four

Dearest Harper-
One of the happiest days of my life was when I became the mother of a little girl.
You.

harper, 1 day old

My pregnancy with you came as a huge surprise.  Dawson was just 3 months old and your daddy and I had planned to wait several years before we added you to the mix. 
You had a different agenda.

I was at Uncle Jakes birthday party when I began to feel light headed and short of breath.  Immediately afterwards I passed out and was taken to the hospital.  Daddy sat next to me while the doctors ran tests to determine what had caused the episode. 
I was sure I had just overdone it.

I still remember the young ER Dr. coming in.  His name was Dr. Yorgason.  He had a pleasant look on his face and said to us,
'So the nurse told you you're pregnant?'
I looked at Daddy and his face went white. 
I was shocked.
Scared.
Baffled.

The next 4 months we discussed what you might be...we were convinced you were a boy. 
The day of your ultrasound arrived and I was SO nervous as I laid on that table. 
I was hoping for a girl.
Daddy wanted a girl too.
When the woman said you were a girl, I almost cried. 
I asked her to double check.
We were elated.

The time you spent in my tummy was stressful.  I was working long days, full time.  I wasn't sleeping well.  And you were sitting so low that you fractured a bone in my hip.  I think I ate to compensate for the stress... that's why I ended up looking like a beached whale:

holy huge

Two weeks before your due date, I started having contractions and went to my checkup around 2:00pm.  The Dr. told me to go home and get my bag.

Grandma Conklin and I walked around the neighborhood to make sure the labor continued.  It was fall and I remember the huge colorful leaves on the ground.  I picked one up and pressed it in a book.  I kept it to give to you someday.

I drove myself to the hospital and was admitted right away.  I called Daddy to let him know.  By the time he got there I felt like you were about to slip right out.  The nurse checked me and told me not to push.  The Dr. wasn't there yet, so I needed to keep you inside until she arrived. 
The Dr. broke my water.  It was too late for an epidural. 
You and I were doing labor the painful, old fashioned way.

Just a few seconds later you entered the world, with a full head of caramel colored hair.
You were the prettiest little girl I'd ever laid eyes on.

And you only got prettier as you grew:

Your dad was so excited to have a little girl.  He was smitten from the start.  And don't tell the boys, but you're his favorite:

I have loved watching you change and grow.  The quiet moments we share together laying in your bed are never long enough.  You are artistic, eclectic, and curious.  Every day you remind me of Aunt Jennifer. 
You are helpful and mothering to your brothers.  They sure love you.

You've taught me many things. 
I have learned to cherish the moments when you snuggle up to me on the couch, lay your little head on my shoulder, and look up at me with those crystal blue eyes.
I've realized that some things in life are worth the hard work. 
And that no matter what, you love me....even in my imperfect moments.

I hope you will continue to come out of your shell, to let the world see all you have to offer.  That you will keep your strong will and channel your desires into all good things.  And that you'll find happiness in every single thing you do.
I love you so much.
Happy happy birthday to my big 4 year old!

xo,
mommy

finds...and a MUCH too long blog post

I haven't posted about my thrifting finds lately...I felt like our family blog was becoming a forum for my yard sale/bins/thrifting treasures...and even though I find it amazing intriguing life changing interesting, I realized that some of you may not. 
So I decided to take a break.
But the break is over and now I am gushing with things to share.

This week I snuck over to Goodwill (sans kids...holla) with my good friend Brianne.  After a long week with kids, we both needed the break.  And because we both looked like garbage (remember the exhausting week?), here we are at a Halloween party a few days earlier...not looking like garbage:

muah, lyndsie, brianne...i don't know why i look scared in this picture.

Anyway...whilst walking down the outwear aisle, I saw a diamond in the rough.
It was a serious diamond...because it was surrounded by FUBU puffy vests and Eddie Bauer quilted plaid pullovers. 
Sick.
Here she is:

lambskin vest, emu australia

I paid $12.99. 
And it retails for $355.00.
My favorite part is the high collar.  Very aviator-ish:

I did a little jig right in the outwear aisle....Brianne was in the dressing room.  Luckily.  For her.
It is my most expensive find ever clothing-wise.
It's just thrilling I tell you.
Ahhhh....the important things.

I also found some brand new bedding from Target at the Goodwill that I fell in love with.  Helped our room feel more like fall with the dark green shams/duvet cover:

target online, $10.99.

And I made a trip to the bins and scored a number of keepers for about $.67/item:

animal print pullover, forever 21.

vintage paisley top...i had to have it.  i'm thinking a pillow?

green/white stripe gap tank top.

asymmetrical black/gray stripe tank top.

robins egg blue cardigan shrug, mossimo.

olive green/brown gladiator sandals for harper...i would kill to have these in my size.

