"All" About Me!

1. Who are you named after? In my case it is not a who, but a what. I am named after the Ash tree. I like that Ash is also a color and a thing.

2. Last time you cried? Very recently, several times, I blame the pregnancy hormones. Also, I cry easily

3. Do you like your handwriting? I like my printing, but I wish I had better cursive. My grandma always had the most perfectly beautiful handwriting and I wish mine was more like hers. 

4. What is your favorite lunch meat? I am not really into lunch meat. If pressed, I's choose smoked turkey.

5. How many kids do you have? One on the outside and another still cooking. 

6. Who are they named after? People incorrectly assume we named Harper after Harper Lee. The only part of his name that is after anyone is his second middle, Cash, as in Johnny. 

7. Do you still have your tonsils? Yeah.

8. Would you bungee jump? No.

9. What is your favorite kind of cereal? Not really into cereal either. 

10. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Not usually, but most of my shoes are lace less. 

11. Do you think you're strong? In some ways.

12. What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Coffee with dark chocolate chips in it. 

13. What is the first thing you notice about someone? There eyes, not the color or the shape, but how they look at the other people around them. 

14. Football or Baseball? Football, I guess. 

15. What is the least favorite thing you like about yourself? Sometimes I let fear hold me back.

16. What color pants are you wearing? Black

20. Favorite smell? The top of my son's head.

21. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? My husband.

22. Favorite sport to watch on tv? Gymnastics

23. Hair color? Brunette

24. Eye color? Chocolate Brown

25. Freckles? Yes

26. Scary movies or funny? Scary.

27. Last movie you watched? Jingle All The Way

28. What color shirt are you wearing? Kind of magenta ish 

29. Favorite holiday? It is a pretty close call between Christmas and Halloween.

30. What are you most thankful for in your life? My husband, son and baby on the way. 

Toddler GIft Ideas

These are some things Harper has had for a while and some he has recently or will be receiving this year and are all things I can easily imagine most toddlers enjoying.

                       Toy Trains

Toy trains are consistently Harper's favorite thing to play with, and his very favorites are the Fisher- Price Thomas the Train Wooden Railway. Originally, Rob and I were going to give Harper a play kitchen as his big gift this year, but after not finding the exact one we wanted, we decided to get him a few more trains and tracks, knowing how much he will love them.

Art Supplies

Harper's interest in drawing and painting has really developed over the past few months and he will be receiving art supplies from Rob and I. He already has these washable crayons, they color really nicely and I have successfully washed them out of clothing and carpet as well as off windows walls and toys.

 

 Duplos

Like the trains, LEGOs are a toy we have found to be very worth investing in, considering the amount of time Harper spends with them and that they are something he likes to do independently or that we can enjoy together. This year, we are giving him this arctic themed set.

Fisher Price Little People Animal Friends Farm

This was one of the things Harper most loved last year and he still uses it, though most often lately as a parking garage for his trains. I would highly recommend it for a younger toddler.

 

Plush Animals

 Harper has two different jellycat animals that sleep with him every night, his attachment to stuffed animals has really developed over the past six months or so.

Hunter Boots

I thought I was indulging myself when I bought Harper his first pair of wellies, but he loves them even more than I do, which is a lot. He gets compliments whenever he wears them out and about and I honestly have to beg him to take them off at home, he would be happy to wear them just about all the time.

Musical Instruments

Harper has this percussion set and likes to sing and play either on his own or along with recorded music (he loves Laurie Bekner and Raffi). At some point we are planning to get him a ukulele, though we are worried about him being too rough with it, he did really well with his older cousin's this past weekend. He also likes to play his mini piano.

Books

I think books make especially great gifts for young children as they will enjoy them over and over. Here are some of our current favorites that would be perfect for gifting this season.

Merry Christmas, Baby!!

So excited to finally be sharing the news, Baby Burgess #2 is on the way! Check out our video announcement:

 

Family Christmas Activities

Lately, we have been having lots of holiday fun. 

We baked and decorated sugar cookies, while listening to Christmas music. Harper loves to help in the kitchen, but he loves it so much it can get pretty intense, he would be happy to keep mixing and stirring and adding new ingredients to the bowl, forever.

We brought home a nice fat, evergreen. 

As I added a second string of lights, Harper shouted out with glee "Christmas tree even more happy!",  it just filled him with such joy. 

Our local library had a real, live reindeer at their holiday party. Harper said she was "very fuzzy" when he petted her and then and he sang her the "Reindeers are better than people" song from "Frozen". Her name was Ana, and she had crazy eyes. It made me nervous to have my baby so close to her antlers. 

When Rob and I have asked Harper what he would like for Christmas, he says he would like "A little blue present for Thomas (his wooden train)... a little blue present for James (another train)... and little blue present for (insert the name of several family members, after Thomas and James have been taken care of.). 

On Our Bookshelf - Winter and Christmas Books for Toddlers