Harms Family News

Megan has a new skill - sitting up. It happened almost overnight. She suddenly got it and now loves sitting up. When she falls, it's usually on purpose because she wants to roll to something. She is definately creeping now, rolling and sliding to get wherever she wants to be. Natalie loves to pretend to be a dog and make dog houses. Dog houses are usually made out of these sticks she plays with arranged in a circle or rectangle. I decided to make the dog house fancier - we placed a sheet over the couch and an end table. Now she goes under there with books and a few babies and hangs out for a while. She tells me regularly "I'm not Natalie, I'm a pup!" Too funny! Here are some pictures of the "dog house."

Megan is sick. It's nothing serious, just a chest cold, but she has been making this very scary wheezing/gasping sound - sort of similar to the sound someone with whooping cough makes. The first time it happened was Sunday night. She was crying, fussing, and tired, so I just assumed she was gasping due to crying so hard. We decided to see how she was Monday before calling the doctor. She slept horrible, so I decided to make her a chiropractic appointment for Tuesday. Monday she seemed better, until the evening when even laughing would make her wheeze. In the morning on Tuesday I called her pediatrician, and he wanted to see her that day. I, of course, was nervous - pneumonia? bronchitis? something that would require an antibiotic? I wasn't sure. I moved our chiropractor appointment to the late afternoon and bundled up the girlies and went to the pediatrician. He listened to her lungs and the noise (she did make it while I was there) and said she was fine. He had no suggestions...

Today Natalie and I baked (a frequent activity during this long winter) and she was eating her cookie and said, "mmmm, there's nofin' (nothing) like a fwesh (fresh) baked cookie!" I gave the girls their first bath together and it went really well. Natalie enjoyed it and Megan loved being in the bath with her big sister. She kept kicking and then Natalie would laugh when the water splashed her. Then Natalie wanted to take a "shower" which consisted of her sitting in the tub with the shower curtain pulled shut. She's such a funny kid! We had a discipline issue this morning (she told me no!) and afterwards we were talking and she said so sweetly "I'm sorry momma." It was such a sweet time, and she was very well behaved afterwards! Here are some pictures from our bath today! Also today was Megan's first time in the booster seat and she did great (for a few minutes) so enjoy those pictures.

If I kept a notebook with the funny things Natalie says I would use it, so I will chronicle some of them here. Grandparents will appreciate it, even if everyone else doesn't :) The other day we were getting a movie set up and she said "I don't like television. Mommy and Daddy like television." She's been trying to learn about what is "real" ever since we talked about Santa Clause being pretend. She said the other day "Mommy, babies aren't real." and I said "yes they are, why do you think they aren't real?" Natalie: "Babies can't talk" Mommy: "Are doggies real?" Natalie: "Yes" Mommy: "Doggies can't talk" Natalie: "They make barking sounds down in their throats." Last night she was eating and kept dropping her chicken off of her fork and she said "Goodness." Then "Goodness sakes." She's been pretty sick but finally better. The other morning I got ...

Yesterday the CPSC released a clarification on the law. Apparently it is not supposed to apply to consignment stores. The law is still a bit broad, and it will cost regular stores thousands to comply, but at least my second hand shopping is safe!

If you are a parent who has ever purchased a used book, toy, or article of clothing (think eBay, Amazon, etc.) Then you must read this! I copied it from a friend, but I have been researching this and it appears very, very true. The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned---Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming,almost Orwellian, reality. Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale ofall children's books (books intended for children ages 12 andunder) is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed priorto the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books inproduction are required to include a "lead-free" certificationand will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale. What does this mean to the homeschooling family? (What will this do to school libraries And public and private school curriculum?) Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will becancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to complywith the ...

It seems the minute I start thinking Natalie's getting better, we get hit again. Yesterday the runs started again and she started vomiting . This morning she woke up with a temp again. I took her to her regular doctor with a print out of all her symptoms since Thanksgiving. He says that what h as happened is she has had one thing after another. First a viral head cold (typical cold), then she got better, only to get hit with strep, then that got better, only now she has a stomach virus. He said this cycle could continue to repeat itself for several months. In a way I am happy that it's nothing serious, but the idea of having her sick like this off and on for a few months is not appealing at all. Right now she is sleeping. It's only 10 am. We walked in the door and she said "Mommy, I want to go to bed." She's lost a pound of weight through all this. Hopefully this is the last "bug" we get and we can start getting healthy!

We are home again, and for a while now. I love traveling and visiting family, but returning home is always a blessing. While we were in Kansas City I had the privilege of seeing my friend Janna. We have been friends since college and have known each other since upper elementary school. During my first couple of years at Maranatha, her and I were the only people from Tri-City who attended, so we really got to know one another on those 8+ hour drives back and forth to school. Janna has always been one of those friends whom I can honestly say fits into the "iron sharpening iron" category. When I am done with a conversation with her, I am always pointed back to Christ. We have one of those friendships where we can go years without seeing one another (which we do since she lives on Guam) and yet pick up where we left off without batting an eye. Those kind of friendships are not easy to come by, particularly for me. It was wonderful to see her and her beautiful baby girl Briella. H...