Have I told you about Thrift City?  It's a new thrift store that's opened in a neighboring town.  They do 1/2 price on Mondays/Thursdays.  It's my new favorite store (sad for Goodwill) and I find myself dropping in at least twice/week. 
My name is Tracy.  And I'm a thrift-a-holic.
Anywayyyyy...
I found this cutest cream sweater there for $3.00:

forever 21

love the detail on the neckline.

The next week I was at Thrift City (again) and found these outdoor Little Tykes toys.  The kids were desperate to have them.  So I'm now the proud owner of a trampoline, teeter-totter and slide:

$7

$5

$6

Right smack in the living room.
The kids LOVE them. 
I hate that they've become part of my decor.
But it has provided hours of entertainment, so it's worth it.

And then 2 weeks ago I hit the jackpot.  I was there (yet again...I know. Ahem.) and peeked into the back storage room.  I saw the most BEAUTIFUL little girls bedroom set. 
Cream. 
Classic. 
Chunky. 
Perfection.
We decided to buy it for Harper as an investment....investment meaning someday we hope to live in a house big enough for her to use it. 
Someday. 
It included the bed, a nightstand, and a mattress/box spring.  I can't wait for her to have her own room and help me decorate:

bed frame, nigh stand, mattress/box spring, $100

don't mind the stop sign.  her bed is being stored in the boys room.

nigh stand.

Sorry for the craptacular picture.  It's 10:08p and this boy was sleeping in the same room:

In other important (and not fashion related) news, we have already attended one Halloween party and a Halloween parade.  We took with us Superman, a spider, and Dorothy:

check out those lashes!

And they scored GOBS of candy at the parade, held at Dylans school.  They loved it!

And we got bunk beds.

'We' being Superman and Dorothy.
Not Dylan and myself. 
That would be awkward.
The kids love them and I love the space it saves.  Success!

xo,
tracy
ps: sad time at the hatfield house...alan died.

luck

I have been meaning to blog all week.
But instead, I sat out in the sun (for 6 hours today...it was that nice!), stuffed myself with caramel apples, and played with my kids. 
Mustaches:

Painting:

dawsons tidy paints

harpers untidy paints

Photo op:

And I'm not even a little sorry.

We've had a great run of luck at our house these last 2 weeks.
It all started when Dawsons last soccer game. 
He had played his little heart out all season...see?
The last game of the season, I promised him a date to the movies (with treats) if he scored a goal.
About 1/2 way through the game, I heard cheering and an excited little boy screaming to his mommy. 
However, the mommy missed actually SEEING the goal, because she was cleaning dog poop off this little naughty:

Yes, dog poop.
My life is awesome.

So I told Dawson a little tiny white lie and said I saw the goal. 
And we screamed and high-fived and jumped up and down.
I just couldn't stand to see the disappointment.

Dawson scored 2 more goals the 2nd half of the game.
Needless to say, he's improved considerably ....and was lucky enough score a goal (or 3) this season!

The second lucky thing was in Harpers soccer game, the same day.
She did not play her little heart out all season...see?
However, Dylan promised her $1 if she touched kicked the ball during the game.
With 1 minute left in the game she ran over and kicked it out of bounds. 
Hey, he just said it had to be a kick.

that's a little tiny thumbs up.

Directly after the game she went to the store and picked out a huge box of bubble gum with her $1.
Which she devoured that night.
Entirely.

Dylan was at a continuing education conference and won the grand prize:

After 3 years of long boring classes, he finally got something out of it.
Kidding.
I'm sure it's beneficial, but this was definitely the
best. year. ever.
I told him he should go buy a lottery ticket...I've never won anything in my whole life. 
Lucky guy.

And I'm the luckiest one of the bunch.  Last week was Dylans Fall break at school (5 day weekend...lucky in itself).  Thursday, I had the entire day to myself...so naturally I headed to the Goodwill Bins.  I was standing there digging (through the clothes, underwear, and debris) and low and behold this beauty walked in:

that's my sister betsy, not a trucker.

She came into town for the weekend to surprise me. 

We filled the next 4 days with massages, laughing, thrifting, and eating, eating, eating, eating. 

caramel apples and almonds...2 meals of our weekend.  delish.

Because that's what pregnant girls do...they eat.  Did I mention there will be another little babe joining our family?  And by 'our'...I mean Betsys. 
Betsy and Matt are expecting a baby in April, 2012.  We are all so excited to meet baby Peterson.
What a lucky little baby to have such wonderful, loving parents.

And speaking of wonderful loving parents, my dad was in town for a day and came visit with my uncle Jake.  The kids always love a good visit...I don't mind it either!

uncle jake, dawson, beckham, and happy.

papa, dawson, beckham, and happy...again.

It was so fun to see them and spend the day together.  I'm a lucky girl to have such a wonderful family!
Yah for good luck!  And mustaches.  And caramel apples...of course.

xo,
tracy