the air getting a little more crisp (well, not in Waco but in most places!), head to toe in your school's colors, fight songs, mascots, the Gameday theme song "Comin to Your City" playing at my house at 10 am on Saturday mornings, Lee, Kirk, and Chris...Oh I am getting so excited just thinking about it!

So, with that being said, life is about to get crazy around here. For our family's safety, I don't post many details about Flint's job on the internet for all to read about. But, for those of you who know us, you know the fall is a busy and exciting time of the year!

Baylor kicks off their season this weekend at Wake Forest. We have high hopes for this guy:

He is known around these parts as RG3 or Robert Griffin III. What a great guy on and off the football field. We are hoping he can help lead our Baylor Bears to a bowl game this year...for the first time in...I don't even know how long. I think everyone has lost count!

And for my first love...

The Razorbacks!!!

They kick off their season in Little Rock this weekend against Missouri State.

You guys are going to have to do it without us being there again this year! But, know we are are cheering you on and send our love from Waco, Texas!

This stadium and the "A" in the pregame give me the chills!

Go Hogs and Bears!!!

SO, we had a fun "last weekend" being lazy as a family!

Cilla had a birthday party on Saturday morning! Her friend, Drew, turned two!

Here she is party-ing it up with her daddy!

Sunday we went to church and Cilla took a 2 1/2 hour nap after lunch. PTL!!! Flint and I got to have some alone time in the pool with our puppies!

I just had to take her picture Sunday morning before church in her little smocked dress! This was a gift and we have been trying to get some wear out of it because it will probably not fit next summer! It is so precious. It is blue and has little palm trees and alligators on it. Any Gator fans want to borrow it? It would be perfect!!!

And here is my little Cilla getting to be such a big girl! She just sits up in her her high chair like she has always known how do that! She also is sitting up on her own now and she is starting (early stages) to crawl! It is mostly backward right now but still, oh dear!!! Soon there will be NO holding her back!

I love you, Little Miss Sunshine, so much!!! You make mommy's and daddy's days so much brighter!!!

Pebble Beach and Texas

So, Flint and his buddies started a tradition last year of getting together and having a LIVE fantasy football draft rather than doing it on the computer. Last year, all the guys came to Waco. This year, they decided to have a destination fantasy football draft...OH BOY! What better place than in Carmel! Flint's Aunt Caroline, Cilla's Coke Coke, has a wonderful house there and she let the guys take over for a long weekend.

Here they are at the famous 18th hole at Pebble Beach.

Even Flint was in a fleece...you know it is nice and cool when Flint has on long sleeves. I think it might have gotten up to 105 degrees down in central Texas while he was gone. Cilla and I had the sweat to prove it! I know they had a blast resting, relaxing, enjoying each other's company, playing, and eating!!!

So, while Flint was away...us girls had to play!

Thursday, Cilla and I made a trip down to Austin to see one of my dear college friends, Amber, and to have Cilla's sixth month pictures made. I am pretty sure Amber is supermom, the most thoughtful person EVER, super organized and on top of things, the hostess with the mostess, and she stinkin runs half marathons in her spare time! Did I mention she has two of the cutest kids I have ever seen? We had such a fun time with Amber, Austin, and Kaylee (and Justin, too!)

Her kiddos loved playing with Cilla! It was hilarious. They would blow raspberries on her and drag her all around on a blanket. The picture below is after Austin pulled her into the kitchen. And yes...I am eating all of my words...that is my child in only a t-shirt and diaper! Oh dear!

On Friday, we had lunch at a cute little spot called Cafe Panini. Then we HAD to make a trip to Whole Foods. Oh my goodness, I love that place. The downtown location is a huge production. You can tell that Cilla and Kaylee were hardly impressed. They both took their naps while their mommies shopped!

Chicken salad is one of my favorite foods and Whole Foods just so happens to have the best I think I have ever put into my mouth! Don't you worry, I brought some home with me!

Sunday, Cilla and I went to Dallas to visit with my bestie, "Aunt" Laura. Time is ticking away and Baby Braysen Grundy will be here before we know it. We wanted to get in some time with her before she has a newborn baby to take care of! We had a fun lunch at Bubba's, one of my favorite spots in Dallas, and a great visit. We love you bunches, Laura!

Cilla looks a little surprised about having her picture made. Maybe she is just surprised that I took her picture without a bow on her head!!!

I am so thankful that Flint got to get away, have time with the guys, and come back refreshed. He works so hard (and works lots of evenings and weekends) and is not rewarded with much time off. You deserve it, babe! We are so proud of you!

