I feel home...

There are few things pure in this world anymore,
and home is one of the few.
We'd have a drink outside,
maybe run and hide if we saw a couple men in blue.
To me it's so damn easy to see
that true people are the people at home.
Well, I've been away but now I'm back today,
and there ain't a place I'd rather go.
I feel home,
when I see the faces that remember my own.
I feel home,
when I'm chilling outside with the people I know.
I feel home,
and that's just what I feel.
Home to me is reality,
and all I need is something real.

Harper has her bag and book packed and is ready to head "home".

She studying up on the lyrics of her favorite song...

If you haven't figured out by now, the Cutlip's are taking those country roads home...home to Charleston, WV! We can't be more excited!

I accepted a job with a WV politician in Charleston and start very soon. It's a life changing decision, but something that came easily to us. We are ready to leave the "city" life behind and settle in with our families. We ultimately wanted Harper (and future Cutlip's) to grow up surrounded by family. 

It's been a one hell of a ride in DC for the past 6 years, but we are ready to feel home! 

I can't wait to see what our future holds in West Virginia, but in the meantime....I will be tying up loose ends....AND LOOKING FOR A BABYSITTER...AHHH!!!! 

West Virginia girl

We had a blast in West Virginia this past weekend. We got to visit special friends and family on Saturday. Harper had a BLAST! 

We arrived in WV on Friday around 7:30pm.  We took a VERY scenic route through the heart of WV. Long but fun. Harper was an absolute angel. 99.9% of the time she travels so well. 

Happy Harper heading to WV!

When we arrived, Grammy and Grandy were waiting at the door for us. They were so excited to see Harper. They even made Grandy's famous tacos and had a fire in the fireplace. Two of my favorite things about "home." 

Harper hadn't been back to WV in 4 months, which meant she has changed so much. She LOVED exploring Grammy and Grandy's house. She thought she owned that place. 

Saturday we met Sarah and Ashley and their kids for lunch. Ashley cooked us lunch and it was delicious. The kids ended up playing so well together. Harper loved playing with them. Made me so happy. 

Harper wanted in Max's bed so bad...so of course the other two wanted to join!

They were so cute together! Harper followed Emmalin around and let her teach her a few new things. It was the sweetest thing in the world. Max was all boy! 

We left there and headed to visit "Aunt" Lane, Caleb and Steve. Baby Caleb is going to be a heart throb! He is so cute and GOOD! He had a smile on his face the entire visit. And of course Harper was more interested in the food he was eating. 

I couldn't get a good picture with them together. But you can see Harper stealing his food here! 

We ended the day visiting Poppy Bill and Mimi (Will's dad and step-mom). Harper had a blast. She loved being in the middle of the chaos. She got to see her Uncles (Will's brothers) and a couple of Aunts. She LOVED her Uncle Kris. And played really well with her cousin Brianna. We ended having to leave around 9:30 because Harper was exhausted. 

She would NOT keep her shirt on all weekend. I finally gave in and let her run around topless at Poppy and Mimi's. She was such a ham that evening. 

Sunday we didn't do much of anything but go to Tudor's. I had to introduce my daughter to WV staple. 

Harper and I had such a good weekend together. I don't think I will ever be able to say it enough, but I just absolutely love her and am so blessed to have her. Life is so much sweeter with her in it. 

We were sad to leave WV, not knowing when we will be able to come back, but at least we get to see Grammy and Grandy this weekend for Thanksgiving. Nothing like going "home" and nothing makes me happier than bringing Harper "home" with me. 

Happy Monday! It's a short work week for me.... :)

Catch up

Not much is going on in the Cutlip house this week. We are heading to Hurricane this weekend to visit mine and Will's family since we won't be seeing them over Christmas or Thanksgiving. And Will's Dad and step-mom haven't seen Harper in four months. And a lot has changed in those four months.

I just finalized my Thanksgiving menu since I will be cooking again this year. I don't know who is going to join us, but I'm cooking, so come to the Cutlip house if you are looking for a place to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. <----warn me first so I can make sure I have a clean house!!! 

I spent the day at home on Monday. I was feeling under the weather AGAIN and couldn't make it into work. Because I felt so bad, I have been doing some research and I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to go on a gluten free diet after Thanksgiving. I think it's contributing to my feeling the yuckies more often than not! It's going to be a big change, but I think it will be worth it. And I'm only telling this on my blog so it somehow holds me responsible to this commitment. 

I think Harper has finally adjusted to the new babysitter. She seems to be having fun when I leave her and pick her up. Which is a big relief. For the past few days when I pick her up she starts yelling "dog dog" when she sees me. She knows it's time to go play with Trooper. I guess I'm chopped liver now. Seriously, does it get any cuter? Oh but it does! 

Harper now tells us when it's her bath and bed time. Yep, you read that right. If she is starting to feel sleepy, she will just start heading towards the stairs and pointing up towards her bedroom (last night it was at 7:20!). If it starts getting close to bedtime and we tell her it's time to go "night night" she just walks over to the stairs and heads to the bathroom for a bath. Does it get any better? I need to video tape this. It's unbelievable. We have FaceTime'd with my parents to show them. I have seriously been blessed with a wonderful little girl. And the last two nights she doesn't even want me to rock her. She just wants in her bed with her blanket. But makes me sad...I love rocking her before bed. We have some good conversations that way! :)

This morning she was so proud of her dress. She pranced around the driveway.

Monday I wasn't feeling well so I just let her go at it with her lunch. Clean up wasn't fun! 

