First Day, Last Day

I can't believe Harry has finished his first year of "school". He started the year as a 1-year-old toddler, and he's finishing up the year as a 2-year-old BOY!

Love this sweet "baby" face!

His shoes are scuffed, and his legs are covered in the bruises that come with the territory of being a big boy. 

LOVE you my sweet Harry! I'm SO excited to have a summer off from work to just hang out and enjoy time together. Here's to many more school years, and summer adventures together!

(very belated) Easter Photos

Easter was a wonderful celebration! I am so thankful for what Easter means - Jesus is my Savior and His death on the cross and RESURRECTION means everything to me!

I am spiritually alive because of the work of Jesus in my life.

These photos are just evidence of His grace...so many gifts to be thankful for!

New toothbrush, to go along with some Easter sweets!

Time for an egg hunt (many were filled with trains...notice the one in his hand) #sospoiled

I love Harry and his Papa holding hands in the background of this shot!!!

Train break :)

Papa goofing around with Harry. Caught this funny shot of an egg falling off of Papa's head

#papalookslikeapirate

Bubbles with Auntie. SO FUN!!!

Flashback Friday :: Deciding to get Tubes

Before we made the decision to have Harry get tubes, we had to meet with the ear, nose, and throat specialist first. His appointment was downtown, in a tall building...complete with a constructions scene for Harry's entertainment below.

Munching on a breakfast bar while we waited.

So exciting to watch the construction going on below.

Such a sweet face!

But DON'T BE FOOLED. 

This little cutie threw the most  E P I C  T A N T R U M  of all time while we met with the doctor. 

Thankfully he did pretty well during the hearing test, but when we finally got in to meet with the actual doctor he had had enough. 

Oh boy, was it humbling. 

Far too often, I puff up with pride, thinking "I've got this parenting thing DOWN; Harry is such a "good boy", I must be an AWESOME Mom". Truthfully, any good moment that I have as a mom is truly God's grace - an unmerited gift from the Lord that I do not deserve, and had nothing to do with. I am a work in progress, as is my son...who is sometimes naughty, and surely a sinner just like I am. We both need Jesus and moments like this - when he is screaming and flailing his body around like a wild animal, and I am painfully aware of the people around me (and can't help but imagine what they are thinking of him, and of me) - moments like this remind me of desperately I need Jesus. 

His grace is what carries me through this life - in both the glorious moments that melt my heart, and the painfully challenging ones that involve more tears than I'd like to admit, and often make me want to pull my hair out (just keeping it real).

So while it was an exhausting morning...I learned a lot. And praised God for using a doctor's appointment, and a tantrum, to humble me and remind me of my desperate need for Him, above all else!

After we got done, we stopped at Ikea for a (super cheap) and yummy breakfast. Why don't we go there more often? It was super fun :)

Harry wanted to take a ride, but was told no...which resulted in another tantrum as I carried him (flailing once again) to our car.

I love his little converse tennis shoes, and holy cow...the boy has some calf muscles!?! I shouldn't be surprised because it does run in my side of the family, but still...I didn't really notice it until I looked at this pic!

MOTHER'S DAY [in photos]

So this wasn't on Mother's Day...but Harry's Spring Concert & Parent Picnic was the BEST Mother's Day Gift I could ask for!!!

(Oh and Josh surprised me with "family photos". That is also the BEST gift I could ask for. I seriously cannot wait because Josh, Harry and I will be getting family photos by one of my FAVORITE blogger/photographers in the next month or so!!! I am seriously over the moon)!!!

But back to the Spring Picnic :)

That CHEESY GRIN...so precious!

Harry and the BEST TEACHER EVER!!!

Harry the duck, standing by his duck artwork! :)

Mama is clearly more excited about this picture than a certain someone! Hahaha!

Mother's Day Dinner with my family :)

...and with Josh's family too! :) 

LATELY :: So Much to Celebrate!

CELEBRATING :: quiet, everyday moments!

// This sweet boy's profile: such a sweet little nose and mouth! //

// zoo fun with cousin Zoe (and Hunter too) //

// meeting cousin Brooklyn - she's the sweetest little baby //

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CELEBRATING :: Birthday Parties!