I am also thankful for the friends that we are surrounded by down here in Texas- old and new! It makes us feel a little more "at home". Cilla and I got to have fun with our friends over the weekend. I do not have any pictures, but we also spent time on Saturday with Sarah, Faith, and Katie. Thank you Lord for our girlfriends!

See ya, Mom and Dad!

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am having fun with my Aunt Haley and could care less if you were here with me (just keep sending the money)!

Love, Cilla

Does this look like a face that missed her mom and dad?!?!

Aunt Haley and Mimi came from Denver to visit and to give Flint and I some time away for our anniversary. They had a big time!!!

Cilla loved Haley and Mimi so much!!!

Reunited!

Haley and Mimi went to Houston for a couple of days after they left our house. They found the cutest kiddie boutique and brought Cilla back some cutie pie outfits! I really love the one with the butterflies! Haley also found this birthday headband. She laughs at the big bows that Cilla wears. She said since I always put things on C's head, she just HAD to get the headband! HA!

Thanks for all the cute stuff, girls!

Time Away

Flint's Sis, Haley, graciously made the trip to Waco to keep our little bit while we went to Austin for our anniversary. Here is a pic of Flint and I on our first overnight getaway (alone) since our baby girl was born! Although I felt like I was missing my right hand, we had a wonderful time together.

We ate at Bess Bistro for dinner. It was delish.

We had the Creole Shrimp Bess for an appetizer and I had the pork loin over southern grits with blackberry compote. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

We enjoyed downtown Austin for a while and then went to The Melting Pot for dessert!

I didn't take many pictures because we mainly slept and ate (we also did a little shopping). Oh to get a good night of uninterrupted sleep was WONDERFUL!!!

Thanks Aunt Haley from the bottom of our hearts. Your gift, to us, was priceless!

Five Months Old

I can't believe my baby girl is five months old! It does not seem possible! I love the little love bug more everyday! She brings such joy to our lives!

Look at those legs...I could eat them for brunch; they are so yummy!

Taking her picture is becoming more and more challenging! She is interested in EVERYTHING around her. If her little arms and legs would let her, she would take off. She can't stand it!

What is going on in Cilla's life:

*Just started on solid food and LOVES it! She has loved everything so far- oatmeal, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, and pears. She even loves the food I make for her - YAY! (I am trying to make homemade baby food).

*Has the potential to sleep 12 to 12 1/2 hours at night but only does it every third or fourth night. Most night she sleeps about 10. She is a horrible cat napper! In fact, we call her Kitty Cat because of her napping patterns. Some days she will only sleep a total of one hour. It makes me want to lose my mind.

*She loves her paci, but we have had some deep issues with it. We had to have a sleep boot camp. That is another blog post! I was getting up three and four times a night to put it in at one point!

*She is quite the little rolly polly. She rolls every which way. Front to back, back to front. One eighties in every direction.

*She has just started sitting up on her own for short periods of time.

*Her best friend is Sophie (our little dog). She watches Sophie's every move and Sophie watches Cilla's! Look out Soph, only a couple more months of freedom!

*Only cuddles with me when she is really tired...it makes me kind of sad, honestly. She is ready to be on the go!!! No time to sit and love on mom!

*Has the best toothless smile in the world. Laughs and giggles all the time (sigh). I love that about her!

*Has, what we formally call, a furrowed brow...constantly. Flint says she is already worried about the economy, her taxes, and paying for college!

*I get asked a lot if she really keeps the bows on her head and the answer is- YES! You have to start 'em young, folks! I think she thinks the bow is part of her head! She knows no different!

*Loves to read books. Her favorites are her Bible storybook, "Snuggle Puppy", "Food Fight", a book about her Grammie (that I had made), and her Emmit Smith coffee table book! That, of course, is Flint's book of choice to read to her...and she actually listens like she knows what he is talking about! SO funny!

*Still likes "Praise Baby" although would rather just be playing in her jumperoo or on her play mat.

*Loves SportsCenter and I am not kidding!

*Loves the remote control. Again, not kidding!

*Still LOVES the pool and her bath. Those are her happiest times of the day.

*Loves to go....anywhere! The noisier, the better!

*Is such a little social butterfly. I am so thankful. She loves people and is not shy...not too clingy to her mommy and daddy!

*She is her Daddy's girl! She lights up when she sees him!