Sporting her North Face

Oh my gosh, where has by baby gone? Her hair is long enough for pigtails! Adorable, no?!

No blog post would be complete without a picture of Trooper. Will called me from the couch (I was in the bedroom) to tell me to tip toe downstairs to look at my first born. Who does he think he is?

Do I have something in my teeth? Daddy shared his gummy snakes with Harper and I found the evidence! 

Why didn't anyone warn me?

When I was pregnant with Harper everyone gave me their opinions and had pointers for me. Everyone told me to sleep as much as humanly possible before she arrived because I would never get sleep again. Or that childcare costs were ungodly expensive. Or tips on teething, breastfeeding, cry-it-out method, non cry-it-out method. What stroller or carseat is the best, what must-have's I MUST register for. You get the point...everyone had an opinion and great advice. But not one person stated the obvious. And it obviously wasn't obvious to Will and I! 

No one told us just how messy kids were! Oh my gosh, the amount of mess Harper produces is unbelievable to me. I'm the furthest thing from a neat freak and Harper is too (maybe that is the problem), but the amount of mess she brings to the family is downright astonishing. I can't remember this last time she had a sparkling clean highchair. Judge me if you will, but I don't have the time or patience to scrub that thing every time she eats. Must I remind you that time is a precious thing in our house since I'm a working Mom! I'm not going to spend my valuable time with Harper making sure her highchair is sparkling clean every time she eats. 

You can walk into my house at any given time and find toys strung from the third level to the bottom level. Sippy cups abandoned in random places and food stashed in drawers and toys! Just the other night I went to open our end table in our family room and I found a piece of banana...seriously...and god knows how long it had been in there. I'm predicting 2 days tops. Harper loves to eat from one hand and carry food in the other. Obviously she doesn't always eat the "spare" food, she stashes it, or Trooper gets a treat! 

Now, I'm spending my evenings after she goes to bed checking all toys and drawers to make sure she hasn't stashed a banana or cheese stick somewhere. 

I can't be the only Mom who has to deal with a messy, hoarding daughter right?! Oh god, talk me off the ledge and tell me my daughter is normal! 

And for the love of god, if you or someone you know is pregnant, warn them to brush up on their cleaning skills. And to start taking their vitamins now because they will end missing more work in the first year of their child's life than is the last 10 years combined because of the germs the kids produce and pass on to you! 

Morale of the story...kids are messy and germy...take it from me and Harper! 

Packing up and leaving

Apparently that is how Harper feels this morning after seeing the election results

Hang on, the next 4 years will be a wild ride. Will and I realized this morning that Harper will be 5 1/2 years old next election! That is crazy! 

Vote

Today is a BIG day for America! It's our time to shine and I hope you do your part and VOTE!

When I went in to get Harper from her crib this morning, Trooper and I reminded her that today was election day. She clapped her hands with excitement (a girl after my own heart!) and Trooper barked. Even my one year old daughter and 8 year old basset hound are excited...you should be too!

Look at my big girl...making me so proud! 

She was proud of her shirt! Her Aunt Maggie gave it to her when she was a wee baby! 

Beautiful and cute republican! 

What are you waiting on....go VOTE already! 

Weekend Recap

Before I give you an update on the weekend, I want to give you Harper's 15 month stats!

Weight: 21 lbs 6 oz - 50th percentile
Height: 29 1/2 inches - 25th percentile

She is still our little peanut, but a perfectly healthy peanut.
Doctor said she was developmentally perfect. We are working hard on getting her to feed herself with a spoon and fork. She understands the concept, she just doesn't always get the food to her mouth. But practice makes perfect. She got 3 shots, but she took them like a trooper. I was nervous for her to get shots because she had been feeling yucky all week, but the doctor cleared for her shots. No signs of infection or cold...all signs pointed to teething. The doctor was impressed with the amount of words Harper is using. Here are some I can remember off the top of my head:
Momma
Dadda
eat
dog dog
TT - Trooper
Bye
Hi
Dance- sounds like "Daa"
balloon - sounds like "baa"
shhh
baby - sounds like bebe
mooo - every time she see's any sort of resemblance of a cow
Boo - when she plays peek-a-boo

We had another fun weekend together. It started on Friday evening when we met Maggie and Ryan for dinner. We never have problems with Harper at restaurants. She is always very well mannered and generally a good girl. Friday was an exception. She wasn't so good! Will and I had to take turns walking around with her. I think it was a deadly combination of the "yuckies" and it was extremely hot in the restaurant. She hates being hot. Just like her Mom!

Saturday was a busy day. It started bright and early on Saturday morning. Harper had gymnastics class!

Finishing her breakfast before gym class!

We then went to Babies-R-Us to by Harper a big girl car seat for Will's truck. We just bought a cheaper one for his truck since it's not her primary car seat. We still swear by our Orbit System! 

Test "driving" her new seat

Saturday evening we headed to Ali's house to cheer on the Mountaineers. Harper had a blast. She just made her self right at home. She played and explored everything. She had fun figuring out baby Kennedy. We had a great time. 

Sunday is grocery day. I dread it, Harper LOVES it! Harper now loves going to the grocery store to ride in their grocery carts. She points and squeels the minute she sees the cart. The entire time we are in the store she waves and tells people "hi" from the car. If I stop the cart, she will rock back and forth to get me to start moving again. She will steer the car and beep the horn down every aisle. 

Seriously, does it get any cuter than this? 

The weekend was fun while it lasted. The Cutlip's are excited for Tuesday. We are ready for the campaign commercials to be gone! We live in a battleground state, so the commercials are intense.