a thousand words

model material

Over the past year, my girls have had the chance to model for One Charming Party.  My good friend, Sara, is the creative genuis behind their amazing parties.  I'm so glad she's included Stella and Charlotte in all the party fun!  I love being behind the scenes and watching someone else photography my kids.  Nicole Hill, the photographer, is truly talented behind that lens.  

In spring 2010,  Stella and some of her best friends modeled for the mermaid party that OCP just released!  See all the photos here & here.  Or better yet, just buy the party and see it all.  It's pure eye candy.  You won't regret it!

 

Then, this spring it was easter egg dyeing with Stella & Charlotte.  This mini party was a feature OCP did for Real Simple online.  I especially loved seeing my kitchen professionally lit and photographed.  And look how much Stella has changed!  The rest of the photos are here & here.

xo 

 

4 years

4 years ago today, I saw her sweet face for the first time.    

Stella Ann Harris.

Stella.  A name that Morgan mentioned that he liked in my first trimester of pregnancy.  He heard it on our favorite TV show at the time, Ed. I thought it old fashioned at first, but it grew on me until I could no longer entertain any other name.  Stella it was!  Her middle name Ann comes from both her grand mothers.  Ann Bunker and SuzANNe Jacob.

Stella at four years old... a glimpse...

-Stella is a happy girl.  Giggling comes easy, especially when with her friends and Daddy!

-She is pretty fearless.  She'll surf with her Daddy, ride the matterhorn with Mommy.

-Stella likes her 1:1 time.  When her attitude gets a bit much, a date with Dad or a "mystery ride" with mommy will usually sort things out.

-She is not a typical "girly girl".  When asked by Berk what kind of party she wanted, she replied "A girl dinosaur party!"  hmm?  When asked to pick out a halloween costume, she narrowed it down to Jessie the cowgirl (from toy story) or french fries.  No princesses for this one.

-She has olive skin and wavy blonde hair that make her mom a little bit jealous!

-Stella has a special affection for her Grandmothers.  When with our extended family, she likes to sneak away, grab a book, and curl up on Grandma's lap.  

-She loves cherry tomatoes, bagels (aka "circle bread") with cream cheese, and...candy.

-Stella loves to waste paper.  She's been known to write a few letters on a page and fill an entire notebook that way.

-She enjoys cooking with me, and often pulls up a chair to "help" in the kitchen.  She's really good at helping taste the cookie dough.

-She has a few great nicknames: Stellie, Stellie Belly, Button, Stella Bella Cinderella, Cakes, Stell, The Shick.

-Stella is an early riser.  Usually up before her siblings and begging to go down stairs to watch a show and drink some juice.

Last night, I made Stella promise not to get any older.  

I don't ever want to forget the four year old Stella.  My star.  

I feel so incredibly blessed that she's part of our family.

Happy Birthday Stellie!

love,

mom

the morning in pictures

With Berk off to school by 7:30am, this is what the rest my morning looked like...

bed head.

books on the couch.

lunch supplies.

an appetizer.

a favorite main course.

the forecast.

yes, I know, the wiggles. don't judge. she likes to move with murray!

our "pistol"

Don't let those velvety brown eyes fool you...

                ...this girl is a pistol!!

"Pistol" is Morgan's nickname for Stella these days.  It's his catch-all word to describe her recently developed attitude.  Wow!  I've never had a 3 year old girl before.  I didn't know the family genes (both Harris and Garff side) for super-strong women would kick in quite so soon.  She definitely wins the award for "loudest most demanding child" at the moment. 

Stella is less interested in playing with her dolls and kitchen, opting for wrestling charlotte and running away from our attempts at time-out.  Our saving grace with "pistol" right now is her love of books and the High School Musical extreme access pass DVD.  Both keep her at bay for a few moments, at least.

I guess I should be happy she is going to be a strong woman... yes, I'll focus on that when my patience is shot!

{above photo taken oct '07, apple picking in julian, ca}

look who's three

this one?  I love.

