Frozen Eight? That sounds great.

Scenes from our life as of late...

2009-10-06T07:11:00.004-04:00

The newest addition in my childcare brood.

"Go???"

It's heeeeerre......

Oh, what it does to me.

BFF's :)

Pizza and movie with Daddy (someone needs a diaper change, and I'm pretty sure it's not Daddy...)

Sneak preview of Tessa's Halloween costume in the works.

Just a bunch of stuff 'n fluff.

2009-06-27T13:08:00.007-04:00

Yeah, I gave up on the shred stuff a long time ago. Just to let you know.

James is still in Kuwait....but only for 10 more weeks. Then he'll be home FOR GOOD. RIGHT, JAMES?

Tessa's awful. Just kidding. She's cuter than Suri Cruise and her stupid haircut. Granted, she's already into her "terrible twos" and she's not quite 1 1/2. Parenting is hard, guys. Not that I thought it wouldn't be, but you just can't possibly know until you're thrown into it. Constant, constant, constant, constant, constant. That's what life with a toddler is like; nothing in moderation. Everything is done with the greatest of conviction, and then repeat that 94 times.

But every once in a while you get moments like *this :

Me: Hide it under a bushel..
Tessa: No

Me: I'm gonna let it..

Tessa: chine

Me: Hide it under a bushel..

Tessa: NO

Me: I'm gonna let it..

Tessa: N..ine...

Me: Hide it under a bushel..

Tessa: CHINE

Me: I'm gonna let it..

Tessa: Pooh.

....and moments like this:

....and a little of this:

..and they're just so freaking cute.

*singing one of the verses to "This little light of mine"

Good Lord, it's another one.

2009-03-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

Follow me on twitter.

http://www.twitter.com/jessiannehardin

I'm back.

2009-03-19T21:23:00.005-04:00

I'm alive. I just have not been motivated to keep up this blog. Not that I want to get rid of it or anything. I haven't really been taking many pictures...and my brain...well, it's pretty much fried.

So, let me just give you an update.

James came home in January and was home for a month. It was amazing having him back home. And to see him playing with Tessa who had changed so much since he saw her last....it was THE BEST.

James left for Kuwait at the beginning of March and he'll be there for another 6 months. Sigh. Here we go again.

But here's some more photo updates :)

Ahh! I'm posting!

2009-01-18T08:34:00.003-05:00

This was fun to me:

Rock Star name (first pet name, current car): Sarah Pontiac
Gangsta name (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite shoe): Caramel Pumps
Native American name (favorite color, favorite animal): Yellow Dog
Soap Star name (your middle name, city you were born in): Anne Clinton
Star Wars name (first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 of your first name): Harje
Superhero name (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Teal Pepsi
NASCAR name (first names of your grandfathers): Barry James
Dancer name (favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy): Inis Snickers
TV news anchor name (Last name of 5th grade teacher, major city starting with the same letter): Basset Boston
Spy name (favorite season/holiday, favorite flower): Spring Daffodil
Cartoon character name (favorite fruit, article of clothing you are currently wearing): Pineapple Sweater
Hippie name (what you ate for breakfast this morning, favorite tree): Waffle Willow
Movie star name (name of first pet, first street you lived on): Sarah Bromley

James is home, by the way :)

This bothers me

2009-01-03T08:33:00.002-05:00

This morning I came across this.

I'm not a fan of mormonism, but I've got nothing against people who are mormons. Just to put that out there.

Mormon of the year? Really? I don't care what your faith is.....that just seems wrong.

Christian of the year....yeah, that weirds me out just as much.

What makes someone "mormon of the year"?

"I nominate Susie because she did the most mormony things this year."

Am I missing something? Please, someone help me understand.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T07:39:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas :)

Yeah, that's our sad little Christmas tree. But Tessa loves it.

Best Shot Monday

2008-11-24T11:13:00.003-05:00

bsm.

In other news, I attended my surprise virtual-bridal-shower-that-I-never-got-to-have-a-year-and-a-half-ago yesterday :) It was lovingly and painstakingly put together by my aunt, mother, and sister. There were no guests. My ideal shower. My aunt even made a special blog for it, complete with a video and photographs that will make you wish you had been there to take part in the joyous festivities.

Love and thanks.

Best Shot Monday

2008-11-16T22:19:00.002-05:00

bsm.

Photo Contest - Please vote!!

2008-11-13T10:21:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone!

I just entered Tessa in a photo contest online...if you want to vote for her (of course you want to), click on this link. Or click on this link and our entry number is 4398. If we win, we'll get a $50 gift certificate towards any purchase at their online store.

