The Redfords: Happy 1st Birthday, Harper Rae

Harper,

I cannot believe you have been with us for a full year now but can honestly say that this has been the absolute best year of our lives! You are such a joy and give me butterflies when I wake up in the morning and remember that I have you :)

What you are doing now:
- You've been walking full-time for about 3 weeks now.
- You LOVE dogs and will get the biggest grin when you see one and run over to it to pet it. You and Sadie are best buds and you will wrap your arms around her body and lay your head on her to watch TV.
- You smile non-stop. When we are out and about if you see anyone, even far off in the distance, your face will light up with the sweetest smile and I always have so many people stop to admire you!
- I think your true first word with meaning was "Sadie" ... it sounds a lot like daddy but you say it when you are going after Sadie or looking for her.
- You also LOVE being outside. Luckily, it has warmed up a bit so we go on walks in the morning, to the playground and spend a lot of time in the backyard. You love to pick flowers, play fetch with Sadie and splash around in your kiddie pool.
- Your favorite foods are cheese, beans and blueberries. You get these almost every day and always eat them up real fast. You're on a bread strike right now so anything that resembles bread you spit out, even cake! It's weird because you used to love bread!
- You love giving hugs and will come up to me and wrap your arms around my neck and it completely melts my heart!
- You're sleeping through the night and have been since about 9 months (7pm - 6am) and are taking 1-2 naps during the day. You've been really easy for a couple months now and we just put you in your crib when you start rubbing your eyes and you are good about playing with your toys and putting yourself to sleep.
- You are in a forward-facing car seat now and feel like such a big girl. You don't fight it as much and smile so big when you see daddy try to dance to the music :) You are starting to bounce and try to dance when you hear music so we try to play it for you more now.
- You use a pacifier only when you sleep or are restless in the car.
- You are such a climber. We got you a slide for your birthday and you mastered climbing up it by yourself in just one day and love playing with it. You also got your own chair for your birthday and you love to use it to climb onto the couch or any other furniture. You are definitely a Redford and I can already see the fearlessness in your eyes and know you'll be a dare devil like your daddy. Yikes!!
- You also love sitting inside things. I have found you in pots, the salad spinner, boxes, trying to sit inside your books, the console on the love seat, toy bins or anything else that you think you can sit in. It is so funny because often times you get stuck because it's a tight squeeze and get mad because you can't get out (or mad because you can't get inside something!).

I cannot wait to continue watching you grow into an amazing woman and see you transition into the role of big sister. Payton is lucky to have you and I know in my heart that you two are going to be best friends!

We absolutely adore you and cannot imagine our lives without you. Keep being the sweetest little girl and never lose your beautiful smile. God is so great and knew exactly what he was doing when he blessed us with you because you have taught me so much about myself and how to love on a whole new level. Mommy and Daddy love you and wish you the happiest first birthday ever!

Birthday Donuts