// frozen yogurt for Auntie Ashley's birthday //

// blowing out Auntie's candle...such a big helper //

// Harry's best bud turned THREE! So much fun celebrating with him!!! //

// Harry gave it a try //

// Not the most aggressive piñata batter //

// After everyone had a turn or two...it was time for a little help //

// Landon snagged all of the soccer balls, and Harry went for the stickers //

// stickers, one on top of the other...and a horse in his pocket //

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CELEBRATING :: A Certain Upcoming Wedding!

// pink, gold, champagne, and BUNNIES //

// cutest guest book ever :) I'm a sucker for instant cameras //

// the GORGEOUS bride opening her gifts - also, THE FLOWERS (!) //

My First ART PRINT

I have been working on my skills in graphic design, which basically means that a couple of months ago, I knew absolutely N O T H I N G about graphic design, other than the fact that I LOVE all the gorgeous artwork and designs I see online by my favorite bloggers and shop owners!

And now, I know enough to have created my first ART PRINT using Illustrator.

This is honestly not a big deal to anyone but me, but I am SO INSPIRED (can't you tell with all the uppercase enthusiasm?!).  This is all thanks to the AMAZING graphic design course that I enrolled in by the very talented and inspiring Emily of Jones Design Company!

So without further adieu, I present to you the first (of hopefully many) art prints here on Wrapped in Delight. This one is for you Kim!!! I know that my painting skills aren't professional or anything, but I kind of love how this turned out (if I do say so myself)...

Click the photo to download your own printable 5x7 copy :)

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For more information about the Jones Design Company Graphic Design course, click here! It is seriously worth EVERY penny...and perfect for beginners (like me)!

THANK YOU JESUS!

TUESDAY was a big day for us. After months and months of ongoing ear infections, talking with multiple doctors, and eventually meeting with an ear, nose, and throat specialist...we knew it was time to come up with a better solution for Harrison. His hearing was being impaired by the fluid in his middle ear, and frankly...we were tired of putting him on medicine that would only clear up the problem for a week or two before he'd start getting another infection.

[ "Catch Daddy" ]

It was a bit scary, mostly because he had to be put under anesthesia, but he was such a brave little guy! We got up early and drove to Seattle to the surgery center at the Polyclinic. The staff was friendly and reassuring...and Harry was only a bit cranky for a few minutes here and there (he did great considering he couldn't eat or drink anything prior to the surgery). We decided to have Josh go back with him because I knew I would be too emotional, it was honestly harder on me than on Harrison.

[ He was bouncing around the waiting room like a wild man! ]

When it was time to go, Harry led the way through the door (as if he owned the place) and Josh said he took a couple of breaths with the mask and was sleeping within 20 seconds. Such a relief! I had visions of him throwing a tantrum and not taking the mask, but he did awesome! Josh came out and sat with me. It was about 10 minutes or so before the surgeon came out and said the procedure was finished and went perfectly. A few minutes after that I went back to find him snuggled in a blanket resting on the shoulder of the sweetest nurse. He was groggy but very happy (especially when she offered him some apple juice and animal crackers). Josh joined us and after a few minutes of sitting with him, we carried him down to the car and headed home.

A movie, lunch, and a nice long nap later...and he was back to his normal energetic self. He put together some puzzles, ran around, drove/flew his cars, trains, and superheroes all over the house and went to bed like normal (including his usual tears when we finally put the books away and have to actually go to bed...he's already trying to extend bedtime by begging for more stories). He was out like a light, and has been sleeping like a log every night since (four nights in a row now).

We have to go back in a couple of weeks to make sure that everything looks good, but so far I am so impressed with how easy it all was. I am honestly SO THANKFUL to Jesus for giving us peace about taking this step, and putting us in the hands of knowledgeable doctors who helped us make the right decision for our son. What I'm most excited about in the coming weeks is to see how this impacts his day-to-day life. I really don't know what it's like to have a kid who isn't in a constant cycle of either getting an ear infection, or recovering from one. It will be such a nice change of pace to enjoy the health that this procedure is supposed to bring (still praying that it all works the way it's supposed to).

Thanks to all who prayed with us for Harrison leading up to his surgery, and over the past week. I know this is NOTHING compared to what so many parents have to face in regard to surgeries and medical issues with their kids, but it's been a trial for us...one that I am thankful seems to be nearly over!