Thank you!

Love,
Jessi and Tessa

Love Thursday

2008-11-13T07:55:00.004-05:00

Happy LT.

It's cold

2008-11-12T07:58:00.002-05:00

I had to wear two pairs of socks to bed last night, and I hate socks.

Best Shot Monday- Fun with prunes

2008-11-09T22:04:00.001-05:00

No explanation needed.

Love Thursday

2008-11-05T21:40:00.003-05:00

My mister and me.

Please come home safely to us. We love you.

The madness finally ends.

2008-11-05T07:58:00.001-05:00

Thank God.

And for your viewing pleasure:

Colors.

I voted.

2008-11-04T13:36:00.000-05:00

Crap Shoot Tuesday

2008-11-04T08:20:00.003-05:00

I just loved this one taken at the park over the weekend. I especially love the little blonde girl's huge smile. But the photo was just too dang blurry.

Perfect for today :)

Crrraaaaappp.

Best Shot Monday - Oh, the park.

2008-11-02T20:40:00.004-05:00

I know I just posted this photo two days ago but I really wanted to use it for my bsm.

This little girl loves the swings.

Look at everyone else's.

A walk in the park

2008-11-01T21:03:00.005-04:00

Our day at the park with my sis-in-law + kids and bro-in-law :)

Oh, boy...

2008-10-31T07:47:00.005-04:00

My sister's facebook status yesterday with my Aunt S.'s response:

Jami's vote really doesnt matter all that much! thats not negative, just realistic. so time to stop obsessing over voting poorly. were all bound to do it sometime. 1:51pm

Aunt S. at 3:29pm October 30
We are also bound to have a yeast infection sooner or later, but we really hope we don't get one ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, Tessa sleeps with a pacifier, and a few months ago she figured out that she could throw it through the bars in her crib. Needless to say, I make countless trips under the crib at every nap time to find this pacifier because SOMEONE can't fall asleep when she doesn't have it. It's a vicious cycle. A few days ago after putting Tessa in her crib while crossing my fingers for 2 hours of heaven, so begin the antics of monster baby. I'm looking everywhere for this pacifier. It's nowhere to be found. Holy crap, she swallowed it. Okay, no...it's in here somewhere. Looking, looking, looking.... Meanwhile, I get a whiff of popcorn (that's what her pee smells like), so I put the search on hold and pull out a clean diaper. I pull monster baby out of her crib and notice there's a strange pacifier-shaped lump in her pants. And that's where I found the MIA little bugger. God only knows how it got there....monster baby hasn't fully developed all of her motor skills to do it herself. Monster baby did eventually take a little nap. As for the disappearing pacifier, it emerged unscathed from the pitch-black, murky recesses of her pants, only to be placed safely back in the mouth of the beast.

Happy day of evil things, dead beings, demonic entities, and candy.

Love Thursday

2008-10-29T19:59:00.004-04:00

The best day of my life.

It's real, yes it's real love.

Best Shot Monday - Glimmers

2008-10-27T07:54:00.002-04:00

This looks pretty glimmery to me.

Happy Monday.

My hero

2008-10-25T20:33:00.002-04:00

Love Thursday

2008-10-22T21:53:00.002-04:00

I realize that I take a lot of kissing pictures of Tessa, but who can resist wet, open-mouth baby kisses?

I don't know who loves who more. But that's a lot of love right there.

Happy birthday to me

2008-10-21T22:08:00.006-04:00

Today's birthday festivities included the following:

Enjoyed ripping my old fashioned sponge curlers out of my hair after sleeping in them the night before

McDonald's for lunch...gift to myself

Came home to some gorgeous flowers from my mister

Enjoyed watching the sweetness between two friends despite the effects of their prunes and suppositories

Blew out a birthday candle on a cupcake that I've been craving for the last couple of months

Happy birthday to me.

It was between Winnie the Pooh and Jack Johnson.

2008-10-20T10:38:00.002-04:00

But I don't like Jack Johnson. So, pooh it is.

Me. Sister. Brother. The best.

Best Shot Monday

2008-10-19T20:57:00.004-04:00

We went to an outdoor birthday party today. Very, very chilly...but it was a beautiful day, and Tessa loved it.

Happy Monday.

Love Thursday

2008-10-15T21:26:00.004-04:00

We have insane amounts of fun. And I love it.

Happy Love Thursday.

Crap Shoot Tuesday

2008-10-13T23:02:00.003-04:00

Terrible lighting but I love it anyway.

Holy crap, I miss you, James.

