Celebrating Harry!

Harry turned 5 on June 30th. Pinch me, please. I really, truly cannot believe the day has arrived. I remember when he was born, it was easily the most stressful time we have ever been through. Our house was literally being torn apart while I gave birth and I brought him home to a wreck of a condo, plastic sheeting up in our living room and developers who had turned on their heel and ran from their responsibilities. 

Brice was devastated at Harry's arrival. He could not talk yet, but he kept walking up to him and pointing and looking at me like, "what have you done to me??" Harry was colicky and cried and screamed bloody murder for the first three months of his life. I don't know of a time in my life when I cried more. Seth was working night and day at the law firm. I was so tired. It was one of those times when you can't imagine things will ever get better and you don't know how you will ever get through to the other side. 

But we did. Of course we did. And looking back and remembering makes the celebrating all the sweeter. We have a new home; Seth has a normal job; Brice has grown accustomed to sharing his world and will even admit to loving Harry if you catch him at a good moment. But even better, best of all, we have this sweet boy:

Harrison Franklin Essex Diehl

Happy Birthday, lovebug. Life is sweeter with you in it.

Where We've Been...

It's been 3 months since I updated this blog. How does that happen? So, here it is. I noticed that I keep apologizing for pics not loading in order. I don't know what the deal is--but i'm blaming the mac. Ok, here goes:

 Our bible study/summer book club read Bread & Wine and celebrated with a dinner party. Here we (mostly) all are in my usually empty living room. So fun. 

Brice and Harry relaxing post-bath in our bed.

 Brice and Harry playing at Northside Park. There is a huge hill and they love to climb up and run down. 

Celebrating 4th of July with the Fritz family. Chris went the night before and got us excellent spots in the shade. It was perfect. 

Harry looking cute. He's yummy.

Here we are at the Eli Broad Museum in East Lansing. We dropped Harry off at my parent's for a few days and went to my old stomping grounds--Michigan State. This is a new modern museum on campus. And notice on the table--Blue Bunny. 

I watched my friend Ellen's kids for a few hours a couple months ago. I guess it was warm, because the boys were stripped down and sweating. Here they all are getting pushed by Brice. Love this shot.

We live on a lovely cul-de-sac with an island in the middle. Here we are having a neighborhood picnic. 

This is Brice with his medal from his final tumbling class. 

The end of May we went to a black tie affair in the city. Scully doesn't know what to make of this. 

This is Brice's kindergarten teacher. Harry photobombed at the last second.

This is Harry on my lap learning to drive. Hopefully he'll be ready in 11 years. 

We took the kids to Monsters U. Afterwards we lined them up outside and told them to make their scariest face. Oh well. Still a cute picture.