Harper Nicole Daughtry

We recently got quite a bit of snow at our house - the nice powdery kind. Although Harper has already seen her fair amount of snow, this is one of the first times she can really play in it.

Harper Nicole Daughtry turned 1 year old on February 1st! We celebrated with a party in State College at Spela Children’s Store. (It was a fantastic place to have a party!) All of the kids that attended were born within 6 months of each other. Harper had a great time eating her banana cake and playing with her friends. Thanks to all for helping to make Harper’s day special.

We’ve had a very busy holiday season! We visited family in North Carolina and Harper had the chance to see all of her cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents. We also went to see NC State basketball and were witness to the one-in-a-million chance, super lucky shot by Florida.

Ready for the NC State Basketball Game

Harper is 8 1/2 months old! And she crawls, pulls up, stands, says “Dada”, and has 4 teeth!! Two more teeth are on the way really soon (we can see them right under the gums). And she said “Mama” this past weekend (Yes, it was once, but she said it!!)
Here are some of the most recent pictures from Harper’s 7 month old and 8 month old adventures…..

Harper needed a ticket for the PSU Game

Harper's first Penn State Football Game (Check out that scoreboard!)

After sleeping the entire first half, Harper woke up to cheer for the Nittany Lions.

Football is exhausting!

Harper in her playroom

Harper picks out her favorite letter.

Playing before bathtime

Biting the crib (like mommy did as a baby)

Storytime (and teeth brushing) with Daddy

Is it time for bed, yet?

Things are busy in Harper-land, so it’s been a while since a posting of current pictures. We traveled (by plane) to Montana in August and spent time near Great Falls, in Lewis and Clark Forest, and in Glacier National Park. It was a WONDERFUL trip and Harper is such a trooper. She slept the whole time on the plane and one man complimented us by saying “That is the BEST child I have ever seen on an airplane!” Highlights of the trip include staying in a cabin in Lewis and Clark National Forest, hiking in Glacier National Park - including seeing waterfalls, deer, bear, goat, and a snake, and staying at Flathead Lake. Harper’s “firsts” on the trip included airplane rides, a boat ride, and a haircut!

It’s hard to sum up our Montana vacation in just a few pictures, but here we go.

Riding in the backpack hiking in Lewis and Clark Forest

Going to the Sun road in Glacier National Park

Creeks, lakes, and waterfalls were everywhere!

Harper's first boat ride on Flathead Lake

Playing in a mountain stream

Harper and Daddy (My favorite picture!)

Hidden Lake in Glacier National Park

Mama and (nursing) Baby Bison

This is why Montana is Big Sky Country!

And the living is easy! At least when you’re only 6 months old. Harper has already had a very eventful summer and will go on a new family adventure tomorrow. We’re flying to Montana to visit friends and Glacier National Park. So many new sights, sounds, and smells for our little explorer!
What’s new for Harper…..
At her 6 month appointment, she weighed 18 lbs, 8 oz. and is 27 in. long! She’s one healthy girl!
She can sit up on her own now. It’s so wonderful to see her sit like a big girl and play with her toys.
She blows “rasberries” all the time. She really loves to do this when she’s eating. And then she does a belly laugh.
Harper loves to try new foods now - especially because she gets to watch mommy make all the yummy food for her. She wasn’t sure about pears (and made a pickle sour face), laughed at the carrots (who knew carrots were funny), and loves sweet potatoes. Green beans and apples are also favorites. And who doesn’t love bananas and avocados. It’s been fun to watch her get excited about eating. Of course, mommy’s milk is still the top of her favorites list.

Back at the end of June, beginning of July, we visited family in North Carolina. It was a loooong road trip, but Harper was a great car rider. I never thought we could pack 2 adults, 1 baby, 2 dogs and all our gear in a Toyota Corolla for 10 hours, but we did. We deserve a medal….or a badge…or just kudos.
Here are some pictures from our family visit to see the Haiglers and the Daughtrys….

The Haiglers with all the new additions

Haigler girls and our new babies

Nana Daughtry, Harper, and Caden

Sitting with Pepaw

First Pool Party

Sitting Pretty

Sleepy Harper at Arts Fest

Harper with Isabelle and Calleigh

Harper and Mommy

Harper is tired of taking pictures

Happy Harper

More adventures to come!

Harper played piano tonight for quite a while. We captured a few minutes to share!

Harper is over 4 months old and growing like a weed. (A very hearty weed!). She is 16lbs 6 oz and 25 inches long. She laughs, “chats”, likes to grab things, and observes EVERYTHING around her.
She likes to play in her Exersaucer. We know she’s playing because we hear “Lion, Leo, Grrr” and then music. This Baby Einstein saucer is great because it has a mirror that she just loves to look at and chat with herself.
She also had her first piano lesson with Daddy. Harper sits on Daddy’s lap while he plays piano and then she tries to play it herself.

Harper and the Exersaucer

Harper and her friend, Calleigh

Harper and Mommy at a cookout

Harper and Daddy at Garden Day

Piano lesson with Daddy

Harper's first piano concert - with vocals!

Happy Harper!

Memorial Day weekend was great! Nana and Pepaw Daughtry came to visit. On Sunday we drove “over the mountain” to Rothrock State Park and had a great lunch at Doan’s Bones (mmm…BBQ). We went over to Shaver’s Creek and saw a great Birds of Prey show (http://www.outreach.psu.edu/shaverscreek/). After that we drove over to Alan Seeger park and walked through the huuuge Mountain Laurel and virgin timber (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/oldgrowth/alanseeger.aspx).

It was such a beautiful day!
Harper was prepared for the hike in her cute sunhat.

Ready for the hike

Harper is having fun!

Harper is observing nature and pondering the meaning of the universe.

Playing all day is such hard work.

Harper started daycare last week. She’s going to the Child Development Lab on campus. (Yes, it’s called a lab. It’s a part of Health and Human Development here at Penn State.) It’s great to have her so close to us - we can both walk over and see her any time. Harper and mommy have nice little lunch dates every day. Her classroom is mixed age groups from infant to two years. It’s nice because she’s exposed to children of different ages. The kids are so cute and love to play with “Baby Harper”. (She’s baby Harper because there is another little girl named Harper in the same room.) She is a great napper (and a loooong napper), eats well, and likes to chat with the other kids and teachers.
Here are some photos that Harper’s teacher, Karen, took of her playing.