Happy crappy one.

Best Shot Monday

2008-10-12T22:10:00.004-04:00

Yes, this is my best shot.

The story of my life.

2008-10-12T21:43:00.002-04:00

Do you ever feel so misunderstood that when you finally get the chance to prove yourself, in your desperate attempts to set things straight, you make things ten times worse for yourself than before?

What a brilliant idea it was for God to create people who are afraid of people. Yes, we're really useful in this relational society.

Damned introversion.

Things that make me happy today

2008-10-11T14:42:00.005-04:00

(I know the captions are difficult to read.

Click on the picture to enlarge it...that'll make it a little easier.)

This post is inspired by nienie.

Love Thursday

2008-10-08T20:55:00.002-04:00

This is Mickey and Ava, my nephew and niece. I didn't take this photo (I just shopped it up a bit), so my sis-in-law Steph gets the credit, but I wish I had. It's perfect. This boy loves his little sister.

My early birthday present

2008-10-07T10:15:00.003-04:00

These flowers are an early birthday present from my mister.

They're YELLOW (except for that pretty orange one in the center)

because he knows YELLOW is my favorite.

I love them, tames hardini.

I love you.

5 Minutes For Mom: Bedroom Set Contest.....for my sleepin' babe.

2008-10-05T22:52:00.000-04:00

My apologies for posting this photo again, but this is my submission for the 5 Minutes For Mom:Bedroom Set Contest at 5 Minutes for Mom. My babe's growing up so fast and she'll be out of this borrowed crib in no time. I know she'd love the Lily Rose furniture set 'cause we got nuttin' for her. Okay, she probably won't give a crap, but I think it's adorable :)

Cross your fingers, eyes, and legs for me!

Best Shot Monday -- Maybe bending the rules here a bit....

2008-10-05T22:51:00.000-04:00

Last week I participated in Ali's project called A Week in the Life". We were encouraged to photograph and collect everyday things and, perhaps, write down a thought or two. I started last Monday and just finished today. Sometime this week I will attempt to put a "week in the life" scrapbook together. These photos were a part of my "project" last week, and each is my best shot from each day, so I'm using them for my Best Shot Monday. Yes, all seven of them. So shoot me.

Superhero photo challenge: smooch

2008-10-04T08:49:00.003-04:00

Baby kisses <3

Lots of kisses.

Last night

2008-10-02T09:35:00.003-04:00

First of all, it's COLD this morning.

Second... last night, Tessa fell asleep with a teddy bear coming out of her butt.

Poor teddy.

Love Thursday

2008-10-01T21:43:00.001-04:00

Crap Shoot Tuesday

2008-09-29T21:39:00.004-04:00

Here's my crappy shot for this Tuesday. Crappy, but cute. My poor baby was so sick this weekend. She couldn't breathe out of her nose and she thrashed around all night just trying to get comfortable. I couldn't resist...

Party at Maile's.

Best Shot Monday - Nature Baby

2008-09-28T20:57:00.003-04:00

I just really liked the colors.

More best shots at Tracey's.

Help me....

2008-09-25T15:16:00.002-04:00

My 7-month-old has a cold. Her nose is pouring out snot and she can't breathe out of it. We were up all night last night. Apparently I can't give her anything over-the-counter, so I've got one of those little Vick's vapor pads in her humidifier, I'm shooting saline crap up her nose, suctioning with an aspirator, and she's got a little tylenol in her system. Does anyone have any better ideas? I know someone does. The only people who read this are moms.

Sorry this isn't very interesting. I wanna sleeeeeeeeeep!!!!

Love Thursday

2008-09-24T22:40:00.003-04:00

My mom took this picture (and I couldn't resist a little editing.) And this is what happened when she told us to put our heads a little closer together. Tessa thinks we're stupid.

Crap Shoot Tuesday

2008-09-23T09:45:00.005-04:00

We had a lot of rain a couple of weeks ago. I took this photo through my bedroom window....obviously...because you can see the reflection of my camera. But I didn't want to throw away the picture.

And I know that I wasn't supposed to, but I messed around with it a little. Because I can.

Go see Maile's crappy shot :)

Cursed Ugly Man Heads

2008-09-22T13:37:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to take this moment to say how much I ~~hate~~ loathe money. It's really unfortunate that a little family's happiness and comfort depends on this green paper with pictures of little ugly man heads on it. I would like to give this little-ugly-man-headed-green-paper some ball-growing potion so it would grow some balls. And then I would kick them.

Abe's kinda cute, though. I like facial hair.