I thank God everyday for our precious gift, baby Cilla! Our lives are so richly blessed because of her! We love you, sweet pea!

Cilla's Baby Dedication

Sunday, August 2, 2009 was Cilla's baby dedication. At our church, we make a promise before God, our family, and our church family to raise our baby in a way pleasing to HIM and in a way that will bring HIM glory. It is my prayer that we always point Cilla toward Christ in all that we do. I pray that she comes to know Him as her Lord and Savior at a young age and that He will always be her first love. We had to stand before the church and one of the pastors , our friend Brother Frank ;), said a prayer over our family. Cilla was very well behaved, if you were wondering!

"Train a child in the way she should go, and when she is old she will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Getting a good shot of Cilla is getting harder and harder. She is always on the move! C wore her new "fancy" smocked dress! We figured this would be the perfect occasion! She looked like a little angel!

Nana and Poppa

Three Harris Generations:

Pappy, Daddy, and Cilla

These two can't deny her! There is no question who's child and grandchild she is!!!

Three generations:

Nana, Mommy, and Cilla

I just love her face in this pic!

I made dinner for our family and every one came back to our house after church. We topped off our day with yummy cupcakes from our favorite local spot. We had chocolate and praline pecan cupcakes. YUMMY!!

Thanks Nana and Poppa for coming to Texas for my special day and thanks Pappy for making the trip down from Fort Worth to spend the day with us. We love you all bunches!!!

7 Years

WOW! I can't believe Flint and I celebrated our seventh anniversary this year! We were married on August 3, 2002 at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. That is the church we attended together in college! We had such a fun wedding weekend. Sometimes I would love to go back and just bottle up the fun and the innocence of that day.

...and I thought I loved you then!

Our Rehearsal Dinner

It was "Texas" themed and absolutely wonderful. Are you surprised?!?!

What a ride it has been!!! Three houses, two states, and one little girl later...here we are in Waco, Texas!!! It may not have gone according to how WE would have ideally liked it to, but God has been faithful to provide us with more than we could have imagined! Life is good!

Flint,

I love you from the depths of my heart! You are such a wonderful husband. You are so thoughtful, caring, loyal, and you are such a wonderful leader and provider for our family. I appreciate that you seek God's will for direction for your life. I see all the time how you were made just for me! You are a wonderful daddy to Baby Cilla. She is so lucky to have you as her earthly father. I know that you will train her in a way that is pleasing in God's sight by modeling what it means to be a Godly husband and dad to her. I am so proud of you. No one I know has been through more this past year and you have handled it with such grace and dignity. I am proud YOU are MINE!!! I have loved spending the last seven years being married to you and I can't wait to see where the next seven takes us!!! I only thought I loved you then!

"This kind of love is why I'm standing here

It's something that we can share

I can't get enough of this kind of love"

-Sister Hazel

Just Because

Just wanted to share this picture. I happen to thing she is the cutest thing in the world!

She is being dedicated at our church this upcoming Sunday and this is going to be on the screen! Hope you are having a good Wednesday!

29...and holding

Some of our dearest friends, the Pardues, came to Waco from Dallas to spend the weekend with us! Corby and Flint's friendship goes back to their days at Kanakuk. This past March we both had little girls two days apart! SO FUN! We love these guys to pieces and thank God for blessing our lives with them! Here are some of the highlights of our weekend with them....oh yes...and my 29th birthday.

These girls love to splash around in the pool!

My Girl

The Pardue Family

Here is my "daddy's girl" watching the British Open on TV. Heaven help us!!!

She was glued to the TV- YIKES!
Harper
How cute is she?!?!

This was my birthday cake! Sweet Flint got me a cake that said "29 and holding..."

Funny Boy!!! Cilla was mesmerized by the candles.

Lauren and Corby brought me one of my very favorite things in the world...Sprinkles Cupcakes! Red Velvet, of course! Ironically, one of them had the Texas decoration on it, so I got that one. Everyone here gives me hard time about being from Arkansas!

I sense a lifelong friendship in their future!

We got a sitter (Thanks Jordan!) for the night so we all could have a childless night out!!

Two of the most competitive people I know!!!

Corby in all of his glory! Notice the picture in the background. My parents gave me the most beautiful drawing of Cilla for my birthday. I LOVE IT. What a wonderful birthday gift!

We have started putting Cilla in her "jumper" and she LOVES it! Look how intense she is! I promise she is not cross-eyed!

We had so much fun. The laughter never ends when you put Corby and Flint together! Thanks for making the trip down, guys.