{stella wearing a nigerian outfit from gramma sue}

stellie celebrated a birthday this week. 

three years ago I gave birth to the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.  I distinctly remember the feeling of holding her in my arms for the first time, in awe that I could love another just as much as berkeley.  In awe that she wasn't anything like berkeley!  I can still remember how she smelled.  I love my newborn babes.

Anyway...friday we had a small party for the birthday girl.  Of course, it HAD to be a book bash for my bookworm.  We partied with her little girlyfriends while all the big kids were at school, so it was small and quiet.  We made sticker bookmarks, ate PB&Js, had story time, ate cupcakes & opened presents.  So simple, but so much fun.

Stella was showered with new books.   I was especially appreciative of a few new things to read aloud.

Saturday morning we had some family time and celebrated again. Donuts and breakfast burritos on the beach.  After a few bites the kids were off to play!

{dirty finger nails + messy hair = a happy 3 year old}

morgan, the super dad, does not get enough limelight on the old blog. sorry, babe:( morgan is the preferred parent among each of our kids.  How can you not love a dad who wrestles and tickles and dances and double pushes?!?

after the beach it was home for presents...  a "computer" from berk.

super dad put together this new bookshelf.  yes, I am milking the book themed birthday for all it's worth!! :D

Happy Birthday Stellie Belly!

book worm

I recently realized that I have far too many pictures of Stella "reading" books.  It's a result of two things:  1. this girl loves her books and 2. I have a tendency to whip out my camera anytime the kids are still.

Aunt Traci came for an extended visit last year-- right after no. 3 was born.  She commented, "If you are ever looking for Stella, she's either somewhere reading books or running out towards the street."  I'll take the first option, thankyouverymuch!! She was 18 months old then.

Here's back in summer '06.  Stella was almost two, reading a quiet book that her Nana gave her.

everyone piled on the bed, listening to Dad.  Stella started this party by bringing the reading material.  November '06 

(embracing the grain here...)

Last month. I love this moment with Berkeley.  These are the small and fleeting "pay" moments of parenthood.  Watching the kids interact happily is a dream!

this book sums up Stella well.  fiery and bright!

See?  I told you I had too many! Finally, last week.

It's fun to listen to Stella "read".  She captures a word here and there from pictures and memory. Mostly it's just gibberish with lots of intonation!

maybe, oh maybe, Stella will one day be doing this like brynley... with her nose stuck in a book.  I can only hope her love for reading continues on for a long time.

bribing the easter bunny

stella met up with the easter bunny last week at the petting zoo.

she fed him carrots and tried her best to be gentle.  she's hoping he'll bring some chocolate to our house in return. 

charlotte, berk and stella's easter baskets are sitting patiently on the front porch.  The eggs have been colored and are nestled in their beds of fake plastic grass. 

The Harris children are ready for the easter bunny!

I'd better get to work... ;)

wonders of wonders...

…miracles of miracles!  stella has been pacifier-free for almost 18 hours now. 

i never thought i’d see the day when she fell asleep without it! 

stella has been a “paci” baby from day one in the hospital.   I have been worried about the major overbite she is forming because of the plug— it was starting to make me sick to see it in her mouth.   So last night, in a bold parenting move, morgan and I cut stella’s pacifier right down the middle.   When she saw that it was broken she cried and asked for “anudda one”, but morgan quickly distracted her with a favorite book and blankie.   Miraculously enough, when we put her down to sleep there was no crying or asking for her beloved paci!!

I snapped this yesterday through the slats of her crib, sensing her paci phase coming to a close.

I’ll be glad not to see these in her mouth again.

Now wish me good luck for nap time!  Crossing my fingers…

arranged

are arranged marriages even allowed in the u.s.?  if so, i’d like to be the first one to sign stella up.   you see, stella has a special friend. mason is his name. they have been friends since birth.  they are so enamored with each other!   stella asks daily, “I go Mason’s house forday?”  (forday=today in stella speak). mason’s parents lure him into getting ready and going to church nursery by promising stella will be there.   it works like a charm. 

just look at them together.  can’t you just hear the wedding bells? 

stella & mason in-uteri (head chopping fully intentional.  no one needs to see my pregnant face.)

in their infant-hood, held by their sibs berk and lila.

and now…