Best Shot Monday - Intendeds

2008-09-21T21:31:00.001-04:00

My job really is wonderful. The indifferent little epitome of masculinity below is Orion. And, of course, the big one on the right is my Tessa (they're about 3 months apart.) Tessa and I watch Orion every day. Orion loves Tessa. Tessa loves Orion. These are two of my best shots from last week.... I couldn't decide which one I liked most, so you get to see both.

And if you hadn't noticed, I like black & white.

More Best Shots at Tracey's.

My little spot

2008-09-19T08:33:00.000-04:00

Tessa's the little bright spot in my life.
My little spot.

I love watching her discover things every day.

I love my little spot.

Love Thursday - Sweet Words

2008-09-17T21:03:00.000-04:00

I came across this letter from my husband that he wrote to me while we were dating. He's in Iraq, so finding this letter was especially sweet.

Tessa and I love you, James, and we're praying for you every day.

Crap Shoot Tuesday

2008-09-15T22:00:00.001-04:00

My sister won't be pleased when she sees that I've posted this picture taken by my mom a few years ago. I'm not exactly proud of it either...it's not the most flattering photo of either of us. I'm pretty quick to trash ugly photos of myself, but there was just something about this one. We both cracked up when we saw it. This was the year my sister and I roomed together in college. Not a good idea. We made it through to the end of the year alive...with a few new scars and a little less hair. But when we actually got along, we had an o.k. time :) (Oh, and I'm wearing stage makeup...I promise, I don't normally wear that much.)

See more Crap Shoots at Maile's.

Best Shot Monday

2008-09-14T21:10:00.001-04:00

It's been so hot and humid lately, but last week was perfect....so Tessa and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went out on the pier James built in the backyard.

To see more photographic masterpieces that are way better than mine, go visit Tracey at http://maypapers.blogspot.com/.

Love Thursday

2008-09-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

How could you not love this little girl?

What's so wrong with Times New Roman?

2008-09-09T12:40:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, my sister and I were having a heated discussion about fonts. We really do talk about stuff like that. My sister likes Arial. I hate Arial. It's so tall and line-y. I, on the other hand, am partial to Times New Roman. I think Times New Roman is me in a font: simple, straight forward, and round (seriously, have you seen my post-baby backside?). It looks so articulate and sarcastic, too. And intimidating. Georgia shouldn't even mess with Times New Roman. It's like bubbles on sticks. The next time you need to write a hateful and despicably malicious note to someone, use Times New Roman. You'll get your point across. But whatever you do, don't use Comic Sans.

Best Shot Monday - The real one

2008-09-08T08:57:00.000-04:00

I changed my mind. Here's my real best shot.

Best Shot Monday - abc

2008-09-08T08:38:00.001-04:00

I didn't know they were so pretty.

2008-09-06T21:37:00.000-04:00

My mother-in-law likes to find caterpillars in her garden and put them in containers so the grand kids can watch them morph each time they come to visit. This time, she put the caterpillar in an empty, uncovered, plastic 2-liter soda bottle with some leaves and whatever else she puts in there to make him happy. The caterpillars usually don't try to escape, but this one made a run for it. The next morning, this is what mom-in-law found on her kitchen cabinet:

Happy Love Thursday

2008-09-04T08:48:00.000-04:00

I don't feel like I need to explain this photo. It's all right there.

My husband is in Iraq. 4 months to go.

I love you, James.

Sweet spontaneity

2008-09-03T22:02:00.001-04:00

This is my attempt at "stalking the moment"....

....my unsuspecting little minion :)

A little manipulation for you...

2008-09-02T22:01:00.000-04:00

...and still devastatingly gorgeous.

Best Shot Monday

2008-09-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

Regurgitation in action.

My lovely

2008-08-31T21:14:00.000-04:00

Babies and Boxes

2008-08-27T21:58:00.000-04:00

Shenanigans with my offspring this afternoon.....very photo-worthy.

An epiphany

2008-08-07T11:34:00.000-04:00

So, about a few hours ago I came to the realization that I am now boring. I don't know why I am just now realizing this, but there it is. If you're not talking about diaper rashes, sleep patterns, tummy-time or gas-drops, any spoken exchange with me is worthless. Whatever little social skills I may have had now have been reduced to high-pitched baby talk. Mommy-dom has consumed my life and now reigns supreme.

I was never sociable, but I like to think that I was, maybe, in the smallest bit interesting. At least, I fooled people into thinking I was. Surface-level mystery. That's how I rolled. Now there's no secret. I'm a "mom." And that pretty much sums me up.